Turning the humanitarian system on its head: saving lives and livelihoods by strengthening local capacity and shifting leadership to local actors

In this research report, Oxfam puts the humanitarian system under the lens and finds that it must change to remain effective; with locally led humanitarian action whenever possible; adequate funding to state and non-state actors in affected countries; and stronger partnerships between international and local actors, focusing on strengthening local capacity.

The authors argue that in order to be able to conduct and lead disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and response efforts in their countries, local actors — governmental and non-governmental — need funds and sufficient capacity, including technical capacity (e.g., water and sanitation, shelter, humanitarian principles and standards), capacity on cross-cutting issues such as ensuring gender awareness and equity and monitoring and evaluation, and organizational capacity (e.g., financial and human resources systems). The balance of humanitarian funding among all donors within DRR, disaster preparedness, emergency response, and recovery may save more lives and be more efficient if it is more heavily shifted toward DRR. Investments in disaster risk reduction, disaster management capacity, and prevention and preparedness activities more generally are cost effective, although benefit-cost ratio estimates vary considerably.