DARA (Development Assistance Research Associates) 
The Humanitarian Response Index (HRI) 2009 
Whose Crisis? Clarifying Donor’s Priorities

Over 350 million people are affected each year by disaster and conflict. The international community is often unable to respond effectively to these crises. This report provides an independent examination of donor performance with the aim of improving the effectiveness of aid, and promoting greater accountability of donors.

Table of Content

Foreword The Economic Crisis, Climate Change, Increasing Humanitarian Needs, and Global Politics: What do World Leaders Need to do to Avert a Global Catastrophe? Introduction; S.Hidalgo , Executive Director of DARA Whose Crisis? Integrating Humanity, Solidarity and Collective Accountability the Response to the Global Economic Crisis PART I: HRI 2009 MAIN FINDINGS Improving Government Donor Accountability and Aid Effectiveness Humanitarian Action in the Context of the Global Financial Crisis (DARA) How Relevant Are the Principles of Accountability, Transparency and Good Humanitarian Donorship in Today’s Current Economic Climate? What Are the Main Stresses and Challenges Facing the Humanitarian System? What Are Some of the Key Trends and Issues Emerging from the HRI Research? HRI Main Findings and Donor Rankings How Well Are Wealthy OECD/DAC Governments Meeting Their Commitments to Apply the Good Practice in the Way They Fund and Support Humanitarian Action Around the World? How Do New and Emerging Donor Governments and Private Donors Compare to OECD/DAC Government Donors? What Needs to be Improved in How the International Community Responds to Disasters, Conflicts and Emergencies? Individual Donor Profiles What Are the Main Strengths and Weaknesses of Individual Government Donors? What Can Governments do to Improve the Quality, Effectiveness and Impact of Their Humanitarian Assistance? PART II: ESSAYS FROM EXTERNAL AUTHORS Challenges and Solutions to Improving Quality, Effectiveness and Accountability in Humanitarian Action The Effects of the Financial Crisis on Humanitarian Reform – Why Investing in Preparedness and Prevention is Even More Important in Today’s Environment; J.Holmes , UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Building New Partnerships Between States and Civil Society to Confront the Challenges of Future; B.Geleta , Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); E.Ferris , Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute The ‘Invisible Actors’ in Humanitarian Action: The Importance of National NGOs, Civil Society, National Governments and Local Actors in Preventing and Responding to Crises The Right to Survive – Or the Right to Dignity: Confronting the Humanitarian Challenges of the 21st century; R.Offenheiser , President and CEO, Oxfam USA How Environmental Activism, Civil Society Engagement and Advocacy Can Help Reduce Disasters and Conflicts Voices From the Frontlines – Putting the Economic Crisis in Perspective: Humanitarian Action as Seen From the Eyes of Two People Directly Affected By Chronic Crisis PART III: HRI FIELD MISSION FINDINGS Crisis Reports – How is the International Community Responding from Different Humanitarian Crises Around the World? Overview from the Findings of the HRI Field Research: Challenges and Opportunities for the Humanitarian System How Are Donors, Humanitarian Organizations and Local Communities Responding to Different Crises, and Where Are Opportunities for Improvements? Afghanistan China Colombia Democratic Republic of the Congo Ethiopia Georgia Haiti Myanmar Occupied Palestinian Territories Somalia Sri Lanka

About the author

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE RESEARCH ASSOCIATES (DARA) is an independent non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of development aid and humanitarian action through evaluation. DARA’s mission includes optimising the impact of the efforts against poverty and promoting the beneficiaries’ participation and empowerment, through the presentation of alternatives that combine the interests of all partners involved in the processes in which DARA intervenes. Silvia Hidalgo is the Director of DARA.