In this episode of 'A Matter of Priorities,' our host Alice Obrecht continues her conversation with Hugo Slim on his work with the Norwegian Center for Humanitarian Studies. The discussion focuses on more detailed principles for prioritising and allocating humanitarian resources, such as the principle of shared responsibility. He explores how geopolitical relationships and proximity can play a crucial role in defining and meeting humanitarian needs. The episode also includes an updated ...

In this episode of 'A Matter of Priorities,' as the sector as a whole looks at a 'humanitarian reset,' our host Alice Obrecht delves into the definition of a humanitarian need with Hugo Slim and how these boundaries might be redefined. The episode features insights from Hugo Slim, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, who discusses the need to redefine humanitarian needs through six theoretical approaches and three core questions that agencies should address. The c...

In this episode of A Matter of Priorities, our host Alice Obrecht takes a deep dive into the ripple effects of unprecedented budget cuts to the World Food Program (WFP). With a shortfall of over 50% in its 2023 budget, WFP faced its largest financial crisis in its 60-year history, forcing it to make drastic reductions in food and cash assistance across the globe. We explore how these cuts unfolded on the ground, particularly in Uganda, and the human toll they’ve taken. The discus...

In this episode of A Matter of Priorities, we explore the significant budget cuts faced by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and their far-reaching consequences. Established in 1863, the ICRC provides critical protection and assistance to people affected by armed conflict. However, in 2023, the organisation announced cuts amounting to 440 million Swiss francs, a drastic 16% reduction in its budget. Alice speaks with Olivier Ray, ICRC’s Director of Mobilisation, Movemen...

In this episode, we discuss the role of evidence in resource allocation decisions, focusing on the new Joint and Intersectoral Analysis Framework (GF 2.0). We explore how this approach aims to address flaws in traditional needs assessments and improve transparency in humanitarian responses. You can find more on the JIAF 2.0 here: https://knowledge.base.unocha.org/wiki/spaces/hpc/pages/3992944652/JIAF And the most recent estimate of global humanitarian need, based on the JIAF 2.0 meth...

In 2023, funding for humanitarian assistance and protection declined by 20 percent, despite new major crises and the continuation of long-standing conflicts. And there are expectations that cuts will only continue into 2025. Many in the humanitarian sector are referring to this as a catastrophic ‘financial cliff’ that will have major implications for agencies and the communities that they serve. In this podcast episode, we delve into this ‘financial cliff’, asking experts how we measure and ...

The humanitarian principle of providing assistance to those in greatest need is facing unprecedented challenges. With funding decreasing and the number of people requiring support rising sharply, humanitarian donors and organisations are grappling with impossible decisions about who to prioritise and what needs to address. A Matter of Priorities dives into these dilemmas, examining how the sector makes complex choices when resources fall short of meeting overwhelming demand. From deciding who...

Juliet Parker, the director of ALNAP, the global network for humanitarian learning, meets Ahmad Kazouini, water & habitat coordinator for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Somalia, and Andy Wheatley, ICRC's African regional anticipatory action adviser, in the second episode of the new Learning Curve podcast series. With such a good body of evidence supporting anticipatory action and many good experiences, why is the humanitarian sector struggling to make a step change i...

In Episode 3, ALNAP director Juliet Parker meets Andriy Klepikov, executive director of the Alliance for Public Health (APH) in Ukraine. Juliet speaks to Andriy about the adjustments APH has had to make since Ukraine's war with Russia began and the learning that has been pulled through from previous work into this new reality. Andriy explains APH's partnership with Christian Aid and their work together using the survivor and community-led response (sclr) approach. Localisation is a big ...

In the first episode of the new ALNAP's The Learning Curve: a podcast for busy humanitarians series, Juliet Parker, the director of ALNAP, the global network for humanitarian learning, speaks to Loreine B. Dela Cruz, executive director of the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) in the Philippines. The wealth of learning that exists in the Philippines is so embedded within humanitarian practice, civil society structures and relationships with the government. There's so much for the rest of ...

The Learning Curve: a podcast for busy humanitarians podcast is a new podcast for busy humanitarians brought to you by ALNAP, the global network for humanitarian learning. We will be talking to people from right across the humanitarian sector in a variety of jobs in different parts of the globe about what the humanitarian sector would look like if we lived in a world based on learning. We know our sector is rich in learning, expertise and knowledge, but we are falling far short of capitalisin...