Rethinking incentives in humanitarian action

In this episode of ‘The Learning Curve’, Juliet Parker, Director of ALNAP, speaks with Damian Lilly, an independent consultant based in Mozambique and a former UN and NGO humanitarian leader. Together, they unpack one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: how to turn learning into meaningful change. 

Drawing on Damian’s recent article co-authored with Mike Pearson, the conversation explores why existing incentive structures within the humanitarian system often prevent real reform. Damian argues that while the sector has no shortage of ideas, evidence, or learning, the problem lies in the economics of aid—how agencies are funded, rewarded, and held accountable. 

Guest:  
Damian Lilly, Independent Consultant and former UN and NGO Humanitarian Adviser 

Host: 
Juliet Parker, Director, ALNAP 

Resources:
Article: “Change the economic incentives to reform the humanitarian system” – by Damian Lilly and Mike Pearson

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In this episode of 'A Matter of Priorities,' our host Alice Obrecht continues her conversation with Hugo Slim on his work with the Norwegian Center for Humanitarian Studies. The discussion focuses on more detailed principles for prioritising and allocating humanitarian resources, such as the principle of shared responsibility. He explores how geopolitical relationships and proximity can play a crucial role in defining and meeting humanitarian needs. 

The episode also includes an updated conversation with Hugo on the aid cuts taking place in early 2025 and how they could be undertaken with an eye to improving humanitarian aid.  Hugo emphasises the need for a leaner, nationalised humanitarian framework and the importance of maintaining universal values amidst a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Guest:
Hugo Slim, Senior Research Fellow at the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice at Blackfriars Hall at the University of Oxford.

Hosts:
Alice Obrecht, Head of Research & Impact, ALNAP 

Resources

How should we define and prioritise humanitarian need? An ethics-based perspective for impact initiatives 

ALNAP’s A Matter of Priorities: a podcast on tough choices in humanitarian funding 

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In the first episode of the new ALNAP's The Learning Curve: a podcast for busy humanitarians series, Juliet Parker, the director of ALNAP, the global network for humanitarian learning, speaks to Loreine B. Dela Cruz, executive director of the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) in the Philippines. The wealth of learning that exists in the Philippines is so embedded within humanitarian practice, civil society structures and relationships with the government. There's so much for the rest of the sector to learn and much of it is very well documented. But sometimes there are barriers and a sense that this learning hasn't been taken up in the way it could have been. Juliet and Loreine explore the reasons why.

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The Learning Curve: a podcast for busy humanitarians podcast is a new podcast for busy humanitarians brought to you by ALNAP, the global network for humanitarian learning. We will be talking to people from right across the humanitarian sector in a variety of jobs in different parts of the globe about what the humanitarian sector would look like if we lived in a world based on learning. We know our sector is rich in learning, expertise and knowledge, but we are falling far short of capitalising on that to improve the performance of humanitarian action. ALNAP's The Learning Curve: a podcast for busy humanitarians podcast  explores how we might overcome the key barriers inhibiting our collective ability to learn, with honest and open discussion about what needs to change if the sector is serious about acting on the basis of the evidence and knowledge that exists.  

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In this episode of 'A Matter of Priorities,' as the sector as a whole looks at a 'humanitarian reset,' our host Alice Obrecht delves into the definition of a humanitarian need with Hugo Slim and how these boundaries might be redefined. 

The episode features insights from Hugo Slim, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, who discusses the need to redefine humanitarian needs through six theoretical approaches and three core questions that agencies should address. 

The conversation further explores the ethical dilemmas of prioritising short-term emergency aid over long-term recovery efforts, with practical examples such as displacement scenarios in South Sudan. The discussion underscores a shift towards focusing on vital interests and necessary programming over broader, optimal life improvements to better address urgent humanitarian crises.

Guests:
Katie Rickard, Impact Initiatives
Hugo Slim, Senior Research Fellow at the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice at Blackfriars Hall at the University of Oxford.

Hosts:
Alice Obrecht, Head of Research & Impact, ALNAP 

Resources

How should we define and prioritise humanitarian need? An ethics-based perspective for impact initiatives 

ALNAP’s A Matter of Priorities: a podcast on tough choices in humanitarian funding 

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In this episode of A Matter of Priorities, our host Alice Obrecht takes a deep dive into the ripple effects of unprecedented budget cuts to the World Food Program (WFP). With a shortfall of over 50% in its 2023 budget, WFP faced its largest financial crisis in its 60-year history, forcing it to make drastic reductions in food and cash assistance across the globe. 

We explore how these cuts unfolded on the ground, particularly in Uganda, and the human toll they’ve taken.  

The discussions highlight the structural challenges, the human impact of these cuts — including heartbreaking examples of coping mechanisms adopted by refugees — and the broader implications for the humanitarian sector. 

Guests:
Valerie Guarnieri: Assistant Executive Director for Program and Policy Development at the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
Kristof Titeca: Professor of Development Studies at the Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp.
Roos Derrix: PhD student at the University of Antwerp.

Co-Host: 
Alice Obrecht, Head of Research & Impact, ALNAP
Emmeline Kerkvliet, former Research Officer, ALNAP

ALNAP’s A Matter of Priorities: a podcast on tough choices in humanitarian funding 

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In this episode of A Matter of Priorities, we explore the significant budget cuts faced by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and their far-reaching consequences. Established in 1863, the ICRC provides critical protection and assistance to people affected by armed conflict. However, in 2023, the organisation announced cuts amounting to 440 million Swiss francs, a drastic 16% reduction in its budget. 

Alice speaks with Olivier Ray, ICRC’s Director of Mobilisation, Movement, and Partnership, about the challenges of implementing such cuts, the ethical dilemmas involved, and the impact on both ICRC staff and the communities they serve. The interview was done in March 2024. 

Guest:
Olivier Ray, Director of Mobilisation, Movement, and Partnership at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 

Host: 
Alice Obrecht, Head of Research & Impact, ALNAP 

ALNAP’s A Matter of Priorities: a podcast on tough choices in humanitarian funding 

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In this episode, we discuss the role of evidence in resource allocation decisions, focusing on the new Joint and Intersectoral Analysis Framework (GF 2.0). We explore how this approach aims to address flaws in traditional needs assessments and improve transparency in humanitarian responses.

You can find more on the JIAF 2.0 here: https://knowledge.base.unocha.org/wiki/spaces/hpc/pages/3992944652/JIAF  

And the most recent estimate of global humanitarian need, based on the JIAF 2.0 method, is here: https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/world/global-humanitarian-overview-2024-enarfres  
 

Guests:
Leila Oliveira, Independent expert and former GF 2.0 advisory lead
Katie Rickard, Impact Initiatives
Helen Pittam, REACH, with on-the-ground perspectives from crisis-affected countries

Co-hosts:
Alice Obrecht, Head of Research & Impact, ALNAP 
Emmeline Kerkvliet, former Research Officer, ALNAP

ALNAP’s A Matter of Priorities: a podcast on tough choices in humanitarian funding 

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In 2023, funding for humanitarian assistance and protection declined by 20 percent, despite new major crises and the continuation of long-standing conflicts. And there are expectations that cuts will only continue into 2025. Many in the humanitarian sector are referring to this as a catastrophic ‘financial cliff’ that will have major implications for agencies and the communities that they serve.

In this podcast episode, we delve into this ‘financial cliff’, asking experts how we measure and understand resource gaps in the humanitarian sector. We also ask whether this really is an unprecedented moment, looking into the data.

Guests:
Ed Schenkenberg van Mierop, Co-founder and Executive Director, HERE-GENEVA
Niklas Rieger, Independent Consultant
Elizabeth Vilkman, Humanitarian Program Specialist, SIDA
Simon Levine, Research Fellow, Global Risks and Resilience ODI

Co-hosts:
Alice Obrecht, Head of Research & Impact, ALNAP
Emmeline Kerkvliet, former Research Officer, ALNAP

Resources
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/global-humanitarian-overview-2025-enarfres


Audio used: BBC audio 

ALNAP’s A Matter of Priorities: a podcast on tough choices in humanitarian funding 

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The humanitarian principle of providing assistance to those in greatest need is facing unprecedented challenges. With funding decreasing and the number of people requiring support rising sharply, humanitarian donors and organisations are grappling with impossible decisions about who to prioritise and what needs to address.

A Matter of Priorities dives into these dilemmas, examining how the sector makes complex choices when resources fall short of meeting overwhelming demand. From deciding who receives aid to redefining what constitutes humanitarian "need," this podcast brings together experts from across the sector to explore these pressing questions.

Join our host, Alice Obrecht (ALNAP’s Head of Research and Impact), as we address key topics such as:

• What does ethical and effective decision-making look like in humanitarian aid, and who holds the power to make these critical choices?
• How has humanitarian action evolved in recent years and how should we redefine the role of humanitarians?

Through this podcast, we aim to deepen your understanding of the complexities surrounding prioritisation in the humanitarian aid sector. 

Listen and join the conversation at www.alnap.org.

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In Episode 3, ALNAP director Juliet Parker meets Andriy Klepikov, executive director of the Alliance for Public Health (APH) in Ukraine.  Juliet speaks to Andriy about the adjustments APH has had to make since Ukraine's war with Russia began and the learning that has been pulled through from previous work into this new reality. Andriy explains APH's partnership with Christian Aid and their work together using the survivor and community-led response (sclr) approach. Localisation is a big theme in the discussion.

ALNAP's The Learning Curve: a podcast for busy humanitarians

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Juliet Parker, the director of ALNAP, the global network for humanitarian learning, meets Ahmad Kazouini, water & habitat coordinator for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Somalia, and Andy Wheatley, ICRC's African regional anticipatory action adviser, in the second episode of the new Learning Curve podcast series. With such a good body of evidence supporting anticipatory action and many good experiences, why is the humanitarian sector struggling to make a step change in mainstream practices? Juliet also asks Andy and Ahmad about their experiences of working on the Somalia El Nino flood response.

ALNAP's The Learning Curve: a podcast for busy humanitarians

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In this episode of The Learning Curve, Juliet Parker speaks with independent evaluator Tasneem Mowjee, lead author of the recent Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation of the Syria–Türkiye earthquake response. Together, they explore what the evaluation revealed — from recurring system-wide challenges to promising examples of community engagement and duty of care. 

Tasneem reflects on why long-established learning still struggles to shape real-time decisions, what it means to respond in a middle-income context, and how the sector can better empower frontline and local actors during this moment of humanitarian transition.

Guest: Tasneem Mowjee, Director, Policy to Practice Team (P2PT)

Host: Juliet Parker, Director, ALNAP 

Resources: “INFORMING THE HUMANITARIAN RESET WITH EVIDENCE - A contribution from the Türkiye/Syria Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation” - IAHE

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