Humanitarian Response Index 2009: Clarifying Donor Priorities

Every year, humanitarian crises threaten the lives and livelihoods of over 250 million people worldwide. Whether caused by conflict, climate change or the global financial crisis, increasing numbers of people will need humanitarian assistance in the coming years. To increase the quality and effectiveness of their humanitarian assistance, donor governments must make the best use of their resources, knowledge and capabilities to respond to humanitarian challenges.

On November 10, the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement will host the launch of the Development Assistance Research Associates (DARA) Humanitarian Response Index 2009 (HRI), which helps donor governments ensure that humanitarian assistance has the greatest possible impact for people suffering the effects of crises and disasters. Following a presentation of the Index’s findings by Silvia Hidalgo, Executive Director of DARA, Ross Mountain, who has served for the last five years as United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senior Fellow Elizabeth Ferris, co-director of the Brookings-Bern Project, will discuss HRI’s findings and its potential impact in the field, reflecting on their own experiences.

After the program, panelists will take audience questions. A reception will follow the event.