How could the development of a common conceptual framework

improve humanitarian action?

Dr Edith FavoreuDIHAD 12th Edition- 2015

AT THE HEART OF HUMANITARIAN ACTION: PEOPLE INTERACTION

In this process, communication is key:what happen if we don’t understand each others?

Affected communities

Organisations playing a role un humanutarian

responseHumanitarian

actors

INTERACTON??

?

?

? ? ?

?

In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Red Cross may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

ICRC

Humanitarian actors must not take sides in hostilities

or engage in Controversies of a political, racial,

religious or ideological nature.OCHA

Neutrality

Impartiality

Humanity

Independence

Could this lead to different Interpretations?

AS AN EXAMPLE: NEUTRALITY

Neutrality

Impartiality

Humanity

Independence

Neutrality = not having the ability to advocate for the protection of civilians.

Neutrality= allows advocacy because advocating a party to a conflict not to do harm civilians is not taking sides except that of civilians.

«misunderstanding of the concept of neutrality” « neutrality requires definition»

AS AN EXAMPLE:

A lack of governance/scientific bodyA lack of a comprehensive

international, universal and inclusive approach to humanitarian action

A tendency to disconnect theory from practice

Impact on operations: contradictions- Lessons identified-acknowledged but not learned

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

To address this gap:

Encyclopaedia of Humanitarian Action - Research Project

28 documents identified for the humanitarian and development sector in English and French 12 glossaries, 10 dictionaries, 3

lexicons, 1 encyclopaedia, 1 guide and 1 handbook

No cultural, historical, scientific, comparative perspectives

WHAT EXITS TODAY?

Overall goal Contribute to improving current and future quality of humanitarian policies, strategies and operational responses

Specific objective Conceptualize humanitarianism and the main terms used in the humanitarian sector focusing on current and future issues grounded in operational reality

The encyclopaedia will clarify main concepts, using an analytical and inclusive reflection while refraining from dogmatism or a normative approach.

HOW TO ADRESS THIS GAP? Encyclopedia of Humanitarian Action

NOTE the similarities and diversities and…

build on them!

HOW CAN WE DO THAT?

CONCEPTSPAIRS OF

CONCEPTS CASE STUDY

HOW WILL WE DO THAT?

• Original meaning of the concept and how it is used within the humanitarian sector

• History of the concept in the humanitarian sector and how it has been used by various actors

• Different or common meanings of the concept from various cultural perspectives and analysis of the cultural implications

• State of the art of the past and current use

• Analysis of current and future operational issues

• Illustration of the (divergent) use at operational level

• List of references

CONCEPTS

Encyclopedia of Humanitarian Action - Research Project

Example

Participation

The invol vement of crisis-affected people in one or more phases

of a humanitarian project or programme: assessment, design,

implementation, monitoring or evaluation.

Participation Handbook for Humanitarian field

workers - ALNAP & Groupe URD, 2009

Culturally

OperationnallyOrganisationally

HOW WILL WE DO THAT?

Step 1: Analysis of challenges/issues

Step 2: Case studies in two different operational contexts (e.g. South Sudan and Haïti) with several stakeholders

- Analyse how the definition of each concept is applied in each context and/or by different stakeholders in the same context

- Examine the operationalization of the concepts and potential challenges and dilemmas

- Describe the perception of the tension resulting from the interconnection and/or articulation of concept pairs

- Identify potential lessons learned in attempting to surpass these tensions

Step 3: Comparative analysis

CONCEPT PAIRSCASE STUDY

CONCEPT PAIRSCASE STUDYCONCEPTS

HOW WILL WE DO THAT?CONCEPT PAIR

CASE STUDYEXAMPLES

TENSIONS

Social exclusion and sustainability

Programme efficiency and sustainability

Participation and neutrality

COMPLEMENTARITY

Social exclusion and vulnerability

Partnership and Hand-over

Accountability and participation

RELEVANCE TO…

The process of this research project is at least as important as its final

results.

It aims to improve the QUALITY of the response for and with the affected populations

RELEVANCE TO HUMANITARIAN ACTORS and ACTORS INVOLVED IN HUMANITARIAN ACTION

The process of this research project is at least as important as its final results.It aims to improve the QUALITY of the response for and with

the affected populations

• Fostering self-critical analyses• Impact on strategies, policies and programmes

Review of policies, strategies, programmes/projects, and other activitiesCapitalisation of experiences and analysis of lessons learned

• Sharing between organisations of best and worst practices

RELEVANCE TO ACADEMICS AND PRACTITIONERS

A milestone in the scholarship of contemporary humanitarian action.

• Developing an analytical framework based on a comparative approach

• Providing empirical evidence by analysing how these concepts can be operationalized

• Producing generalizable insights for evidence-based decision and policy making.

• Lay grounds for the emerging discipline “Humanitarian Studies”.

The process of this research project is at least as important as its final results.It aims to improve the QUALITY of the response for and with

the affected populations

RELEVANCE TO THE HUMANITARIAN SECTOR

Contribute to on-going reflection in the sector

Contribute to the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit and particularly its follow up

The process of this research project is at least as important as its final results.It aims to improve the QUALITY of the response for and with

the affected populations

Thank You!

www.cerahgeneve.ch