Archives : Briefing Papers
Demographic Trends and their Humanitarian Impacts
Expected demographic trends of the future include unprecedented population growth, the majority of which will occur in developing countries, and which will lead to a “demographic crisis” in Sub-Saharan Africa. The humanitarian implications of this growth, and its regional disparities, will be manifold, as described by researcher Carl Haub, of the Population Reference Bureau.
Posted in Briefing Papers, Publications
Keywords: Humanitarian Futures, Humanitarian Horizons
Politics and Humanitarian Action in the Georgia Conflicts
Drawing upon extensive field research in the region and informed by additional field study dating back to the mid-1990s, the study calls renewed attention to the politicization and instrumentalization of humanitarian action and to serious shortcomings in donor behavior measured against their own undertakings to Good Humanitarian Donorship.
Posted in Briefing Papers, Publications
Keywords: HA2015 Update, Humanitarian Action and Politics, Humanitarian Agenda 2015
Livelihoods, Migration and Conflict
This briefing paper discusses findings from a study conducted in Darfur from 2006-8 that explored the changing role of migration and remittances in the livelihoods of conflict-affected people.
Posted in Briefing Papers, Publications
Keywords: conflict, livelihoods, migration, remittances
Afghanistan: Humanitarianism under Threat
Building on data collected through interviews in the aid community as well as with ordinary Afghans, the briefing paper finds that humanitarianism is under deep threat in Afghanistan because of the perceived association of aid agencies with the US-led intervention. Humanitarian actors and the principles they profess are under attack. The ability of humanitarian agencies to address urgent need is compromised by internal and external factors, i.e., both by the organization and modus operandi of aid agencies on the ground, and by an extremely volatile and dangerous operating environment.
Posted in Briefing Papers, Publications
Keywords: HA2015 Update, Humanitarian Action and Politics, Humanitarian Agenda 2015
Iraq — more challenges ahead for a fractured humanitarian enterprise
Based on extensive field interviews in Iraq and neighboring Jordan, this briefing paper is an update of an earlier study on perceptions of humanitarian action in Iraq, which was part of the Humanitarian Action 2015 program.
Posted in Briefing Papers, Publications
Keywords: HA2015 Update, Humanitarian Action and Politics, Humanitarian Agenda 2015
Humanitarian Agenda 2015: Nepal Country Study
In Nepal, the study’s four themes, and the perceptions of local communities related to them, come together in different ways than the other case studies.
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Keywords: global war on terror, HA2015 Country Study, Humanitarian Agenda 2015, NGOs, terrorism, war
Beyond men pikin
There is growing agreement that separated children are best cared for in community settings, rather than in institutions. However, even in a community setting, there is a need for standards of care that allow for monitoring of children’s well-being. This is particularly important in countries such as Sierra Leone which is recovering from a brutal civil war and suffering from poverty, malnutrition, and limited access to adequate medical care. Since the civil war ended in Sierra Leone, child fostering—whether informal or facilitated by humanitarian agencies and the government—has become the preferred solution for the estimated 800,000+ orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable children.
Posted in Briefing Papers, Publications
Keywords: children, conflict, war
Humanitarian Agenda 2015: Perceptions of the Pakistan Earthquake Response
This HA2015 study records the perceptions of both aid providers and aid recipients in the earthquake-affected areas of Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
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Keywords: global war on terror, HA2015 Country Study, Humanitarian Agenda 2015, law, natural disaster, war
Filling the Blue Box
In Haiti, many farmers lie beyond the reach of the formal banking system and MFIs. A powerful method of local financial intermediation, called mutuelles is helping to bridge the gap. Efficiently formed by local NGOs and church organizations, mutuelles are forces of social change. They also demonstrate financial discipline and could prove an interesting market for MFIs and banks seeking new customers for financial services.
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Keywords: banking, finance
Humanitarian Agenda 2015: Sri Lanka Country Study
This study contributes to the Humanitarian Agenda 2015 (HA2015) country paper series by examining the issues of universality, terrorism, coherence and security in relation to the humanitarian enterprise in Sri Lanka.
Posted in Briefing Papers, Publications
Keywords: HA2015 Country Study, Humanitarian Agenda 2015