Communication During Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

Multinational humanitarian and military efforts such as those seen in Somalia, Kosovo and Afghanistan are known as Complex Humanitarian Emergencies. These types of emergencies are complex and difficult to operate in because they contain political, military and humanitarian considerations. The various actors responding to a CHE can be divided into two distinct groups - military and civilian. Each of these groups needs the other to effectively respond to the crisis. Thus communication, collaboration and coordination are critical. Technology can play a significant role to enable information sharing between the various participants during CHEs. This thesis documents the development of a proof of concept that supports this. Current reports and user feedback were analyzed to determine requirements for a field-based system that could enhance the flow of information. The developmental process is presented including, requirements generation, group structure and information sharing, collaborative environments and the advantages of the virtual space. Eased on a fictional relief operation, a web application was constructed and designated the Relief Operations Coordination Center (ROCC) . Built on COTS technology and combined with commercially available collaboration tools, this application showcases the various uses of today's technology and how it can be used to facilitate information sharing during CHEs.

Multinational humanitarian and military efforts such as those seen in Somalia, Kosovo and Afghanistan are known as Complex Humanitarian Emergencies. These types of emergencies are complex and difficult to operate in because they contain political, military and humanitarian considerations. The various actors responding to a CHE can be divided into two distinct groups - military and civilian. Each of these groups needs the other to effectively respond to the crisis. Thus communication, collaboration and coordination are critical. Technology can play a significant role to enable information sharing between the various participants during CHEs. This thesis documents the development of a proof of concept that supports this. Current reports and user feedback were analyzed to determine requirements for a field-based system that could enhance the flow of information. The developmental process is presented including, requirements generation, group structure and information sharing, collaborative environments and the advantages of the virtual space. Eased on a fictional relief operation, a web application was constructed and designated the Relief Operations Coordination Center (ROCC) . Built on COTS technology and combined with commercially available collaboration tools, this application showcases the various uses of today's technology and how it can be used to facilitate information sharing during CHEs.

A comprehensive, best practices resource for public health and healthcare practitioners and students interested in humanitarian emergencies.

“Preferred product characteristics” (PPCs) are key tools to incentivize and guide the development of urgently needed health products. Some of the vector control interventions deployed in complex emergencies and in response to natural disasters – namely insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) – have already met identified public health needs in more stable settings; other tools such as insecticide-treated tarpaulins have been specifically designed for this use case. Given the diverse mix of existing and potential new interventions and the considerable gaps in the associated evidence base, this PPC aims to clearly articulate the unmet public health needs for tools designed to control malaria transmission in complex emergencies and in response to natural disasters.

A range of recent disasters have demonstrated the critical role of effective logistics in disaster preparation and response in both developing and developed countries. Humanitarian Logistics provides thought-provoking guidance and discussion of the core issues facing those who are involved in managing the logistics of disaster relief. Peter Tatham and Martin Christopher have assembled a broad ranging collection of thoughts, ideas, concepts and approaches contributed by both practitioners and academics that, together, provide an overview of some of the core challenges facing today's humanitarian logistician. With insights from world leading experts in the field, this multi-contributed book provides guidance for best practice and offers potential solutions for effective response in this crucial area. Each chapter of the 2nd edition has been updated to reflect the latest developments, improvements and emerging challenges that have been encountered in this important and rapidly-growing field. This new edition of Humanitarian Logistics also increases the level of input from the practitioner community and broadens the geographic coverage, by introducing new perspectives from Asia and Africa and a number of experienced field practitioners. There are also entire new chapters on: Quality and accountability; Lessons learned from the 2004 Thailand Tsunami and the April 2012 Tsunami warning; Emergency preparedness and the experience of international humanitarian organizations in South East Asia; What next for humanitarian logistics? It also includes chapters that focus on emerging areas of challenge that have attracted recent attention in both practitioner and academic circles, including training and education, inter-agency coordination and information systems management.

Contributing to research, knowledge, and discourse on humanitarian logistics and supply chains in Africa, Supply Networks in Developing Countries introduces a unique perspective on the developing world, and how their supply networks can be enhanced and optimized.

Dialog between practitioners and academics has increasingly become the exception rather than the rule in contemporary public administration circles. Bridging the gap between theory and practice, Debating Public Administration: Management Challenges, Choices, and Opportunities tackles some of the major management challenges, choices, and opportunities of the twenty-first century facing public managers across various subfields of public administration. Informed by contemporary pressures on public managers to reconceptualize purpose, redefine administrative rationality, recapitalize human assets, reengage resources, and revitalize democratic constitutionalism, the book offers students, practitioners, and researchers an opportunity to take stock and ponder the future of practice and research in public administration. Organized by three sets of major management challenges facing the field—Rethinking Administrative Rationality in a Democratic Republic, Recapitalizing Organizational Capacity, and Reconceptualizing Institutions for New Policy Challenges—the book takes an uncommon approach to the study of these topics. In it, leading practitioners and academics comment on condensed versions of articles appearing in the Theory to Practice feature of Public Administration Review (PAR) from 2006 through 2011. The authors and commentators focus on some of the best current research, draw lessons from that literature for practice, and identify gaps in research that need to be addressed. They expertly draw out themes, issues, problems, and prospects, providing bulleted lessons and practical takeaways. This makes the book a unique one-stop resource for cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral, and cross-professional exchanges on contemporary challenges.

Includes statistics.