Archive:

Context Analysis

Security in your pocket: ‘Umbrella’ a one-stop-shop

Humanitarian workers are operating with little digital protection and too often are unprepared to use technology as a means to mitigate their physical risks. While there are a number of digital tools and technology-based resources for the security of humanitarian workers, collectively, they face a number of problems. Aid agencies need a user-friendly, easily accessible tool that delivers simple answers on how to operate safely in any situation.

14 Oct 2015 Blog

Restoring Humanity: Synthesis of the Consultation Process for the World Humanitarian Summit

Humanitarian action has never before reached so many people in so many places. Humanitarians around the world are undertaking extraordinary work. However, the system is under strain. Funding cannot keep pace with growing needs as conflict, insecurity and displacement have…

12 Oct 2015 Resource

What is ‘humanitarian communication’? Towards standard definitions and protections for the humanitarian use of ICTs

Information communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly becoming a defining component of twenty-first century humanitarian response operations during both natural disasters and armed conflict. ICTs have changed how information is communicated and received during crises. It may even be changing how…

9 Oct 2015 Resource

New contribution to the communications technology hub from the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative

A new article by the Signal Program on Human Security and Technology at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative explores what constitutes 'humanitarian communications space', and the challenges to agreeing a common definition of 'humanitarian communication' and its protection under international law.

9 Oct 2015 News

“Saving Lives Together”: A Review of existing NGO and United Nations Security Coordination Practices in the Field

“Saving Lives Together”: A Review of existing NGO and United Nations Security Coordination Practices in the Field is a new report by the SLT framework that presents findings highlighting a range of practical experiences, successes, challenges and good practice of security…

5 Oct 2015 Resource

ATHA Innovation Series – Interview with GISF Researcher Raquel Vazquez Llorente

The Harvard University Advanced Training Program on Humanitarian Action (ATHA) is launching a month-long 'Innovation Series'. This is a series of short podcast discussions with professionals and experts on areas of innovative thinking and development in the humanitarian sector. In the first episode of the series ATHA's Julia Brooks speaks with Raquel Vazquez Llorente, Researcher at the European Interagency Security Forum (GISF).

14 Aug 2015 News

Safety and Security of staff abroad. An analysis of international organizations working in non-industrialized countries

This paper by Matthias Wagner (2014) looks at how NGOs, governmental development agencies, humanitarian organizations and private companies are adjusting to complex contexts they are operating amidst. While organizations or companies are legally responsible to ensure the safety and security…

19 Jun 2015 Resource

Kobani: a city of rubble and unexploded devices

This fact sheet highlights findings from Handicap International’s assessment mission conducted in Kobani last April 2015. This fact sheet reports an appalling illustration of the devastating consequences of the intensive use of explosive weapons in populated areas by all parties in…

12 Jun 2015 Resource

Non-conventional armed violence and non-state actors: challenges for mediation and humanitarian action

This report by Ivan Briscoe (2013) identifies the principal trends in conflict and violence in non-conventional contexts and outlines which aspects of these developments are most relevant to the work of peacebuilding, mediation and humanitarian relief. In particular, it focuses on novelties in the structure and objectives…

12 Jun 2015 Resource

The use of explosive weapons in Syria: a time bomb in the making

Based on an analysis of 77,645 incidents collected between December 2012 and March 2015, this study conducted by Handicap International in 2015 shows that explosive weapons are the most commonly used weapons in the Syria conflict with more than four…

5 Jun 2015 Resource