Keyword Archives: evidence-based practice
The Use of Evidence in Humanitarian Decision Making
This paper reports the results of a study undertaken during 2012 by Tufts University for the Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS), as part of the latter’s “Operational Learning” strand of work. This study is designed to complement the work of ACAPS … Read More
Posted in Briefing Papers, Publications
Keywords: evidence-based practice, humanitarian action
Climate Change as a Driver of Humanitarian Crises and Response
This paper explores the relationships between climate change, humanitarian crises and humanitarian response through a review of published and grey literature. We examine the historical evidence for associations between climate change and humanitarian crises, and move on to a brief review of present humanitarian crises directly attributable to disasters triggered by climatological events. Finally, we look at three interrelated aspects of future trends: changing weather patterns, increasing societal vulnerabilities, and shifting demographics.
Posted in Publications, Reports
Keywords: climate change, evidence-based practice, natural disasters
Sex and Age Matter
Humanitarian aid is largely guided by anecdotes rather than evidence. Currently, the humanitarian system shows significant weaknesses in data collection, analysis and response in all stages of a crisis or emergency. As a result, the present humanitarian system is much less evidence-driven than it should be and than it would like to be.
Posted in Publications, Reports
Keywords: children, data collection, evidence-based practice, humanitarian action, women
Professionalising the Humanitarian Sector
This study, commissioned by the UK’s Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance project (ELRHA) and carried out by the Feinstein International Center in collaboration with RedR, comes after a decade in which the humanitarian enterprise has sought to develop global standards, codes and representative bodies, and amid increasing momentum for creating a global system for professional development, accreditation and association. The study explores the nature of professionalism today and sets out key recommendations which, if implemented, could increase accountability, raise the quality and consistency of humanitarian service, open up the profession to talented new recruits, and raise the status of the humanitarian service provider to a level on a par with other professional groups.
Posted in Publications, Reports
Keywords: evidence-based practice, humanitarian action, professionalization
One for All and All for One
A significant proportion of humanitarian assistance is now delivered by NGOs which have in effect become federated trans-national organizations, alliances of members from different countries, all seeking to provide assistance in times of crisis. This report describes research carried out to better understand how these transnational bodies organize their membership, deliver and accountability systems in times of crisis.
Posted in Publications, Reports
Keywords: evidence-based practice, humanitarian action, NGOs
The Humanitarian Costs of Climate Change
Using existing international databases that track disaster occurrence and humanitarian costs, this research attempts to improve understanding of how climate change may affect international humanitarian spending.
Posted in Publications, Reports
Keywords: climate change, evidence-based practice, humanitarian action, natural disaster
Follow the Money
Is there enough money, is it going to the right people in the right places in the most efficient way?
Posted in Briefing Papers, Publications
Keywords: evidence-based practice, finance, humanitarian action
One for All and All for One
In recent years and for a variety of reasons, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has been buffeted by an array of forces. In one sense, the pressures are similar to those experienced by other federations, perhaps accentuated by the fact that the IFRC is one of the earliest and developed into the largest such federated, or federal, institutions. Like other federations, the IFRC is struggling with a set of generic problems.
Posted in Publications, Reports
Keywords: evidence-based practice, humanitarian action, IFRC
Ambiguity and Change
This study provides international NGOs with a rudimentary framework for strategic planning in the light of the likely challenges of ambiguity and change awaiting them during the next decade. It examines a series of hazard domains – environment, urbanization, migration, and HIV/AIDS – within which NGOs can exercise at least a modicum of control. It identifies other variables well beyond the capacity of NGOs to manage, including combinations of crises that cut across these individual domains and, more broadly still, civilization-changing events.
Posted in Publications, Reports
Keywords: evidence-based practice, humanitarian action, NGOs, policy