This presentation by ALNAP's Director John Mitchell outlines four models of aid which respond to different circumstances and different needs in order to explain some of the performance challenges of the humanitarian system. Presented in Bern on the 13th of May 2015 to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

1. From best practice
to best fit
Changing to a more flexible
approach to humanitarian aid
John Mitchell, ALNAP Director
Bern – 13th May 2015

2. A system under
increasing strain

3. There is no
one single
model of aid
Photo credit: istock

4. Response model
Comprehensive
• Took greater shape
in the 1980’s
• Responses in low
income countries
with limited state
capacity
• e.g. Haiti Earthquake
in 2010, Sudan
1980s, Rwanda
1990s

5. Response model
Comprehensive
• International system plays
‘substituting role’
• Approximately half of
official global spend
channelled through this
model
• Has become faster but often
fails to adapt to context

6. Response model
Constrained
• Developed further
after the Cold War
• Relates to violent
political crises
where resilient
social contract is
missing
• e.g. Syria

7. Response model
Constrained
• Perennial challenges
of humanitarian
space; access;
protection; principles
• Approximately 25%
of official global
spend channelled
through this model

8. Response model
Collaborative
• Generally works
in low to middle
income
countries with
internal
(growing)
capacity to
respond
• e.g. Pakistan
floods,
Indonesian
earthquakes

9. Response model
Collaborative
• International agencies role to
fill gaps
• Model becoming more
common as states take
greater ownership
• Approximately 15% official
humanitarian spend
funnelled through this model

10. Response model
Consultative
• Middle/high income
countries with strong
social contract
• e.g. Chile
earthquake 2010;
and 2011 Japanese
earthquake and
tsunami

11. Photo credit: Flickr/Chuck Simmins

12. Major constraint is
lack of flexibility
• There is a tendency for the system to default to a comprehensive model.
• It is difficult for the system to move between models.
• Within a model, the system finds it difficult to be flexible.
Photo credit: Flickr/Silvereye

13. U
CONFLICT
REFUGEES
MEGA
COMPREHENSIVE
CONSTRAINED
COLLABORATIVE
CONSULTATIVE

14. Increasingly complex
response environments

16. But there are examples of Flexible Programming
Diversity of actors
Cash-based responses
e.g. Japan / Afghanistan
New ideas around
collective leadership
Photo credit: Flickr/ Colin Crowley
Photo credit: Flickr/ United Nations Information Centres
Social safety net
e.g. Ethiopia
Photo credit: Flickr/ Ian Chapin
Photo credit: Flickr/ capture queen

17. • Current system = difficult to adapt
• Need to learn to adapt within contexts to
changing circumstances and new types of
crisis
• Complex set of challenges which will make
new demands
• Innovative approaches can provide optimism
for the future