Evidence-based humanitarian action: is the humanitarian sector serious about evidence? Geneva, 28 March
Figure 1: Photograph: © Patrick Brown/UNICEF/Panos Pictures
Evidence-based humanitarian action: is the humanitarian sector serious about evidence?
Thursday 28 March 2019 6pm-8pm at the Graduate Institute of International and Development studies, Geneva
An event organised by the CERAH, Centre d’Enseignement et de Recherche en Action Humanitaire, Geneva
The 2016 humanitarian “Grand Bargain” recognised the need to increase effectiveness in the humanitarian ecosystem through better use of evidence. The Grand Bargain went little further than a commitment to multi-sector needs assessment. But humanitarian actors are increasingly recognising that better use of robust evidence from good quality research and evaluation can and should be central to decision-making at all stages of the humanitarian cycle, not just needs assessment. While there are signs of progress, bringing data and evidence to action and decision-making is still far from what it could and should be in the humanitarian eco-system. This panel discussion explores the state of evidence-based humanitarian decision-making and what we should be doing to address the evidence gap in humanitarian action.
Karl Blanchet and Ben Heaven Taylor will present the practice guide on evidence use in the humanitarian sector, which has been recently published by Evidence Aid, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Alliance for Useful Evidence (NESTA). This will be followed by a panel discussion with:
- Doris Schopper, Director of CERAH (Chair)
- Fiona Terry, Head of the Centre for Operational Research and Experience (the CORE), International Committee of the Red Cross
- Ben Heaven Taylor, Evidence Aid Chief Executive Officer
- Karl Blanchet, Director of the Health in Humanitarian Crises Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine