NEWS: As world leaders and NGOs meet for the World Humanitarian Summit the importance of local organisations in responding to disasters is high on the agenda. Here Alex Lankester, Head of Corporate Partnerships, explains how Oxfam is taking its humanitarian work with local partners to a new stage, in collaboration with the IKEA Foundation. With the global humanitarian system close …
The cash bargain: travelling between aspirations and possibilities
OPINION: The World Humanitarian Summit process has shown that when consensus is needed to formulate commitments among States, there are still a lot to be done to change perceptions regarding the value of cash transfer programming and the role it should play in humanitarian assistance. Paula Gil Baizan, CaLP’s Advocacy Coordinator, takes us through cash transfer programmes should be higher …
Can a radio series change attitudes and norms on violence against women?
LEARNING: Imagine you could just broadcast an entertaining radio soap opera, starring everyone’s favourite celebrities, and listeners would change their attitudes and perceptions of norms about violence against women for the better. Sounds too good to be true? We recently tried to find out as Caroline Hodges, Impact and Knowledge Specialist, explains. Edutainment combines media entertainment with educational messages and …
How did we do? Using technology to gather humanitarian feedback
NEWS: Often the most valuable beneficiary feedback is given informally and face to face. That’s why Oxfam is exploring new ways of helping staff to digitally record comments received as they go about their work as Emily Tomkys, ICT in Programme Officer, reports. A study into complaints related to humanitarian interventions by Baños Smith in 2009 revealed that ‘All participants …
Improving sanitation in Kenya: toilets have become an obsession
ON THE GROUND REFLECTION: In Kenya a child dies every 17 minutes of a preventable disease caused by diarrhoea. Brian McSorley, WASH Coordinator, is passionate about providing clean water and sanitation, here he explains what this involves in Oxfam’s Kenya programme. I spend a lot of my time looking into toilets. Some people have suggested toilets have become an obsession …
Women’s work: mothers, children and the global childcare crisis
OPINION: Both women and children are suffering as a result of a global childcare crisis and a lack of policies to address the childcare deficit argues Tanvi Bhatkal, Research Officer at the Overseas Development Institute. Families around the world are squeezed between the twin demands of work outside the home and that inside it. These conflicting demands have been contributing …
The challenge of climate change adaptation in the Philippines
Successful adaptation to changing weather patterns depends on cooperation and commitment from across government and civil society reflects Daniel Morchain. Conducting a multi- stakeholder vulnerability and risk assessment should help bring about adaptation plans which are inclusive and flexible. Successful adaptation to changing weather patterns depends on cooperation and commitment from across government and civil society reflects Daniel Morchain. Conducting …
The challenge of climate change adaptation in the Philippines
LEARNING: Successful adaptation to changing weather patterns depends on cooperation and commitment from across government and civil society reflects Daniel Morchain. Conducting a multi- stakeholder vulnerability and risk assessment should help bring about adaptation plans which are inclusive and flexible. After the strongest ever recorded typhoon devastated eastern and central parts of the Philippines and killed more than 6,300 …
Who told you that? Inclusion, bias and humanitarian evidence synthesis
OPINION: Dr Ellie Ott, Humanitarian Evidence Programme and Communications Manager, reflects on the challenges and opportunities of evidence synthesis in the humanitarian sector. The Humanitarian Evidence Programme, a UK Aid-funded partnership between Oxfam and Feinstein International Center at Tufts University, aims to strengthen the evidence base of humanitarian policy and practice through synthesis and research uptake. To this aim the programme …
Thank you, Mossack Fonseca, for a textbook case study
OPINION: In light of the Panama Papers, tax havens have come under more scrutiny than ever before. Here Franziska Mager, Research Assistant at Oxfam, delves into why these leaks show the links between inequality and tax havens. The Panama Papers, like previous leaks, have had an almost movielike quality. If you are reading this, you have probably found yourself glued …