The Wilson Quarterly

10/30/2024

Faith-based organizations are uniquely positioned to provide humanitarian assistance, drawing on deep-held values and expansive global networks. In this feature, WQ editor Stephanie Bowen talks with Robert Hokanson of the Church of Latter-day Saints. Together, they explore the significant role that these organizations can play in responding to crises around the world.

“Faith-based organizations also have a convening power that quickly multiplies impact. They can mobilize their members to take collective action, amplify messages, and engage in community service,” says Hokanson.

Through partnerships with other faith-based organizations and collaborations with first responders, these groups mobilize their members and significant resources to support those most in need.

“There is a common misperception that faith-based organizations compete with each other; in reality, we have a strong awareness of each other’s strengths and rely on each other.”

Read more in the fall ‘24 issue of the Wilson Quarterly: Confronting Unprecedented Humanitarian Needs.

https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/confronting-unprecedented-humanitarian-needs/here-to-serve

10/30/2024

Amid Sudan’s Civil War, traditional humanitarian access faces unprecedented challenges. Yet, innovations and community spirit are persevering. In this article, Aaron Stanley from the the Wilson Center’s Africa Program engages with Alsanosi Adam, who is working in Sudan with Emergency Response Rooms, or ERRs.

They discuss how the ERR's volunteers deliver essential food, medicine, and supplies to those in need.

“We are not engaging with Sudanese Armed Forces or Rapid Support Forces at all. The communities are organizing the responses, so we don’t need to negotiate access,” says Adam.

As violence disrupts the international aid efforts, learn how these grassroots initiatives are opening doors typically closed to international aid groups.

Read more in the fall ‘24 issue of the Wilson Quarterly: Confronting Unprecedented Humanitarian Needs.


https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/confronting-unprecedented-humanitarian-needs/volunteers-open-doors-in-sudan-typically-closed-to-international-aid-groups

10/29/2024

As humanitarian needs escalate globally, Congress has dramatically increased USAID’s emergency response funding to an unprecedented $9 billion. In his essay for the WQ, former USAID administrator Andrew Natsios dives into what this significant funding increase means for the humanitarian response system.

“While the US government’s disaster relief programs are well funded and please policymakers, they don’t always pass muster with disaster scholars, intellectuals, and analytical field staff about how to make up for past failures,” he writes.

Natsios discusses the systematic challenges that such a large influx of money could create and emphasizes the importance of integrating relief and development efforts-concepts he believes are essential for effective humanitarian aid programs.

Read more in the fall ‘24 issue of the Wilson Quarterly: Confronting Unprecedented Humanitarian Needs.


https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/confronting-unprecedented-humanitarian-needs/a-world-in-crisis

10/29/2024

DYK that there is an innovative technology transforming a crucial part of humanitarian assistance?

As part of the fall issue of the WQ, Ambassador Mark A. Green interviews Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, co-founder and CEO of the autonomous logistics company Zipline. They explore the world of self-flying drones that are delivering blood and other critical medical supplies to some of Africa’s most remote locations.

These drones are not just changing logistics; they’re saving lives by ensuring that essential supplies reach communities in need, even in challenging places like Rwanda’s mountains.

Read more in the fall ‘24 issue of the Wilson Quarterly: Confronting Unprecedented Humanitarian Needs.

https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/confronting-unprecedented-humanitarian-needs/saving-lives,-one-drone-at-a-time

10/28/2024

After more than two years at war, the mental health crisis in Ukraine is profound, with approximately one-third of the population grappling with mental health issues that will persist long after the conflict ends. In this essay, Matthew Stearns and Claire Whitney from International Medical Corps discuss the critical changes taking place within Ukraine’s mental health system.

Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, the relief and recovery organization has worked tirelessly to integrate mental health and psychosocial support services into their broader humanitarian efforts. This approach is essential in a society were seeking mental health assistance often carries a stigma.

Read more about their work and its implications for the future of mental health in Ukraine in the fall ‘24 issue of the Wilson Quarterly: Confronting Unprecedented Humanitarian Needs.


https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/confronting-unprecedented-humanitarian-needs/healing-ukraines-invisible-scars

10/28/2024

As humanitarian crises continue to grow, the risks faced by women and newborns are increasingly alarming. In this feature, Sarah Barnes, director of the Wilson Center's Maternal Health Initiative, engages with members of the Inter-Agency Working Group of Reproductive Health in Crises to uncover what aspects of care require more focus in humanitarian emergencies.

Contributors hail from UNFPA, the International Rescue Committee, Project Hope, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and more. They discuss the often misunderstood and under-researched areas of maternal and newborn health. Together, they shed light on the urgent need for tailored responses to protect the most vulnerable during crises.
https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/confronting-unprecedented-humanitarian-needs/as-humanitarian-crises-grow,-so-do-risks-for-women-and-newborns

Read more in the fall ‘24 issue of the Wilson Quarterly: Confronting Unprecedented Humanitarian Needs.

10/26/2024

WEEKEND READING ALERT:📰
The fall issue of the Wilson Quarterly has hit the virtual newsstands.

With a rapidly changing world that is home to entrenched wars, political instability, and more frequent and more intense natural disasters, humanitarian needs have never been greater. And, there’s every indication that the needs will only continue to grow.

The humanitarian response sector is a well-oiled machine that brings together advancements in medicine, technology, and logistics with professional first responders, working in harsh conditions to save lives and bring hope to the most vulnerable people among us. Whether responding to crises driven by war, natural disaster or disease, global networks are quickly activated based on long established protocols that have proven to work time and again. But, even under the best circumstances, humanitarian response is a stop-gap measure, and current efforts are not sustainable.

Featuring leaders from the sector, the fall 2024 Wilson Quarterly analyzes the state of humanitarian assistance, the roles of the public and private sectors, who’s footing the bill and who isn’t, what is working and what isn’t, and what innovations are on the horizon.

This collection will help policymakers make better decisions around humanitarian response funding, provide new insights to those in the sector, and create a greater understanding of what is at stake for all global citizens. 🌍

10/26/2024

Amid ongoing conflicts, the laws of war play a vital role in protecting human dignity and ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches those in need. In his insightful article, Fabrizio Carboni, Head of Delegation for the ICRC, emphasizes that disregarding these laws leads to a cycle of death, destruction, and displacement.

Drawing on real-life experiences from his time overseeing humanitarian efforts in the Middle East, Carboni illustrates how adherence to the laws of war is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative.

“At that moment my world went silent. It wasn’t a scene of bombs or missing limbs, but something far more devastating in its simplicity. It was a haunting reflection of how civilians are often abandoned in conflict, left without basic support they need to survive—or even die—with dignity,” he writes.

Carboni goes on to discuss the significance of international humanitarian laws in facilitating immediate humanitarian relief and fostering long-term conflict resolution.

Read more in the fall ‘24 issue of the Wilson Quarterly: Confronting Unprecedented Humanitarian Needs.

When the fog of war lingers indefinitely, the trifecta of death, destruction, and displacement becomes a never-ending vicious cycle that is hard to stop; and when the laws of war are disregarded, the moral imperative takes on a life-or-death urgency, not just for immediate humanitarian reasons, but....

10/25/2024

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, and conflicts become more entrenched, humanitarian crises are becoming more complex and challenging to address.

In this feature, Director of the Wilson Center's Environment Change and Security Program Lauren Herzer-Risi talks with humanitarian water specialist Syed Imran Ali to discuss how we can build resilience in the face of these growing challenges.

One key takeaway: the impact of climate change isn’t just increasing disaster occurrences—it is also complicating the delivery of vital assistance to those in need.

Learn more about adaptive strategies in the face of conflict and climate emergencies.

Out now in the fall ‘24 issue of the Wilson Quarterly: Confronting Unprecedented Humanitarian Needs.

10/25/2024

With 120 million displaced people in the world today, is the focus of many stories in the media and, on the minds of government leaders around the globe. And often migration and humanitarian crises seem to go hand in hand.

But Director General of the International Organization of Migration, Amy Pope, says we must reframe the issue.

In her essay for the Wilson Quarterly's fall issue, Pope makes the case for migration to be thought of as a solution to global challenges rather than an outcome of humanitarian crises.

Learn more:

https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/confronting-unprecedented-humanitarian-needs/moving-beyond-migration-as-an-outcome-of-humanitarian-crises

The Director General of the International Organization on Migration provides a comprehensive understanding of the humanitarian crises driving migration. She outlines how to support communities impacted by migration, and ultimately how to use migration as a tool to address some of the most pressing g...

10/24/2024

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall while three insiders talk about the ins and outs of humanitarian assistance? Now is your chance.

For the fall issue of the Wilson Quarterly, three of the most experienced professionals in the sector came together to talk about what is working, what isn't, and what can be done to improve that state of humanitarian response in these unprecedented times.

Rob Jenkins, who moderates the discussion, spent 26 years at , most recently as assistant to the administrator for the Bureau for Conflict and Stabilization. He is joined by Jamie McGoldrick, who recently served as the 's Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Coordination, and Nimo Hassan, who not only heads up the Somali NGO Consortium but is the Board Chair of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies ( )--a group of about 160 organizations that are working to improve humanitarian aid.

They left the filters off for this conversation.

In this video feature, Robert Jenkins moderates a discussion between Jamie McGoldrick, fmr. UN resident coordinator for humanitarian affairs, and Nimo Hassan, Chair of the Somali NGO Consortium and board chair of ICVA, a group of more than 160 NGOs who are working to improve humanitarian assistance....

10/23/2024

They say a picture paints a thousand words. In this case, so does a number.

In this piece, Abby Stoddard co-founder of Humanitarian Outcomes--an independent research organization providing evidence and policy advice to inform better humanitarian action--dives into the data to provide a clear understanding of the state of humanitarian response across the last decade.

In a nutshell: there are more complex emergencies occurring, more aid workers killed or at risk, and more money needed. Just about the only thing that hasn't gone up is the number of donors.

Learn more.

From the needs to the responses, we get a clearer picture of how the humanitarian assistance sector has changed over the past decade by taking a close look at the numbers. Those numbers tell a compelling story: crises are growing in numbers and complexity, humanitarian workers are increasingly at ri...

10/23/2024

As global humanitarian needs continue to rise, Ambassador Mark A. Green reflects on his experiences as USAID administrator. Drawing on memories from his work in crisis zones like Venezuela and Syria, he emphasizes the need for innovative approaches and new collaborations.

With the US the largest humanitarian donor, Ambassador Green calls on more wealthy countries to step up to meet the growing challenges, and for the sector to think beyond immediate relief, but also about empowering communities to be self-reliant in the future.

Read more in the fall ‘24 issue of the Wilson Quarterly: Confronting Unprecedented Humanitarian Needs.


https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/confronting-unprecedented-humanitarian-needs/introduction-confronting-unprecedented-humanitarian-needs

10/22/2024

The humanitarian response sector is in many ways a well-oiled machine that brings together advancements in medicine, technology, and logistics with professional first responders, working in harsh conditions to save lives and bring hope to the most vulnerable people among us. Whether responding to crises driven by war, natural disaster or disease, global networks are quickly activated based on long established protocols that have proven to work time and again. However, with a rapidly changing world that is home to entrenched wars, political instability, and more frequent and more intense natural disasters, humanitarian needs have never been higher and there’s every indication that the needs will only continue to grow. While a worthy endeavor, humanitarian response is a stop-gap measure, and current efforts are not sustainable.

Featuring leaders from the sector, the fall 2024 Wilson Quarterly analyzes the state of humanitarian assistance, the roles of the public and private sectors, who’s footing the bill and who isn’t, what is working and what isn’t, and what innovations are on the horizon. This collection will help policymakers make better decisions around humanitarian response funding, provide new insights to those in the sector, and create a greater understanding of what is at stake.

Learn more at https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/confronting-unprecedented-humanitarian-needs

09/06/2024

To help bring added context the latest issue of the WQ, our editor Stephanie Bowen and Lauren Herzer Risi of the Environmental Change and Security Program talked with about demographic trends, how they impact foreign policy & more.

Watch the full episode:

In this edition of Wilson Center NOW, we focus on the latest edition of the Wilson Quarterly, "The Great Population Shakeup."

08/14/2024

"The current climate and environmental crises mean we must plan for a net zero world that provides healthy and safe lives with low environmental impact for 10 billion people by 2050. At the same time, the world’s economy will double or possibly even triple. Managing these situations simultaneously is the challenge of our age."

So write Earth System Science professor Mark Maslin and environmental journalist Shooka Bidarian. They paint a stark picture but provide policy solutions to help ensure everyone can live healthy, fulfilling, sustainable, and secure lives.

Out now in the summer ‘24 issue of the Wilson Quarterly: The Great
https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/the-great-population-shakeup/the-challenge-of-our-age-managing-climate,-population,-and-migration

08/13/2024

"Fertility, along with mortality and migration, is central to population and its importance to demographers, policymakers, economists, and a country’s development is without question. But focusing on population trends without considering the experiences of the billions of individuals who make up those trends—each with a unique life course, personal aspirations, and individual potential—establishes an unhealthy and dangerous tension that can strip women of their rights and leave them socially disenfranchised."

So write Sarah B. Barnes and Jay Gribble, who, in the new issue of the Wilson Quarterly put life experiences behind the data to bring context and nuance to around the world. They also examine policies past and present to understand what works—and what doesn’t--when it comes to and .

Learn more in the summer issue of the Wilson Quarterly: The Great .
https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/the-great-population-shakeup/moving-beyond-fertility-targets