Clients and consultancies

Government of Australia, Overseas Aid Program (AusAID)
AusAID commissioned Humanitarian Outcomes to undertake a review of issues and challenges for coordinated humanitarian action in the Asia-Pacific to inform a multi-nation mission to the region by the OCHA Donors’ Support Group. The project included field-based research in Indonesia, Nepal, and Thailand. In another area of research, in 2009/2010 AusAID supported a focused research study on the practice of remote management of humanitarian operations in highly insecure environments, which involved field research in Afghanistan and desk reviews of Iraq, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and other security-challenged humanitarian settings.

Government of Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
Since 2005, the Canadian government has supported research in humanitarian operational security by Humanitarian Outcomes partners, in collaboration with the Overseas Development Institute and the Center on International Cooperation. This support continues under a multiyear project agreement with Humanitarian Outcomes for the continued maintenance of the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD), the most comprehensive global compilation of information on major security incidents affecting humanitarian operations. Humanitarian Outcomes has refined and strengthened its data collection methods and continues to make findings available to humanitarian actors and researchers on request, and in the form of periodic published briefing papers and analyses.

Government of Norway, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
To explore the question of how to improve preparedness for humanitarian response, the Norwegian Government commissioned Humanitarian Outcomes to undertake a feasibility study of the idea for a new international Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) for national disaster preparedness and risk reduction. The study, which included field analysis in Ethiopia and Bangladesh, explored a range of options to improve the coherence and predictability of financing for disaster preparedness.

Government of the United Kingdom, Department of International Development (DfID)
As a major supporter of the coordinated Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and of the Common Humanitarian Fund that underpins it, DfID wanted to explore options for correcting one of its observed weaknesses: the monitoring and evaluation of projects and progress against strategic objectives. Humanitarian Outcomes was commissioned to undertake a study in 2010 that included field based research in DRC on the issues and options for developing a functional evaluative framework for the HAP.

Government of the United States, Agency for International Development (USAID)
USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance commissioned a study by Humanitarian Outcomes on international financing mechanisms for humanitarian assistance in 2008. The study examined trends in global humanitarian financing and mapped the sources and channels through which public and private sector money flows for international relief efforts in humanitarian emergencies. In 2010, the U.S. on behalf of a multi-government donor group, again commissioned Humanitarian Outcomes to prepare an analytical paper on the current trends and practices in financing operational security for humanitarian operations in high risk environments. The paper provided the background and discussion piece for the section on Safety and Security of Humanitarian Affairs at the Montreux X Retreat, March 18-19 2010, attended by donor governments and agency representatives.

Oxfam, British Red Cross, Save the Children and other NGOs - Cash Learning Partnership
This consortium of aid agencies commissioned a study on the use of cash-based approaches in humanitarian aid, led by Humanitarian Outcomes partner Paul Harvey.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Humanitarian Outcomes' partners have been commissioned a few times by UNICEF to undertake evaluations and studies. The most recent was an analysis of how UNICEF could more effectively perform of humanitarian work in settings with peacekeeping forces and peace support operations. The report was followed by direct input by the researchers into the development of organisational guidelines for UNICEF on the issue.

United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)
In cooperation with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, DPKO initiated a project to study how peacekeeping mandates for civilian protection were being implemented in practice.  Humanitarian Outcomes partner Glyn Taylor co-authored the study report and provided the humanitarian operational perspective on the research team.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA)
OCHA in conjunction with the Inter-agency Standing Committee on Humanitarian Affairs (IASC) sought an external evaluation of a major operational reform in how humanitarian operations are coordinated and led in the field. The Cluster Coordination approach was first rolled out in 2006, creating lead agencies for sectors of humanitarian response and additional capacities for joint planning, programming and evaluating aid response. The evaluation team was led by Humanitarian Outcomes partners Abby Stoddard, Adele Harmer and Katherine Haver, who were joined by team members and co-authors Dirk Salomons and Victoria Wheeler. The evaluation report, which encompassed field research in four countries, an online survey and over 400 stakeholder interviews, was completed in November 2007. Recommendations have been endorsed and taken forward by the humanitarian agencies of the IASC.

In 2010 OCHA has commissioned Humanitarian Outcomes to undertake a research project entitled “Operating in High Risk Environments: Review of Practices and Policy Implications.” The study will encompass field research in 4-5 high risk operational environments.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Following the start of a large programme of voluntary repatriation of refugees from Tanzania to Burundi, UNHCR commissioned an evaluation of one important component of the assistance package—a cash grant. In recent years there has been growing interest in cash grants as a humanitarian assistance and social protection tool, and the evaluation, completed in July 2009, sought to draw lessons for UNHCR to use in future similar operations. Katherine Haver of Humanitarian Outcomes led a joint evaluation team with a national consultant and a staff member of UNHCR’s Policy Development and Evaluation Service.

World Food Programme (WFP)
In 2009 WFP tapped Humanitarian Outcomes researchers for a strategic evaluation of the effectiveness of its livelihoods recovery interventions.