Humanitarian system reform in Syria
As Syria experiences major upheaval in the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s ousting from power in late 2024, the humanitarian response finds itself at a crossroads characterised by both significant challenges and new opportunities.
In a special episode of I Think You’re On Mute, in partnership with the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub, host Beth Eggleston is joined by Aya Yagan and Mazen Alhousseiny to discuss the evolving situation and key research insights from our recent report: AFTER ASSAD: Navigating Syria’s Humanitarian Crossroads.
Full podcast transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/podcast-i-think-youre-on-mute-humanitarian-system-reform-in-syria/
Podcast host and guests:
Host: Beth Eggleston
Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group
Guests:
Aya Yagan
Technical Director at NSDation Consultancy Services
Mazen Alhousseiny
Capacity Strengthening Adviser at HelpAge International
Podcast research and links:
Humanitarian Advisory Group | After Assad: Navigating Syria’s Humanitarian Crossroads (April 2025) https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/after-assad-navigating-syrias-humanitarian-crossroads/
Concern Worldwide | Beyond Barriers: Overcoming Funding & Human Resource Obstacles to Achieve a Localized Humanitarian Response (January 2025) https://beyondbarriers.concernusa.org/
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Humanitarian system reform in Syria
As Syria experiences major upheaval in the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s ousting from power in late 2024, the humanitarian response finds itself at a crossroads characterised by both significant challenges and new opportunities.
In a special episode of I Think You’re On Mute, in partnership with the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub, host Beth Eggleston is joined by Aya Yagan and Mazen Alhousseiny to discuss the evolving situation and key research insights from our recent report: AFTER ASSAD: Navigating Syria’s Humanitarian Crossroads.
Full podcast transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/podcast-i-think-youre-on-mute-humanitarian-system-reform-in-syria/
Podcast host and guests:
Host: Beth Eggleston
Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group
Guests:
Aya Yagan
Technical Director at NSDation Consultancy Services
Mazen Alhousseiny
Capacity Strengthening Adviser at HelpAge International
Podcast research and links:
Humanitarian Advisory Group | After Assad: Navigating Syria’s Humanitarian Crossroads (April 2025) https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/after-assad-navigating-syrias-humanitarian-crossroads/
Concern Worldwide | Beyond Barriers: Overcoming Funding & Human Resource Obstacles to Achieve a Localized Humanitarian Response (January 2025) https://beyondbarriers.concernusa.org/
Episode 2 – Real Time Analysis
During humanitarian emergencies, local actors often struggle to be heard. Their microphone isn’t off – they're just on mute, with the voices of international actors drowning them out. Fortunately, this is changing. The last decade has brought with it an unfortunate plethora of humanitarian emergencies, and with it, the realisation, that local actors are often best placed to lead local humanitarian responses.
I Think You’re on Mute will explore how we build a better, more locally-led humanitarian sector. Throughout the series, Co-Founder and Director of the Humanitarian Advisory Group, Beth Eggleston, will share stories from the people shaping a better humanitarian future.
In Episode 2, we speak to:
Emeline Siale Illolahia, Executive Director of Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organisations (PIANGO) on the Cyclone Harold response;
Dr Puji Pujiono, on the work of national and local actors in response to the 2018 tsunami and earthquake in Palu, Indonesia;
Jessica Lees, from HAG, on the private sector response to the 2018 earthquake in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea;
Fanny Coussy, also from HAG, on the impact of real time analysis in a humanitarian response.
This episode features the following audio:
Cyclone Harold news clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaqdeLFqpH8
Cyclone Harold news clip: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-08/cyclone-harold-batters-vanuatu-heads-for-fiji/12131814
Facebook audio of PNG earthquake: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.piggott.14/vide
Keen to do some further reading?
Demonstrating change on locally led humanitarian action in the Pacific:
https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/demonstrating-change-on-locally-led-humanitarian-action-in-the-pacific-ki-namuka-vata-ga-nikua/
Local leadership in Vanuatu’s response to TC Harold:
https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/TC-Harold-Practice-Paper_final-electronic.pdf
Extractives and Emergencies – The PNG Response:
https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Extractives-and-emergencies-the-PNG-earthquake-response.pdf
Humanitarian Horizons is a three-year research program designed and delivered by Humanitarian Advisory Group (HAG) in partnership with trusted national and regional partners and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The program aims to generate evidence through research to support more effective and ethical humanitarian action in the Asia and Pacific regions. It comprises three interlocking research streams: 1) Power, People and Local Leadership, 2) Greening the System, and 3) Real Time Analysis and Influence. A fourth stream which consists of governance, accountability, inclusion, and monitoring, evaluation and learning processes, anchors the program.
I Think You're On Mute
Humanitarian system reform in Syria
As Syria experiences major upheaval in the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s ousting from power in late 2024, the humanitarian response finds itself at a crossroads characterised by both significant challenges and new opportunities.
In a special episode of I Think You’re On Mute, in partnership with the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub, host Beth Eggleston is joined by Aya Yagan and Mazen Alhousseiny to discuss the evolving situation and key research insights from our recent report: AFTER ASSAD: Navigating Syria’s Humanitarian Crossroads.
Full podcast transcript: https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/podcast-i-think-youre-on-mute-humanitarian-system-reform-in-syria/
Podcast host and guests:
Host: Beth Eggleston
Director, Humanitarian Advisory Group
Guests:
Aya Yagan
Technical Director at NSDation Consultancy Services
Mazen Alhousseiny
Capacity Strengthening Adviser at HelpAge International
Podcast research and links:
Humanitarian Advisory Group | After Assad: Navigating Syria’s Humanitarian Crossroads (April 2025) https://humanitarianadvisorygroup.org/insight/after-assad-navigating-syrias-humanitarian-crossroads/
Concern Worldwide | Beyond Barriers: Overcoming Funding & Human Resource Obstacles to Achieve a Localized Humanitarian Response (January 2025) https://beyondbarriers.concernusa.org/