How is the current security situation in North Kivu impacting on humanitarian activities in the eastern province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo? And what strategies are humanitarian actors deploying in the province to protect and care for the large numbers of displaced people? In December 2023, a workshop on the deteriorating security situation in North Kivu was held in Bukavu, South Kivu, and hosted by Groupe d’Etudes sur les Conflits et la Sécurité Humaine (GEC-SH) and the Social Science in Humanitarian Action (SSHAP) Central & East Africa Hub. Participants from humanitar ..read more

As Tammam Aloudat and Themrise Khan write, ‘Decolonising humanitarian aid has imposed itself on the humanitarian debate over the past few years… But the how, to what extent, and with what means is not yet clear’. Our recent SSHAP webinar ‘Decolonising Humanitarian Action: A Multiplicity of Meanings, Modes & Methods’ aimed to examine just that – to get beyond the buzzwords and explore the multiple and emerging meanings, modes and methods for decolonising aid and emergency response. In this blog post, the webinar panellists share their reflections on the question: How can we decolonise human ..read more

We are pleased to announce the 12 individuals who will be participating in the first Arabic language phase of the SSHAP fellowship, which begins on 19 February 2024. This cohort includes social scientists and humanitarian practitioners from around the world. After receiving 234 completed applications, we have now chosen the Fellows to participate in this phase of our Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform (SSHAP) fellowship. These Fellows are either social scientists or humanitarian practitioners from low- and middle-income countries who are looking to build their skills and networks ..read more

The unprecedented scale and extent of the global cholera upsurge presents a challenge for effective disease control efforts worldwide. Not only are there more outbreaks, but they are also larger, making them more difficult to control without the standard two-dose vaccination regimen, which has been suspended since October 2022 because of shortages. Africa remains the most affected region, with 17 countries reporting cases during 2023 and several being classified as acute crisis (Ethiopia, DRC, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique) recording an ongoing increase in confirmed and suspected chol ..read more

In 2023, countries around the world continued to experience the human, economic and ecological impacts of protracted and resurgent conflicts, economic crises, and climate change, triggering and exacerbating humanitarian emergencies. According to the International Rescue Committee, the 20 countries in its ‘Emergency Watchlist’ for 2024 are ‘home for just 10% of the world’s population but account for approximately 86% of all people in humanitarian need globally, 75% of displaced people, 70% of people suffering from crisis or worse levels of food insecurity—and a growing share of global extreme p ..read more

The Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform (SSHAP) is launching the next phase of its Fellowship Programme to begin in February 2024. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Wellcome Trust, SSHAP is looking for future leaders in social science to be able apply their knowledge to humanitarian emergencies in a locally relevant way. At its core, SSHAP’s vision is to encourage emergency responses which are effective, adaptive, contextually informed and based on social and interdisciplinary science and evidence. The Fellows play a vital role in realising SSHAP ..read more

Bilingual webinar, Thursday 14 December 2023, 14:30 to 16:00 (UTC) The movement to decolonise humanitarian action is gaining critical momentum. Join us for a webinar led by fellows from the Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform – a global network of social science researchers and humanitarian practitioners – to get beyond the buzzwords and explore the multiple and emerging meanings, modes and methods for decolonising aid and emergency response. With perspectives spanning South America, West Africa and Southeast Asia, attendees will hear examples of practical action on the ground. Pane ..read more

For almost two decades, Kalehe and Uvira territories in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have been repeatedly affected by armed conflicts and the subsequent displacement of their populations as they seek to escape. Intercommunal conflicts have become so entrenched that the peacebuilding, development and humanitarian operations of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international agencies in these areas are like a ‘sword in the water’: worsening tensions and weakening trust. In contexts of intercommunal violence and insecurity, humanitarian actors, including NGOs, need to b ..read more

Suspected cases of plague were detected in Ankazobe municipality in the Analamanga central highlands region at the end of September and start of October 2023.  As of 2 October, five suspected cases were under investigation.  Samples had been sent to the Pasteur Institute in Madagascar and control measures were introduced in Ankazobe municipality. This SSHAP brief and infographic focusing on the behavioural, social and community dynamics related to plague outbreaks in Madagascar were first published in 2022. The post Suspected plague outbreak in Madagascar appeared first on Social Sci ..read more

Yemen’s ongoing crisis has resulted in widespread food scarcity, limited access to clean water, and inadequate medical assistance. In 2023, an estimated 80 per cent of the country struggles to put food on the table and access basic services. The lack of reliable electricity further exacerbates the suffering of affected communities. Thus, innovation is needed to alleviate some of these challenges, amid the protracted crisis. Exploring the potential of renewable energy solutions is a pathway for transforming the lives of affected communities. In this blog, I share my personal experiences of prov ..read more