Humanitarian Practice Network

🌍 The Sahel, a semi-arid region of Africa acutely impacted by climate change, is facing a dual crisis: the escalating effects of resource scarcity and food insecurity are exacerbating gendered vulnerabilities, especially among women and girls. These challenges create fertile ground for extremist groups, resulting in the perpetuation of cycles of violence, radicalisation and gender inequality. The intersection of climate change, gendered vulnerabilities and extremist exploitation in the Sahel underscores the urgent need for gender-sensitive, climate-resilient humanitarian interventions. Learn more about the gendered impacts of the climate crisis in the Sahel in this brand-new article penned by migration and electoral policy analyst Maria Luna ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e4w-48yF Photo: A woman visits the Mogadishu Barracks Fish Market in Asokoro District, Abuja, Nigeria (Credit: Maria Luna Itriago) #Sahel #ClimateCrisis #VAWG #HumanitarianCrisis

The escalating displacement crises across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region present significant challenges to humanitarian actors. Driven by crises in Syria, Sudan, Yemen and beyond, the MENA region hosts millions of refugees, making it one of the most prominent areas both for producing and hosting refugees. As these crises continue, so does the creation of new waves of displacement, further straining the region’s limited resources. Yet, refugees in MENA are not mere burdens and passive recipients of aid, says Manoug Antaby, MPH, Research Assistant at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies. On the contrary, they have demonstrated their capacity to actively contribute to humanitarian efforts. These refugees, when given the chance, have shown an unparalleled ability to lead humanitarian responses and provide essential aid, thus positioning themselves as vital actors in addressing the region’s refugee crises. Read on ➡️ https://lnkd.in/efxaT3mp #Displacement #Refugees #MENA #HumanitarianCrisis

Critiques of international human rights and humanitarian practices highlight double standards and hypocrisy, particularly in conflicts like Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar. These failures reveal the ineffectiveness of current peacebuilding structures and the United Nations' inability to resolve crises, according to Alasdair Gordon-Gibson of the University of St Andrews. In this newly-published article, Gordon-Gibson proposes a 'liminal space' where humanitarian action can engage with politics and resist injustice, balancing cooperation and challenge. This space allows for dialogue between power and civil society, as seen in historical examples like Sarajevo. The approach advocates for a more inclusive, adaptable humanitarian response, blending human rights and humanitarian efforts while respecting local contexts and political realities. Read on 👉 https://lnkd.in/e-5HyDqX #HumanitarianPractice #HumanRights #UnitedNations #CrisisResponse #IHL

In case you missed them, here are HPN’s 5 most read articles of 2024! 1️⃣ From humanitarian resistance to resilience: Nation-building in active conflict, by Adelina Kamal & Rin Fujimatsu → https://lnkd.in/emQ5x8iU 2️⃣ Humanitarian AI revisited: Seizing the potential and sidestepping the pitfalls, by Sarah Spencer → https://lnkd.in/eCbABj68 3️⃣ Conflict, climate change and displacement in the Somali Region of Ethiopia, by Fekadu Tufa → https://lnkd.in/eJgqKE5F  4️⃣ The global humanitarian system needs to adapt to the worsening climate crisis, by Nanki Chawla & Garth Smith → https://lnkd.in/e7NQnPvJ 5️⃣ Humanitarians still haven’t agreed what they should do about climate change, by Damian Lilly → https://lnkd.in/eJ5pc5yN #HumanitarianAction #NationBuilding #Resistance #Resilience #AI #Conflict #ClimateCrisis #ClimateChange #Displacement | Photo credit: Stanley Dullea

"Impartiality is readily assumed, half-applied, sidelined, or dismissed as some sort of theoretical abstraction, a concept that lives in the clouds of HQ doctrine and not in the hardscrabble reality of humanitarian operations." The humanitarian sector boasts proud proclamations of impartiality on agency posters and mission statements, yet this important principle is still often missing from internal decision-making, where it is arguably most urgently required. Marc DuBois, independent humanitarian consultant and Senior Fellow at SOAS University of London, explores the shortcomings in the sector's interpretation and implementation of impartiality – and, more generally, of the core principles of humanitarian action. Read now 👉 https://lnkd.in/e4amSG6j #HumanitarianAction #HumanitarianPrinciples #Impartiality

How can INGOs support meaningful change while shifting power to local actors? 🌍 Patrick Watt, CEO of Christian Aid—a proud member of JLI—reflects on this critical question in a powerful article: 'As INGOs, we must ask ourselves: Why us, why not local?' in Humanitarian Practice Network He urges INGOs to rethink their roles, adopt a more humble approach, and prioritize supporting local actors and movements for change. This is a vital read for anyone in the humanitarian or development sectors seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of global aid. Let's discuss—what does this mean for the future of our sector? 🔗 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gteYAJGw #Localization #Decolonization #INGOs #HumanitarianAid #PowerShift #Development

This World Human Rights Day, we’re reflecting on how humanitarian and development leaders can be effective advocates for change. 🌍 Samuel Cheung (Chief, Protection from Violence and Displacement, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency) offers a series of key steps to guide the way: 1️⃣ 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 – Understand the needs, voices and stories of the people you serve. 2️⃣ 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – No leader can do it alone. Engage those around you, collaborate. 3️⃣ 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 – Speak truth to power, even when it’s uncomfortable. 4️⃣ 𝐁𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 – Focus on achievable goals in the short term as you allow space for durable change to take place.  #WorldHumanRightsDay #HumanitarianLeadership #TandemLeaders #Leadership #Learning #LearningAndDevelopment #TandemTips 

🇧🇩 Like much of #Bangladesh, the northern district of Kurigram is vulnerable to frequent cyclones, floods, storms and periodic droughts, depending on the season. Climate change effects have also become prominent in recent decades, such as extreme heat, sea-level rise, and heavy rain. These contribute to an alarming increase in people’s vulnerability, particularly women and girls. In response, Plan International Bangladesh and the Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) implemented a crucial programme to increase the knowledge and practice of disaster risk reduction and community safety initiatives to create a safer, more gender-responsive educational environment in which to address climate-induced disaster challenges in Kurigram and beyond. Find out more from Tohura Moriom Misti, an independent consultant and founder of Upgrade Bangladesh → https://lnkd.in/dbrVzcK4 #ClimateCrisis #DisasterResponse #SGBV #WASH #WomenAndGirls

1 week to go – register now! 🚨 In the case of #Ukraine, narratives have painted a binary picture, presenting Ukrainians either as vulnerable victims or resilient resistors of Russian aggression. Join us in person (in London) or online to hear more about how this has impacted the humanitarian response. Hannah Richards (Disasters Emergency Committee), Maryana Zaviyska (Open Space Works Ukraine), Agnieszka Kosowicz (Konsorcjum Migracyjne), Sarah Redd (Oxfam) and John Bryant (HPG, ODI Global) will explore how we can learn from the example of Ukraine to build future humanitarian narratives that reflect a more nuanced understanding of vulnerability. Register to attend 👉 https://lnkd.in/eX2nS9i9 #RussiaUkrainianWar #StandWithUkraine #Narratives #HumanitarianResponse #LondonEvents

Our recent article, "What displaced people in the DRC think of humanitarian protection and how to learn from it", is now available in French / Notre article récent, « Ce que pensent les personnes déplacées en RDC de la protection humanitaire et les enseignements à en tirer », est maintenant disponible en français. Français ➡️ https://lnkd.in/evUN9ppU English ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ecr9BxW5 #DRC #HumanitarianResponse #Protection