As the internationally dominated humanitarian system undertakes soul searching amid a collapse in funding and escalating crises, USAID has now officially joined DfID, AusAID and other agencies in the rearview mirror of aid history. Traditional humanitarian donors are making cuts across the board, with estimates of a 40–50% decrease from the peak of funding in 2023. In response, the ‘humanitarian reset’ has garnered widespread attention, seeking to direct the system reform agenda. It has attracted extensive critiques, particularly owing to major decisions being made behind closed doors, with voices from the so-called Global North dominant.
The perspectives of crisis-affected communities have been thoughtfully amplified and it has been made clear that the ‘humanitarian reset’ must not fail local actors, but what about the people and local actors at the heart of humanitarian response? How are Global South humanitarians responding to the funding crunch? What changes do they want to see? How can we ensure their influence in reimagining the humanitarian system?
Interpretation will be available in Spanish and Arabic.
This event will be delivered in collaboration with the Humanitarian System Transformation through Local Humanitarian Leadership (HST-LHL) programme, of which HPG is a part with Oxfam and other partners, generously funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Moderated by Dustin Barter (HPG) on how to realise a better humanitarian system.
