The integration between aid and politics is widely seen in the humanitarian sector as a cause of contracting humanitarian space, as humanitarians lose their independence and neutrality and are associated with contested political projects. This meeting discussed these trends and the evidence for integration negatively affecting humanitarian space.
This meeting explored the extent to which the ‘criminalisation of aid’ following 9/11 has affected humanitarian space in various settings, and discuss appropriate and possible responses.
This meeting discussed key challenges affecting humanitarian space in Somalia. It has a particular focus on how humanitarian and political interventions have interacted over time and the impact this relationship is having on the acceptance of humanitarian action and the security of aid workers.
This meeting assessed the nature and composition of the humanitarian system and the impacts these have on humanitarian space. It also questioned if, how and why the objectives, activities and coverage of key aid agencies (NGOs, UN and Red Cross/Red Crescent) have changed or expanded over time.
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Credit: alison.mckellar
Source: Flickr
The purpose of this policy debate is to focus on what would improve policy uptake of recent research findings and lessons from experience on political governance and development.
This meeting assessed the challenges humanitarian agencies have faced in Sri Lanka over the last two decades so as to inform current and future responses.
Women meet with policy makers in Rabat, Morocco
License: Creative Commons
Credit: Foreign andCommonwealth Office
Source: Flickr
Women in IDP camp
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Credit: REUTERS/Finbarr O' Reilly, courtesy www.alertnet.org.
Source: Reuters
This series undertook a critical examination of the evolving dynamics and challenges related to different aspects of humanitarian space and associated trends of politicisation and securitisation of assistance. The meetings addressed a number of key questions and issues that have important implications for the nature and conditions of humanitarian action in contexts where humanitarian space is deemed to be restricted or contracting.
This meeting explored the various meanings and uses of humanitarian space and initiated a dialogue on how best to understand and apply the term and discuss the implications these have for understanding wider trends and challenges and developing appropriate responses.