I’ve just come back from Bangladesh and Uganda where the teams have begun the domestic response pilot case studies. We are trying to understand how a nation responds when there is a humanitarian crisis affecting their country. For example, how did Ugandans respond to the conflict in the north of the country and what resources do Bangladeshis mobilise after a cyclone or flood? The studies will try to map out the different sources and types of domestic response. This could include responses from the government, domestic civil society, the diaspora, communities, individuals, the media and the domestic private sector. We hope that by finding out the scale and characteristics of the resources that are mobilised, we can contribute to better decision-making on resource allocation from both national and international actors, which in turn, will mean a more effective and efficient response.
So, let me introduce you to the teams ...
In Bangladesh there is team of interested individuals and organisations who have come together especially for this study. These include independent consultants, a consultant from Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) and Shushilan (a local NGO that has disaster relief programmes).
In Uganda Development, Research and Training (DRT), a local research, training and advocacy organisation, is conducting the study.
In addition, IMARA is doing a similar study in Argentina.
With help from Mary Ann Brocklesby from CR2 Social Development, we have devised an analytical framework for the study. All the data gathering, be it secondary data collection, key informant interviews or participatory group discussions, is framed around this. The studies will run from now until the end of May. We look forward to sharing our findings as soon as possible after that!
Jane
ps. You can see and comment on the domestic response pinboard for 2010 here.
