The Way We Work

Humanitarian practice is changing all the time. Long-term crises, such as migration and climate change, generate new needs and require new methodologies. The changing geo-political context imposes new dilemmas, meanwhile new actors step into the scene and new technologies bring new possibilities – and risks.

(Enforced) adaption requires good thinking and questioning. What is the added value of International NGOs from the Global North? How can international NGOs support – and not overrule – local leadership? How do NGOs implement new technologies with minimal risk? What should they learn from previous successes and failures? How can the sector improve and innovate to support more people at a lower cost?

Under the header The Way We Work, KUNO will focus on different issues that touch on the essence of humanitarianism: Localisation, the decolonization of aid, the Nexus, open data, artificial Intelligence, and humanitarian governance. One leading question will be: how should we adapt to remain trustworthy and reliable allies for those in the highest need? This includes thinking ahead to 25 years from now.

The Way We Work - Themes

Local leadership

Humanitarian aid needs to be as local as possible and as international as necessary. How can Dutch INGOs shift their power to local actors?

Nexus

A better link between humanitarian action and development work is needed, especially since crises are getting more complex and last longer.

Future

In a time of rapid and global change, the role of Dutch humanitarian organisations is changing fundamentally. Dutch NGOs need to rethink themselves.

Diversity & Inclusion

Under the theme 'Diversity & Inclusion' KUNO supports the humanitarian sector in its search to become a more inclusive and diverse community.

The Grand Bargain

Improving humanitarian work in daily practice: the Grand Bargain between major donors and aid providers aims to get more means into the hands of people in need

Politics

What is the impact of an ever-polarizing world on humanitarian aid? And how can a humanitarian professional avoid to become an instrument of a political agenda?

Data and Innovation

These are cross-cutting topics elementary to Kuno’s focus themes.
What makes innovations in Humanitarian aid successful?
How are innovations adopted?
And what role does data have to play for programming and analysis?

Theme articles