Drivers and Inhibitors of Change in the Humanitarian System

This study analyses the drivers and inhibitors of change in the humanitarian system. It focuses on three reform efforts: cash-based emergency response, accountability to affected populations and protection. For each area, the study explores four questions to help explain why reforms are successful or unsuccessful, and to generate ideas for the more effective promotion of reforms:

• What exactly is the reform proposal?
• What would the humanitarian system look like if the proposal were fully implemented?
• How would these changes affect the self-interests of important stakeholder groups?
• What are the policy implications of these reflections?

The study does not explore factors beyond self-interest that could also help explain why stakeholders support or do not support a reform, and it assumes the proposed reforms are likely to improve humanitarian assistance.