State-led crisis response

As humanitarians assist crisis-affected people, they are often substituting the role of the state, but what does it mean for the social contract between a state and the population? Considering over 90% of crises are protracted, how might humanitarian actors better support transitions to state-led response? When the state itself is contested or perpetrating violence, what does this mean for humanitarian actors and response?

Against a backdrop of ‘localisation’ discussions primarily centred on civil society actors, the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) has been examining issues around state-led crisis response for the past two years. This includes a multitude of short-form and in-depth analysis, focusing on Southeast Asia and East Africa, but speaking to global issues around governance, civil society and humanitarianism. The speakers will present some of the key findings and issues from this research, followed by an interactive discussion about the implications for a world and sector navigating fraught times.

• Dustin Barter PhD, Senior Research Fellow at ODI Global
• Stella Naw, academic activist working on Indigenous and decolonial peacebuilding and governance practices

This session is moderated by Corinne Lamain, coordinator of KUNO.

A team at the think tank ODI Global, HPG is one of the world’s leading teams working on humanitarian issues. They are dedicated to improving humanitarian policy and practice through a combination of high-quality analysis, dialogue and debate. HPG is also part of the Oxfam Novib Humanitarian System Transformation through Local Humanitarian Leadership programme (HST-LHL).

The Humanitarian System Transformation through Local Humanitarian Leadership (HST-LHL) programme is implemented in partnership with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NLMFA).

The multi-country programme runs from April 2024 to December 2027 and aims to contribute to a humanitarian system that is truly locally-led. Through learning, coordination and innovation in 7 programme countries (Colombia, DRC, Kenya, South Sudan, Yemen, Myanmar and Indonesia), research and recommendations will be shared widely through the programme to inform and influence concrete policy and practice changes by all relevant stakeholders across the humanitarian delivery chain, including donors, UN agencies and local and international NGOs. Knowledge will be shared globally, through research and (learning and influencing) events, with the support of ODI Global, as well as with KUNO for a specific focus on the Netherlands and Dutch-based humanitarian actors.

Register by emailing kuno@kuno-platform.nl with your name and organisation.