the aid library

Polio Vaccine Security Framework

Global Polio Eradication Initiative GPEI (2025) CC

Long-term polio vaccine security – the timely, sustained, and uninterrupted supply of suitable types of affordable, quality-assured polio vaccines – is essential in the global effort to achieve and maintain a polio free world. However, fragmented approaches and short-term planning pose considera ... more

The Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020 - Executive Summary
recommended

UNICEF; WHO; et al. (2020) C_UNICEF

The report – Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020 – is the first of its kind, charting progress in 155 countries against the “INSPIRE” framework, a set of seven strategies for preventing and responding to violence against children. The report signals a clear need ... more

Les groupes armés et la protection des soins de santé: Pratiques opérationnelles et droit international humanitaire applicable

International Committee of the Red Cross (2015) C1

Gender and Security: Guidelines for mainstreaming gender in security risk management
recommended

Persaud, C.; European Interagency Security Forum (EISF) (2012) C2

Gender and security is a complex issue, and this research found that there are different levels of comprehension of what it means in humanitarian and development assistance practice. The aims of the paper are twofold: to raise general awareness about gender and how it relates to security risk manage ... more

No respite: Violence against Health Care in Conflict

Safeguarding Health in Conflict, et al. (2021) CC

This report is documenting the global incidence of attacks and threats against health workers, facilities, and transport around the world. The report cites 806 incidents of violence against or obstruction of health care in 43 countries and territories in ongoing wars and violent conflicts in 2020, r ... more

OCHA Policy Brief on Gendered Drivers, Risks and Impacts of Food Insecurity in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2023) CC

It is widely understood that the food insecurity crisis in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa is one of the world’s fastest growing and most neglected crises. It lacks sufficient global focus, resources and urgency. As in so many crises, women and girls are disproportionately affected and shoulder t ... he consequences of protracted neglect, with unconscionable impacts on their safety, life chances and agency. Gaining a holistic view of the gendered drivers, risks and impacts of food insecurity in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa is difficult. This is due to a lack of data and prioritization, and the large geographical and socioeconomic terrain covered by both regions. However, what we do know about this crisis is more than enough to urgently address the needs of women and girls. An OCHA discussion paper on this topic (which will be published imminently, and from which this policy brief is drawn) found that there is: A strong risk of profound regression in gender equality gains made to date in the countries of concern, including on education, sexual and reproductive health, and the economic independence of women and girls (with knock-on effects on broader humanitarian and development outcomes). An increasing challenge to reverse what must be recognized as a protracted and growing gender-based violence (GBV) emergency in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. The food insecurity crisis in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa is protracted, multidimensional and highly gendered, with spiralling impacts on gender equality and food security outcomes. It is driven by interwoven and overlapping factors, including climate change, political instability, conflict, socioeconomic conditions, migration and displacement and, more recently, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. Interlinked with these factors are gendered structural drivers of food insecurity, including deeply entrenched gender inequalities and harmful social norms. Gendered risks and impacts of food insecurity include alarming limitations on access to education, sexual and reproductive health rights, women’s agency and participation, and dramatic increases in different existing forms of GBV and the emergence of new ones. Recognition of such gendered dimensions of food insecurity and of the need for a multisectoral approach in the response is key to addressing the crisis, along-side sustained commitment and adequate allocation of resources. This policy brief draws out key findings from the OCHA discussion paper on this topic, which includes a desk review of studies, assessments and reports, and interviews with local women’s organizations on the front lines of the food insecurity crisis in communities across both regions. Below are the most pressing gendered drivers, risks and impacts of food insecurity (not in order of priority), as well as key gaps in the current humanitarian response to food insecurity, and recommendations to take forward. more

Security Facts for Humanitarian Aid Agencies Aid - Gender and Security: The Gendered Nature of Security Events Affecting Aid Workers and Aid Delivery

Christina Wille & Larissa Fast Insecurity Insight (2011) C2

Do men and women experience different types of security events? Are there differences in the attitudes within humanitarian agencies towards the same type of events affecting men or women? In this paper, using the Security in Numbers Database (SiND), the differences and similarities in men’s and wo ... more

Humanitarian Access in situations of armed conflict Field manual - Edition 2.0
recommended

Conflict Dynamics International; Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC (2014) C1

The companion Handbook on Humanitarian Access presents the normative framework pertaining to humanitarian access in situations of armed conflict, and therefore serves as a useful reference source for humanitarian practitioners on the normative framework. This initial version of the Field Manual – ... more

The Cost of Security Risk Management for NGOs

Finucane, C.; European Interagency Security Forum (EISF) (2013) C2

The Cost of Security Risk Management for NGOs explores the costs related to safety and security management for aid programmes. It aims to assist all aid practitioners to determine their risk management expenditure more accurately, and demonstrate an evidence-based approach when presenting this infor ... more

To Stay and Deliver - Good practice for humanitarians in complex security environments

Jan Egeland, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs; Adele Harmer and Abby Stoddard, Humanitarian Outcomes Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (2011) C2

The report offers an analysis of the broader challenges to securing humanitarian action and recommends areas for improvement. This study will contribute to improving the way humanitarians ‘do business’ in complex security environments. Document also available in French, Arabic and Spanish.

Code of Good Practice in the Management and Support of Aid Personnel

People In Aid (2003) CC

Building on previous guidelines, the People In Aid Code seeks to offer agencies an effective framework for human resources management, helping them assess and raise their performance.

Community Empowerment Manual

We World GVC (2020) C1

The present Community Empowerment Manual draws upon the lessons learned of the Community Protection Approach implementation in Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory and Central America during the period 2015-2020 by WeWorld – GVC and its partners. The Manual means to accompany Field Staff i ... more

Addressing Sexual Violence in Humanitarian Organisations: Good Practices for Improved Prevention Measures, Policies, and Procedures

Report the Abuse (2017) C1

Guidance Note: Communicating about Sexual Violence Incidents as Humanitarian Organisations

Report the Abuse (2017) C1

Permanecer y cumplir - Buenas prácticas para el personal humanitario en entornos de seguridad complejos

Jan Egeland, Instituto Noruego de Asuntos Internacionales; Adele Harmer y Abby Stoddard, Humanitarian Outcomes Oficina de Coordinación de Asuntos Humanitarios (OCAH) (2011) C2

El informe ofrece un análisis de los mayores retos para asegurar la acción humanitaria y da recomendaciones sobre aspectos que mejorar. Este estudio ayudará a mejorar la manera en que el personal humanitario hace su trabajo en entornos de seguridad complejos.

United Nations Security Management System: Security Policy Manual

United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) (2017) C1

Minimum Standardsfor Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies

UNFPA (2015) C2

Gender-based violence is a life-threatening, global health and human rights issue that violates international human rights law and principles of gender equality. It is also a threat to lasting peace and an affront to our common humanity. United Nations Member States have called for urgent action to ... more

Demeurer et accomplir - Bonnes pratiques pour les acteurs humanitaires dans les environnements de sécurité complexes

Jan Egeland, Institut norvégien des affaires internationales; Adele Harmer et Abby Stoddard, Humanitarian Outcomes Bureau de la coordination des affaires humanitaires (OCHA) (2011) C2

Ce rapport offre une analyse des grands défis que pose la sécurisation de l’action humanitaire et fait des recommandations dans les domaines susceptibles d’être améliorés. Cette étude contribuera à faire progresser la façon dont les humanitaires opèrent dans des environnements de sécu ... more

Security to go: a risk management toolkit for humanitarian aid agencies
recommended

Davis, J.; and L. Reilly European Interagency Security Forum (EISF) (2015) C1

Manuel de Coordination de la Protection de l’Enfant en Situation d’Urgence
recommended

Global Protection Cluster (2016) CC

Les Standards Minimums de la Protection de l’Enfant (SMPE) définis en 2012 par le GTPE présentent 26 normes nécessaires pour assurer une protection adéquate des enfants dans les situations d’urgence.