Setting a new research agenda for urban crisis and humanitarian response

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Author(s)
Brown, D. and Johnson, C.
Publication language
English
Pages
4pp
Date published
23 Jun 2015
Type
Factsheets and summaries
Keywords
Evidence, Urban
Organisations
IIED DFID Urban Crises Learning Fund

The world is urbanising, and so too are humanitarian emergencies. However, many international humanitarian actors have found that traditional approaches — often rurally-derived or camp-focused — are ill-suited to urban environments. This briefing identifies key evidence gaps on urban crises and humanitarian responses, and outlines priorities to guide a future research agenda. Broadly, these priorities call for a better understanding of urban processes and systems, and of local actors’ experiences and perceptions, both of which can inform context-appropriate and inclusive approaches to urban humanitarian response. The authors emphasise the value of communicating evidence in a form that can be used for broader advocacy and public awareness, promoting the need for all actors to develop new approaches and capacities in this increasingly important area.