People in Ethiopia’s Somali region have had their lives turned upside down by three years of drought. Oxfam’s research has found that there are several ways in which aid agencies can better meet the needs of women and girls and promote gender equality. Over the past three years the rains have been sparse in the Ethiopian Somali region. This year’s …
To use or not to use biometrics? Help us answer the question
Biometric technologies such as iris scanning, fingerprint or facial recognition, have opened up exciting new possibilities for humanitarian aid delivery, but the potential risks are high. That’s why Oxfam is looking for a consultant to conduct research into the safe use of biometrics in humanitarian response: is this an area you are working in? Imagine if you had lost everything …
Podcast: Key requirements for INGOs to make true on the ‘Localisation of Aid’ agenda
[buzzsprout episode=’2559247′ player=’true’] Many INGOs have made commitments to support reform in the Humanitarian System, specifically to ensure that local and national humanitarian actors can take a more prominent role in coordinating and implementing emergency responses. What are the challenges INGOs like Oxfam face in realising this ‘Localisation of Aid’ agenda? We spoke to the Oxfam in Iraq team for …
Why partnerships are vital to our work in South Sudan
From borehole drilling to peacebuilding Oxfam partners in South Sudan are responding to people’s needs in ways that only local organisations could. Tim Bierley reflects on the strengths of Oxfam’s South Sudan partnerships. There’s risk of a cholera outbreak on islands deep into the Sudd, South Sudan. People are relying on the often-contaminated swamp for their drinking water. New boreholes …
Building local humanitarian capacity in Yemen
Working with local partners in emergencies enables Oxfam to respond to the needs of more vulnerable people in a timely and sensitive way. Here Bassim Assuqair shares a success story from Yemen where in partnership with Oxfam youth organization GWQ has been able to build humanitarian capacity to respond to the crisis in their local area. Since the escalation of …
GWQ-Oxfam partnership: working hard to build when everything is collapsing in Yemen
As part of Oxfam GB’s 75th anniversary, we’re showcasing the work of our partners. Here, Generations Without Qat, share the challenges they face in the escalating crisis in Yemen. More than 2.5 million citizens in Taiz, Yemen have been affected by war. Their lives, income, and homes are under threat. In an already-poor country, they have been deprived from their basic …
Using geographic information systems in humanitarian response
Laura Eldon reflects on the potential of geographic information systems to help humanitarians, and introduces case studies from South Sudan and Tanzania. When a conflict or disaster strikes Oxfam responds rapidly to protect and save lives. To do this effectively we need to understand where the greatest needs are, plan and monitor our response activities, and coordinate with other actors …
Tiger worms: the little sanitation engineers
Could tiger worms be the answer to some of the challenges of providing toilets in refugee and displaced people camps? Oxfam is conducting a pilot project to find out, working with the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in camps in Myanmar. ‘What do you think about worms? Would you be comfortable working with worms?’ Bagus Setyawan from Oxfam’s Global …
Vlog: Have you ever had a poo in the dark?
Oxfam’s Protection Project Manager, Kerry Akers, vlogs about research into the use of lighting around latrines in emergencies. Partnered with the Water Engineering and Development Centre at Loughborough University to undertake research, with the support of the Humanitarian Innovation Fund, the research aims to establish how best to decrease the perceived risk of GBV around WASH facilities.
In the line of fire: a humanitarian security officer’s life
Humanitarian security officers face some of the toughest job environments. For World Humanitarian Day Rod Slip shares some stories from risky and dangerous situations. In the course of my humanitarian career, with Oxfam a lot of the time, I have had the dubious honour of being shot at, shelled, been under rocket barrage and air-raids and found myself in the …