Area 1 - Diverse Actors, Diverse Engagement

To demonstrate that in order to provide the capacity needed to effectively respond to the changing dimensions and dynamics of future humanitarian threats, there is a need for new forms of sustained, systematic and strategic engagement with a range of diverse actors.

Outcomes:

Awareness raising: Through research, workshops and by utilising both conventional and new media, HFP will contribute to humanitarian networks to achieve an observable increase in awareness of the importance of engaging with military, commercial, scientific community, diasporas and other actors to build overall capacity to respond to future humanitarian crises;

Policy influencing: At both and organisational and sectoral levels there will be evidence of policy change that acknowledges and facilitates a more sustained and strategic engagement with diverse actors;
 

Contributing to changes in organizational attitudes, behaviours and practice: Organisations and networks with whom HFP engages will demonstrate changes in attitude, behaviours and practices by developing sustained and strategic partnerships with a range of diverse humanitarian actors, traditional and non-traditional.

Projects:

New dimensions of engagement with ‘non-traditional’ humanitarian actors.  

Objective: Determine the extent to which collaboration between humanitarian organisations and non-traditional actors, such as the military, the corporate sector and other ‘non-state actors’ could lead to enhanced capacities when it comes to strategic planning, surge capacities, transformational leadership and community engagement. What are the limitations, opportunities for a more strategic engagement?
 

Science-humanitarian policy dialogues.  

Objective: Encourage a systematic and sustained two-way dialogue between scientists and humanitarian policy makers to ensure that science informs disaster prevention, preparedness and response, thereby building the capacity, knowledge and expertise of those with humanitarian responsibilities and improving the utilisation of scientific knowledge to ensure it meets the needs of vulnerable populations.
 

Non-western perspectives on humanitarianism.  

Objective: Explores both the growing role of non-Western actors in international roles and the extent to which those perspectives differ from Western approaches. This will include further thinking on ways in which HFP’s message and approaches can be translated and transmitted into other parts of the world, including South and South East Asia, the Far East and South America and the extent to which HFP can translate non-Western perspectives to the sector as a whole.
 

Harnessing the diaspora.  

Objective: Explore the growing importance of diaspora communities in both supporting vulnerable communities in disaster preparedness, response and recovery; in translating innovative practices; and in shaping perceptions and aspirations both in their country of origin and within their host country.
 

Humanitarian innovations challenge.  

Objective: Demonstrate the extent to which new types of actors and technologies have the potential to change the ways that humanitarian action should be undertaken. Project Alyssa is designed to test the types of competencies that might best resolve highly complex challenges by involving traditional and non-traditional humanitarian actors with new technologies and methodologies in a detailed simulation exercise to explore new forms of collaboration and the utilisation of innovative practices.

Related Publications: