This HPG Policy Brief argues that the catastrophic effects of drought can be averted if pastoralist livelihoods are supported with timely and appropriate livelihoods-based interventions.
This Opinion argues that the impact of the global financial crisis in fragile states has serious implications for peace and security. With economic and social stability going hand in hand, recession could result in increased unrest and violence in countries that are already under pressure as a result of poverty and the effects of high food and fuel prices. The G-20 Summit in London in April 2009 earmarked $50 billion for developing countries. At the same time, there are worrying signs of backtracking on aid commitments as some donor governments prioritise their domestic economies.
In 2008, 260 humanitarian aid workers were killed, kidnapped or seriously injured in violent attacks – the highest yearly toll on record. The majority of these attacks took place in just countries: Sudan, Afghanistan and Somalia. Kidnappings in particular have increased since 2006, increasing 350% compared since 2006. The fatality rate of aid workers from malicious acts alone surpassed that of United Nations peacekeeping soldiers in 2008. In the most violent contexts for aid workers, politically motivated attacks have risen relative to common crime and banditry, as international aid organisations are perceived as part of Western geopolitical interests.
As the number of mobile phone subscribers soars worldwide, this Opinion argues that increasing mobile penetration brings developmental benefits, but effective regulation is required to ensure fair competition and encourage roll-out to underserved areas.
The Opinion outlines three kinds of development benefits resulting from mobile phone technology. First, incremental -- improving what people already do. Second, transformational - offering people something new, such as m-banking. And third, production benefits that result from the creation of new livelihoods.
This Opinion asks why children's rights remain largely 'invisible' on the international agenda and sets out measures to address this invisibility. All but two countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, but the Opinion questions the significance of this apparent consensus and calls for more resources to monitor and implement child rights.
Corn prices have been rising rapidly, leading to food riots in Mexico
License: Creative Commons
Credit: r-z
Source: Flickr
This seminar, based on six in-depth case studies from Somalia, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, provided insights on opportunities for bridging the gap between emergency relief and longer term developmental approaches.
This issue of Humanitarian Exchange includes a rich array of policy and practice articles. Kenya features in three articles, looking at the plight of people displaced in political violence, aid agency attempts to coordinate security management and, finally, an innovative response using mobile phones to transfer cash. Cash features again in a summary of its use by the World Bank in its responses to disasters in South Asia. There is also a refreshingly optimistic take on the impact of aid in the Central African Republic, an examination of the unreliability of data about countries in crisis on key websites and a review of World Vision’s attempts to develop and roll out standards and indicators for integrating protection concerns in its humanitarian response.
The case of Somaliland is a good example of how a fragile society can become an effective state through the participation of its own citizens. Somaliland is unique in that, unlike southern Somalia, it has restored law and order and become one of the most democratic parts of the Muslim world. Othieno calls for strategies to support peaceful, local state-building processes in fragile societies.
The study examined community participation throughout the food aid program cycle to understand the role of recipient communities in the targeting of food assistance under the conflict conditions in Somalia.
This Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) meeting, conducted under Chatham House rules, looked at key development and trends in Somalia.