Humanitarian funding needs fundamental reform
By: Matthew Stickland — Head of Communications and Digital at Start Network
The increasing number and intensity of disasters requiring humanitarian assistance, combined with the financial conditions facing national governments, will result in a greater demand for philanthropic intervention that the traditional model will struggle to service. The climate crisis alone is now forecast to produce ‘once in a century’ events on an annual basis. Philanthropic organisations must seek to go beyond the traditional outpouring of generosity when scenes of devastation hit our front pages and help to establish a system that protects communities at risk of disaster.
A recent evaluation at Start Network has indicated that up to 55 per cent of all humanitarian funding goes to crises that are somewhat predictable, and yet only one per cent of that funding is organised in advance. If we acknowledge that there is only a limited future in a system that focuses solely on people who are already in crisis, then how can we, with a clear conscience, continue to justify that this is where the vast majority of our limited collective resources are channelled?
Acting in advance of crises to empower communities to protect their own lives and livelihoods, provides a more dignified and morally justifiable alternative. The concept is beginning to garner more and more support across the sector; however, actual implementations of the policy remain few and far between. Traditional aid donors are still reticent to use taxpayers’ money towards new and innovative ideas; particularly when these ideas are for future events and not related to whichever current disaster dominates our front pages.
If the humanitarian sector is going to effectively move towards a more anticipatory model, there needs to be…
New issue: Crises happen: get ready
The December 2022 issue of Alliance magazine explores the role of philanthropy in crises and suggests that acting before the fact — rather than simply reacting — is the way ahead. The issue is guest-edited by Patty McIlreavy and Regine Webster of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
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Originally published at https://www.alliancemagazine.org on January 8, 2023.
