Measuring Commitment to Best Practice
HRI
NEWS
Sufficient, flexible and efficient funds
The article defends the need to have sufficient and flexible funding to efficiently address the crisis that continually emerge in the different regions of the world. Among the initiatives designated to ensure this type of resources is the Consolidated Appeals Process and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund. While they are not a master key to attain completely effective humanitarian action, they do represent an important step forward to improve its effectiveness.
In the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, DARA announced its commitment to create the Humanitarian Response Index (HRI) for the next three years. With this new tool, DARA will contribute to improving the quality of life of those affected by emergencies by analysing the donors’ actions.
Interview with Riccardo Polastro about the crisis in Pakistan
In October 2005, Southern Asia suffered one of the most devastating earthquakes of the century in the region. The earthquake’s epicentre was located in the area of Kashmir and North-western Pakistan, two regions where poverty levels have always been highly elevated. In Pakistan alone, the death toll reached 73,000 and numerous infrastructures were badly damaged. Riccardo Polastro visited the area to complete the HRI surveys with first-hand information on the emergency and explains the particularities of the crisis that took place in one of the most mountainous regions, and also the most prone to seismic movement.
DARA presented the HRI in the V Conference of the Spanish Evaluation Society
The Humanitarian Response Index was presented at the V Conference of the Spanish Evaluation Society as an instrument to measure donors’ actions. DARA presented its project in the framework of a session on international cooperation.
Interview with Marta Marañón about the crisis in Niger
Considered the poorest country on the planet by the UNDP Human Development Index, Niger suffered one of the worst crises in the world in 2005-2006. The long period of drought, in conjunction with a plague of locusts, aggravated the food shortage. The desert geography and low levels of development make Niger highly vulnerable to natural hazards. Marta Marañón, Deputy Director of DARA, explains the circumstances that produced the 2005-2006 humanitarian crisis and the challenges the international community faces to promote long term recovery.
The Role of the Beneficiaries of Humanitarian Action
This article defends the practice of analyzing the needs and capacities of communities affected by crises as an important component of more effective humanitarian actions. As stated in the Principles of Good Humanitarian Donorship, implementing organisations should ensure the adequate involvement of the aid beneficiary groups in the design, implementation, and evaluation of humanitarian responses.
DARA Meets with the GHD donors
In order to provide information and exchange points of view on the Humanitarian Response Index, DARA met with members of the Good Humanitarian Donorship Initiative in Geneva. The meeting is part of the open dialogue DARA has maintained with humanitarian actors to create the Index.
Interview with Ricardo Solé about the crisis in Haiti
Haiti’s sporadic history has submerged the country into a complex crisis characterized by the absence of a strong government, inexistence of basic infrastructure and high levels of poverty, corruption and violence. The recent elections held in February 2006 allow certain hopes to emerge for the country that is ranked last in the Human Development Index for the American hemisphere. The challenges of a crisis like that of Haiti are numerous and complicated. Ricardo Solé, who visited Haiti to conduct the HRI survey process, explains some of them.
The Validity of the Principles and Good Practices of Humanitarian Donorship
This article explains why the humanitarian aid principles should be respected. According to the Principles and Good Practices of Humanitarian Donorship, the main objective of humanitarian action is to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity. In a context of increasing complexity, it is necessary to defend these objectives as main pillars of a humanitarian scenario with clear functioning rules.
Interview with Gilles Gasser about the crisis in Lebanon
In July 2006, Lebanon suffered the consequences of an armed conflict in which the Shiite group, Hezbollah, faced Israel. The harsh attacks brought the country into an acute humanitarian crisis whose consequences would take years to surpass. Gilles Passer analyzes the results of a war that, in the words of Kofi Annan, caused, “death and suffering on a wholly unacceptable scale.”
Interview with Johan Schaar about the GHD Initiative
Johan Schaar, Special Representative of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent for Tsunami Operations, explains the significance of the Good Humanitarian Donorship Initiative (GHD). According to Schaar, the Humanitarian Response Index will help ensure that the GHD is a continuously developing, dynamic process. These and other issues will be analyzed extensively by Johan Schaar in his chapter of the Humanitarian Response Index, which will be presented in the month of October.
Interview with Jan Egeland about humanitarian action
DARA spoke with Jan Egeland, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General. With more than 25 years of experience in peace negotiations and humanitarian operations throughout the world, Egeland has held important positions in the United Nations, as well as in non governmental organizations. In this interview, he reveals some of the issues he will analyze in greater detail in his chapter of the Humanitarian Response Index.
Putting Humanitarian Response to the Test
The article explains what humanitarian action is, and what it means for the Humanitarian Response Index (HRI) The HRI is a unique tool that will offer specific information about the strengths and weaknesses of the donors. With this initiative, DARA will contribute to the perfection of humanitarian action and therefore, to the improvement of the quality of life of the millions of people who are affected every year by conflicts and natural hazards.
Interview with Silvia Hidalgo about the HRI
Two months prior to the launch of the Humanitarian Response Index, Silvia Hidalgo, Director of DARA, analyzes the strengths, weaknesses and challenges of humanitarian action. The Humanitarian Response Index is a new tool for donors that will provide key information to improve the effectiveness of the international humanitarian response.
Interview with Augusto López-Claros about the methodology of the HRI
In recent years, the resources allocated to face humanitarian crises has increased to such an extent that it is at the highest amount in history. This situation requires tools and mechanisms that increase the benefits from humanitarian action, and promote and guarantee its accountability and transparency. The Humanitarian Response Index (HRI), created by DARA, meets this need, as it provides detailed information about each of the donors. Augusto López-Claros, Project Director, explains the methodology used to create this new tool.