BACKGROUND In order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian efforts, minimum standards for humanitarian assistance and key indicators, showing whether a standard has been attained, have been developed. However, many of these standards and indicators are based on a consensus on best practices and experiences in humanitarian response, because relevant evidence on the impact of...

This article examines the frequently cited argument that coordination issues in humanitarian relief can be addressed more effectively with greater centralized authority and argues for a new conceptualization of aid delivery. The former position suggests a hierarchical, top-down view of the humanitarian relief theater, while this analysis contends that the relief implementation structure may be ...

Is the ability of humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to effectively improve the health and welfare of aid recipients affected by the source of the organization’s funding? This paper examines the effectiveness of humanitarian NGOs as a function of their funding sources, with a particular focus on civil conflict. I argue that NGOs whose revenue depends on private individual contri...

BACKGROUND Although sexual and reproductive health services have become more available in humanitarian settings over the last decade, safe abortion services are still rarely provided. The authors' observations suggest that four reasons are typically given for this gap: 'There's no need'; 'Abortion is too complicated to provide in crises'; 'Donors don't fund abortion services'; and 'Abortion is ...