Aid environment

from the perspective of the broader aid ecosystem

Introducing 'for profit' initiatives and actors in humanitarian response

Preliminary analysis of facts, trends & concerns

February 2018

The private sector is increasingly involved in multiple aspects of humanitarian action, and not only as financial contributor. This research maps practices, identifies likely future scenarios regarding the privatisation of the response in emergency contexts and flags concerns regarding practices and trends.

 

Essays & analysis
Aid environment

Looking back at 2016

The end of humanitarian action as we knew it

Decembre 2016

Every year has its share of tragic moments. Every year we deplore that humanity has again been scarred by terrible crises that affect the lives of countless people all over the planet. Yet this year has a different taste. 

Articles
Humanitarian practice

Yemen: humanitarian action on stand-by

No refuge in a country neglected by the world

December 2015

Yemen is a country with an exceedingly rich history. Its rolling mountains and rugged desert terrain lie where one of our oldest civilisations once stood, encompassing an intricate cultural and tribal past. The Prophet Mohammed once said of Yemen that it would be the last refuge for his army, should they need to escape and seek safety in the face of danger.

 

Articles
Humanitarian practice

Refugee crisis in Europe: the triple failure

December 2015

Europe had a shocking “rentrée” from the summer holidays this September. As government officials returned to their suits and offices and kids throughout the continent returned to school, the Greek islands had become a highway for people fleeing war. In a matter of days the highway extended through to the Balkans on the tracks of a previously less trodden migration path into the European heartland. In no time thousands of people amassed in Hungary’s borders as this government attempted to halt their advance.

Articles
Humanitarian practice

Emergency gap: Humanitarian action critically wounded

Emergency gap series 01

April 2016

This first paper lays out MSF’s concern about the lack of sufficient and adequate humanitarian response capacity in the acute phase of a conflict.

Reports
Emergency Gap

Emergency gap: Insecurity - always an insurmountable obstacle?

Emergency gap series 05

January 2017

This paper offers a reflection on the subject of risk acceptance, and some of the underlying factors that –apart from the actual security threat– influence security decision-making in the humanitarian sector.

Reports
Emergency Gap

Niger, Jan 2015 – Aug 2016

Case study

November 2016

This case study of the ‘humanitarian system’s’ response to a conflict driven displacement crisis in the Diffa region of Niger explores if there is an ‘Emergency Gap’. This report concludes that there has been a gap in what could reasonably be expected in terms of effective humanitarian response, and that the reasons for this gap are found in an analysis of the internal dynamics of the system as much as in any external constraints.

Reports
Emergency Gap

The challenges of localised aid in conflict

Livestreamed public event

Tuesday, November, the 29th. 15:00-16:30 hs (GMT). Paris 16.00p.m. / New York 10:00 a.m./ Sanaa 17:00p.m. / Amman 17:00p.m.

Overseas Development Institute (ODI) & Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP), London

Events
Emergency Gap

Emergency gap: The cost of coherence

Emergency gap series 04

December 2016

The new WHS paradigm offers a vision for humanitarian action that takes coherence too far, effectively merging humanitarianism into the overarching aid project of the SDGs. The aid sector must work to strengthen complementarity across responders, while preserving the critical distinctions between humanitarian and other forms of action.

Reports
Emergency Gap

Emergency gap: The challenges of localised humanitarian aid

Emergency gap series 03

November 2016

This paper analyses the role of national and local actors in humanitarian action based on MSF’s experiences in areas within conflict affected countries where the most urgent needs are found.

Reports
Emergency Gap

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