Routledge The Humanitarian Machine: Reflections from Practice (Routledge Humanitarian Studies)

As the world reels from the impact of a global pandemic and increasing intensity of climate-caused hazards, the humanitarian sector has never been more relevant. But providing aid to those affected by disasters and crises is more complex than ever. In The Humanitarian Machine aid workers reflect on their own experiences of working in crisis. As they write about their work and the ways in which they each approach the challenges of helping people, they comment on some of the most vexing issues facing the humanitarian sector. Each speaks from their own perspective, asking tough questions, sharing thoughtful reflections about their ongoing work, and unpacking what it really means to be a humanitarian worker. The stories they tell, whether recounting a specific experience or reflecting on years of practice, reveal the dilemmas they face and demystify the overly romanticized aura that sometimes surrounds humanitarian practice. Complementing the candid accounts that humanitarian leaders contribute in this book, the editors examine how their stories, perceptions, and understandings align with similar conversations that take place in other settings. Viewed together in this way, the insights and reflections provided in this book will be invaluable for humanitarian practitioners, students, and researchers alike. Review "We have long awaited The Humanitarian Machine. Here it is with all the misgivings, dilemmas, contradictions and rewards that such lives consist of. Read and cherish these experiences because they reflect a truth and humanity that screams from the pages." – Phil O’Keefe, Professor, Northumbria University, UK. "Experienced humanitarians give vivid personal accounts of how they became involved, the challenges they face in their work and the lessons to be learned, with fascinating insights and clear messages from field experience worldwide. Ask people before assisting them, try to redress imbalances of power, high level humanitarian power brokers and local populations have different perspectives and priorities which humanitarians need to help bridge. Be aware that there is more than one narrative when organising responses or carrying out evaluations. Fragile contexts require flexibility to co-create resilience pathways. Use established standards of good practice, but mindful of context. Whilst current thinking espouses more egalitarian relationships the fund holders exercise the power. Good humanitarian practice understands these lessons and recognises the inevitable tensions need be managed. This book not only provides the lessons, above all, it encourages us to tackle the flaws in the humanitarian machine. This is a must read for humanitarians." – Emeritus Professor Barry Munslow, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK "Humanitarianism―as an ideology, practice, and industry―is too often shrouded in mythologies of heroism and selfless sacrifice. The grounded, self-critical reflections from humanitarian practitioners in this volume demystify humanitarian practice, probing its tensions and dilemmas together with its successes and failures. A valuable resource!" – Alain Epp Weaver, director of strategic planning, Mennonite Central Committee About the Author Diego Fernandez Otegui has almost 25 years of experience in emergency management and humanitarian affairs, working in East Timor, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Mozambique, Trinidad and Tobago, and Spain. He is a board member of the International Humanitarian Studies Association (IHSA) and Representative in the United States of the University Network of the Americas for Disaster Risk Reduction (REDULAC) and has a PhD in Disaster Science and Management at the University of Delaware, USA. Daryl Yoder-Bontrager has worked for over 20 years in humanitarian assistance and community development with Mennonite Central Committee, ultimately becoming Director of its Latin America and Caribbean programs and helping to lea