Humanitarian Emergency Response Review

How you can contribute to our in depth technical consultation

This consultation is now closed.

The Humanitarian Emergency Response Review (HERR) is an independent review based in the Department for International Development.

It has been commissioned to ensure that the UK Government’s response to humanitarian emergencies continues to be able to meet world class standards, by responding rapidly and effectively to the needs of populations affected by catastrophes and crises, in line with expectations of the international community and the British public.

It will seek to ensure that DFID, in conjunction with its partners, delivers maximum benefit to affected populations and value for money in its humanitarian response.

Scope of the review

The HERR will focus on rapid onset emergencies. Aid for chronic humanitarian situations is outside its remit. It is a forward looking review: its role is not to repeat previous evaluations of past humanitarian delivery, but to look ahead to identify mechanisms and approaches required to meet new challenges.

In this context, the HERR will consider
• partnerships with new actors, including with emerging economies like China, India and Gulf states, which have their own experience and expertise to share
• the private sector
• the potential role for innovation and new technology in planning for and delivering humanitarian assistance

The HERR will also focus on how the UK can support the role of local actors, particularly in the immediate aftermath of an emergency.

Key lines of enquiry

The HERR is pursuing seven separate lines of enquiry:

1. Impact
Includes: how we achieve value for money, evidence based decision making, and speedy response in the immediate aftermath

2. What an effective UK humanitarian response should look like
Includes: what structures and skills are needed in the UK and its partner departments in the UK Government; how the UK can support Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); and external partnerships

3. Supporting partners to deliver an effective response
Includes: working with the UN, NGO’s and Red Cross; early warning; building local capacity; working with the private sector; and a focus on gender

4. Being an effective member of the international response community
Includes: co-ordinating and influencing, humanitarian diplomacy and good donorship, and achieving systemic change

5. Accountability to the public, to affected people and communities
Includes: how the UK engages with the British public during emergencies, demonstrating results, and engaging with local structures

6. Assessing DFID humanitarian policy
Includes: how far practice is consistent with policy; humanitarian access; consistency with international obligations

7. Ensuring DFID is fit for purpose for 21st century challenges
Includes: assessing capacity to make broader use of innovation, technology and research and development (R&D); working with non state actors; working with the private sector; assessing the impact of climate change; transition and early recovery.

Set up and process

The HERR consists of a Senior Advisory Board, chaired by Paddy Ashdown and a Review Team, headed by Ross Mountain. The Senior Advisory Board, composed of independent specialists, meets monthly to assess progress and agree further action.

The review team co-ordinates the consultations and conducts research, and will draft the report. Senior Advisory Board members are also participating in and leading consultations.

The consultations include wide discussions across Whitehall; externally with UN Agencies, NGO’s and faith and civil society groups with an interest in humanitarian aid.

The review team is conducting a series of field missions and desk studies as part of our research. Field missions are taking place to Pakistan, DRC and Niger. Desk studies include Occupied Palestinian Territories, Burma, Tsunami, Haiti and Bangladesh. Visits to New York, Geneva, Brussels and Rome are also programmed.

The review team is staffed both by internal DFID staff and by external secondees. The Director, Ross Mountain, previously from the UN, is the Director General of DARA (Development Assistance Research Associates) based in Madrid.