Humanitarian and Development Studies

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The study of humanitarian aid and development programs, including their impact on local communities and the global development agenda.

The history and origins of humanitarian and development studies: This topic provides an overview of the evolution of the discipline and the key figures and events that have shaped it over time.
The humanitarian and development aid industry: This topic explores the different actors and organizations involved in humanitarian and development aid, their roles and functions, and the challenges and opportunities they face.
The principles and value systems of humanitarian and development work: This topic examines the ethical and moral frameworks that underpin humanitarian and development work, such as the principles of humanity, impartiality, and neutrality.
Poverty and inequality: This topic focuses on the causes and consequences of poverty and inequality, the different ways in which they are measured and defined, and the policies and interventions that can be used to address them.
Conflict and crisis response: This topic looks at the ways in which humanitarian and development actors respond to armed conflict, natural disasters, and other crises, including the challenges and opportunities of such response.
Gender and development: This topic explores the ways in which gender roles and relations shape development outcomes, and the strategies that can be used to promote gender equality and women's rights in humanitarian and development contexts.
Health and healthcare: This topic focuses on the intersection of health and development, including the burden of diseases in low- and middle-income countries, the challenges and opportunities of healthcare provision, and the policies and interventions that can promote health equity.
Education and learning: This topic examines the role of education in human development, including issues related to access, quality, and equity, and the challenges and opportunities of promoting lifelong learning in humanitarian and development contexts.
Environment and sustainability: This topic looks at the ways in which environmental degradation and climate change affect human development, and the policies and interventions that can promote sustainable development practices.
Innovation and technology: This topic explores the potential of technological innovation and digital transformation for improving humanitarian and development outcomes, including issues related to access, affordability, and ethical considerations.
Monitoring and evaluation: This topic examines the importance of monitoring and evaluating humanitarian and development interventions, including the different methods and tools that can be used to measure impact and effectiveness.
Advocacy and communication: This topic looks at the role of advocacy and communication in humanitarian and development work, including strategies for engaging with different stakeholders and promoting social change.
"Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help... Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and victims of natural disasters, wars, and famines."
"It may be distinguished from development aid, which seeks to address the underlying socioeconomic factors... led to a crisis or emergency."
"The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) of the United Nations (UN) is responsible for coordination responses to emergencies."
"The four UN entities that have primary roles in delivering humanitarian aid are United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme (WFP)."
"The International Committee of the Red Cross understands humanitarian relief as a norm in both international and non-international armed conflicts."
"Countries or war parties that prevent humanitarian relief are generally widely criticized."
"The most lethal year for aid providers in the history of humanitarianism was 2008, in which 122 aid workers were murdered and 260 assaulted."
"The countries deemed least safe were Somalia and Afghanistan."
"The countries with the highest incidents were: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, and Kenya."
"274 million people need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022, or 1 out of 29 people worldwide."
"Some scholars define humanitarian obligations as 'unfixed.'"
"When recipients of aid call on different parties - agencies, governments, the international community - to fulfill these obligations."
"The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity."
"Development aid seeks to address the underlying socioeconomic factors which may have led to a crisis or emergency."
"Humanitarian aid is seen as 'a fundamental expression of the universal value of solidarity between people and a moral imperative.'"
"Humanitarian relief efforts are provided for humanitarian purposes and include natural disasters and human-made disasters."
"The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is responsible for coordination responses to emergencies."
"Linking humanitarian aid and development efforts seeks to address the underlying socioeconomic factors which may have led to a crisis or emergency."
"Humanitarian aid can come from either local or international communities."
"The members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, whose members are responsible for providing emergency relief."