CENDEP Seminars and Events

Safer Home: Research into self recovery pathways after crisis using housing as a focus

The event took place on the 6th February 2020 as part of the CENDEP Work in Progress Meetings - Spring 2020 session. The ‘Self-Recovery from Humanitarian Crisis’ project is introduced, which is a research collaboration between CENDEP and CARE, with other humanitarian partners. Funded by a Global Challenges Research Fund Translations Award grant, this project aims to understand the priorities and agency of individuals, families and communities who are rebuilding their lives after natural disaster and conflict. The project will co-develop best-practice guidance for the support of that self-recovery process and investigate the wider impact of shelter humanitarian interventions, using longitudinal and action research fieldwork in Indonesia, Venezuela and Malawi. The guiding principles of the project’s research are that: • Self –recovery is an inevitable process. So we need to understand how best to support this process. • The agency of families and communities is of paramount importance. They have a right to choose and their priorities will vary from family to family and also over time. Bill Flinn will elaborate on what his previous work with CARE in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 taught him about the lived experience of people after disaster and how they prioritise their recovery pathways. Charles Parrack will discuss the importance of partnerships between academic institutions and humanitarian practitioners. Sue Webb will outline initial findings on the connections between shelter and health. The seminar will consist of a short presentation followed by open discussion of the themes introduced.

Being a researcher in stigmatised communities: Insider and outsider reflections

The event took place on the 20th February 2020 as part of the CENDEP Work in Progress Meetings - Spring 2020 session. A presentation to provide some reflections of Fatima’s doctoral research in stigmatised communities and highlight her positionality as an insider and outsider while conducting two fieldworks, as I was an insider in Pakistan and as an outsider in Colombia. Fatima highlights the methodological and ethical considerations in both communities, and questions whether her positionality is risking to bring bias in her research, concluding with reflecting on whether the positionalities of the researcher have to be within the set boundaries of an insider and an outsider or is there a space between that is blurred. Or maybe were they evolving during the research process? Is it influencing the way we look at the data today? Or because of the blurred boundaries, now I look at both data the same way, simply as a researcher and not as an insider or an outsider.

- Heteronormativity and intersectionality within humanitarian responses and campaigns. - How are different experiences and identities - in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity - represented and included? - What are the lenses used as practitioners and academics?

The event took place on the 27th February 2020 as part of the CENDEP Work in Progress Meetings - Spring 2020 session. Hadi Damien (Beirut Pride) will reflect on his experience in Lebanon and working for LGBTIQ+ rights in the context of economic recession, protracted refugee crisis and the ongoing revolution. - Heteronormativity and intersectionality within humanitarian responses and campaigns. - How are different experiences and identities - in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity - represented and included? - What are the lenses used as practitioners and academics?

Wellbeing cluster: prioritising mental health and wellbeing support for aid workers

The event took place on the 5th March 2020 as part of the CENDEP Work in Progress Meetings - Spring 2020 session. The ‘Wellbeing Cluster’ is a pioneering project, and comprises a dedicated multi-stakeholder platform that brings together humanitarian agencies from across the Philippines, to prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of aid workers. In essence, it links local and national NGOs with INGOs, governmental departments, academia, youth organisations, private sector, CSOs, and other key stakeholders to work together in strategically building the capacity of individuals and organisations in all aspects of wellbeing related to mental health. As a new model within the humanitarian architecture, it potentially represents the first of many Wellbeing Clusters, nationally, regionally, and globally, forming a living network of pooled knowledge, expertise, services and resources. This talk will explore the journey of the development of the Wellbeing Cluster, and the various challenges that have been raised in the process. In particular, it will highlight key issues related to mental health, and offer a debate into how aid workers and communities could be more effectively supported for their mental health and wellbeing.

Rethinking solutions in never ending displacement: what are the alternatives?

Never-ending displacement has become the norm and the so-called durable solutions of return, local integration and resettlement are out of reach for most forced migrants. How can we rethink the durable solutions based on the current reality? Are there ways of thinking and acting that can contribute to an alternative and more realistic solution? The debate will introduce ideas around education, home and utopian thinking in order to develop modes to challenge existing policies and thinking. The webinar panel discussion took place on Tuesday 1st December 2020 Panel includes: Maha Shuayb (Centre for Lebanese Studies, Lebanese American University); Anita H. Fábos (International Development, Community & Environment, Clark University); Nicholas Van Hear (COMPAS, University of Oxford); Chair - Cathrine Brun (CENDEP Director)