What can be done to achieve food security in protracted crises?

When it comes to food security, it is vital to address immediate and institutional needs - as well as policy and livelihoods dimensions of crises - to decrease vulnerability while building viable and resilient mechanisms in these societies. It would require “thinking beyond even when you cannot yet act beyond”. Read More

posted Wednesday, September 24, 2008 by Luca Alinovi and Luca Russo, FAO | 5 Comments

Eroding humanitarian principles: who’s to blame?

Recent trends raise important questions with regard to the relevance of applying humanitarian principles in the current environment. Should agencies pull out, reject funds or suspend activities if they feel the principles are being overly compromised? Or is there a case for enhanced coherence between political and humanitarian objectives in order to support the long term welfare of these societies – and perhaps also their security in the shorter-term? Read More

posted Thursday, August 07, 2008 by Samir Elhawary, Humanitarian Policy Group at ODI | 1 Comments

A greater understanding of why civilians are targeted in conflict is vital to protecting them, argues Hugo Slim

Last year, I found myself watching an early round of the African football cup finals on the television at the Acholi Inn in Gulu, Northern Uganda. Next to me was a former senior leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army who had said he might give me an interview. Read More

posted Wednesday, October 10, 2007 by Hugo Slim | 5 Comments

Yet another arrogant move? MSF’s stance on its relationship with the rest of the international aid system

In a recent position paper MSF posed itself the question “…. what will better serve the populations in need: will MSF’s independent approach be beneficial to the most vulnerable at the end of the line? Read More

posted Monday, September 03, 2007 by Eric Stobbaerts | 9 Comments

The frustrations of CERF. Toby Porter on how predictable financing has turned into less predictable funds for agencies on the ground.

A new round of pledges to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) this December is an encouraging sign of donor commitment to providing greater and more predictable financing for humanitarian assistance. Read More

posted Thursday, January 18, 2007 by Toby Porter | 9 Comments

Coopted by the UN? Time for NGOs to take up the challenge, argues Eva von Oelreich

posted Saturday, December 02, 2006 by Eva von Oelreich | 3 Comments

International Humanitarian Studies Association (IHSA)

posted by By Dorothea Hilhorst, Professor of Humanitarian Aid and Reconstruction, Wageningen University and General Secretary of IHSA, and Alex de Waal, Program Director at the Social Science Research Council, New York and President of IHSA . | 0 Comments

Could guns and rain spell the end for the Karamojong?

Over one million people live in Karamoja, a region found in the north Eastern part of Uganda. To a visitor passing through from the capital city Kampala, Karamoja may look like any other region in Uganda but appearances can be deceptive. The region is characterised by the worst humanitarian and development indicators in Uganda. Read More

posted by By Marco Ferloni, Mark O’Keefe, Dr Phil OKeefe, Dr Geoff O’Brien. | 1 Comments

The Haiti Earthquake: Lessons learnt from previous disasters

The devastating earthquake in Haiti is proving to be one of the most challenging disasters the humanitarian community has ever faced. HPN and ALNAP have a variety of resources and publications available which draw on lessons learned from past responses and operations. To access these resources, please click on the links below. Read More

posted by HPN | 1 Comments

Risk transfer through hardening mentalities?

The UN Secretary-General’s recent remarks on staff security[1], in light of serious assaults in Kabul and Islamabad, addressed a general trend towards deadly targeted attacks on UN facilities and personnel. Read More

posted by Madeleine Kingston and Oliver Behn from the European Interagency Security Forum (EISF) | 0 Comments