Episode 4: Rethinking incentives in humanitarian action: A conversation with Damian Lilly

Episode 5: Lessons from IAHE's evaluation of the Syria–Türkiye earthquake response: A conversation with Tasneem Mowjee

In this episode of The Learning Curve, Juliet Parker speaks with independent evaluator Tasneem Mowjee, lead author of the recent Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation of the Syria–Türkiye earthquake response. Together, they explore what the evaluation revealed — from recurring system-wide challenges to promising examples of community engagement and duty of care.  Tasneem reflects on why long-established learning still struggles to shape real-time decisions, what it means to respond in a middle-income context, and how the sector can better empower frontline and local actors during this moment of humanitarian transition. All IAHE reports are are commissioned, funded, and published by the IAHE Steering Group. Guest: Tasneem Mowjee, Director, Policy to Practice Team (P2PT) Host: Juliet Parker, Director, ALNAP  Resources: “INFORMING THE HUMANITARIAN RESET WITH EVIDENCE - A contribution from the Türkiye/Syria Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation [https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2025-08/iahe-evaluation-report-turkiye-and-syria-main-report-english.pdf]” - IAHE Inter-agency humanitarian evaluation of the response to the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria [https://alnap.org/help-library/resources/iahe-eval-earthquake-response-t%C3%BCrkiye-syria/] - English Inter-agency humanitarian evaluation of the response to the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria - Arabic [https://alnap.org/help-library/resources/iahe-eval-earthquake-response-t%C3%BCrkiye-syria/at-a-glance-iahe-eval-earthquakes-t%C3%BCrkiye-syria-arabic/]  Inter-agency humanitarian evaluation of the response to the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria - Turkish [https://alnap.org/help-library/resources/iahe-eval-earthquake-response-t%C3%BCrkiye-syria/at-a-glance-iahe-earthquakes-t%C3%BCrkiye-and-syria-turkish/] Join our WhatsApp channel [https://bit.ly/3ALytO7]

Episode 4: Rethinking incentives in humanitarian action: A conversation with Damian Lilly

Rethinking incentives in humanitarian action In this episode of ‘The Learning Curve’, Juliet Parker, Director of ALNAP, speaks with Damian Lilly, an independent consultant based in Mozambique and a former UN and NGO humanitarian leader. Together, they unpack one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: how to turn learning into meaningful change.  Drawing on Damian’s recent article co-authored with Mike Pearson, the conversation explores why existing incentive structures within the humanitarian system often prevent real reform. Damian argues that while the sector has no shortage of ideas, evidence, or learning, the problem lies in the economics of aid—how agencies are funded, rewarded, and held accountable.  Guest:   Damian Lilly, Independent Consultant and former UN and NGO Humanitarian Adviser  Host:  Juliet Parker, Director, ALNAP  Resources: Article: “Change the economic incentives to reform the humanitarian system [https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/activism-influence-change/2025/10/27/change-the-economic-incentives-to-reform-the-humanitarian-system/]” – by Damian Lilly and Mike Pearson Join our WhatsApp channel [https://bit.ly/3ALytO7]

Principles for prioritising & allocating humanitarian needs: A discussion with Hugo Slim

In this episode of 'A Matter of Priorities,' our host Alice Obrecht continues her conversation with Hugo Slim on his work with the Norwegian Center for Humanitarian Studies. The discussion focuses on more detailed principles for prioritising and allocating humanitarian resources, such as the principle of shared responsibility. He explores how geopolitical relationships and proximity can play a crucial role in defining and meeting humanitarian needs.  The episode also includes an updated conversation with Hugo on the aid cuts taking place in early 2025 and how they could be undertaken with an eye to improving humanitarian aid.  Hugo emphasises the need for a leaner, nationalised humanitarian framework and the importance of maintaining universal values amidst a shifting geopolitical landscape. Guest: Hugo Slim, Senior Research Fellow at the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice at Blackfriars Hall at the University of Oxford. Hosts: Alice Obrecht, Head of Research & Impact, ALNAP  Resources How should we define and prioritise humanitarian need? An ethics-based perspective for impact initiatives [https://alnap.org/help-library/resources/how-should-we-define-and-prioritise-humanitarian-need/]  ALNAP’s A Matter of Priorities: a podcast on tough choices in humanitarian funding  Join our WhatsApp channel [https://bit.ly/3ALytO7]

Resetting humanitarian needs: A discussion with Hugo Slim

In this episode of 'A Matter of Priorities,' as the sector as a whole looks at a 'humanitarian reset,' our host Alice Obrecht delves into the definition of a humanitarian need with Hugo Slim and how these boundaries might be redefined.  The episode features insights from Hugo Slim, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, who discusses the need to redefine humanitarian needs through six theoretical approaches and three core questions that agencies should address.  The conversation further explores the ethical dilemmas of prioritising short-term emergency aid over long-term recovery efforts, with practical examples such as displacement scenarios in South Sudan. The discussion underscores a shift towards focusing on vital interests and necessary programming over broader, optimal life improvements to better address urgent humanitarian crises. Guests: Katie Rickard, Impact Initiatives Hugo Slim, Senior Research Fellow at the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice at Blackfriars Hall at the University of Oxford. Hosts: Alice Obrecht, Head of Research & Impact, ALNAP  Resources How should we define and prioritise humanitarian need? An ethics-based perspective for impact initiatives [https://alnap.org/help-library/resources/how-should-we-define-and-prioritise-humanitarian-need/]  ALNAP’s A Matter of Priorities: a podcast on tough choices in humanitarian funding  Join our WhatsApp channel [https://bit.ly/3ALytO7]

The prioritisation challenge in focus: WFP

In this episode of A Matter of Priorities, our host Alice Obrecht takes a deep dive into the ripple effects of unprecedented budget cuts to the World Food Program (WFP). With a shortfall of over 50% in its 2023 budget, WFP faced its largest financial crisis in its 60-year history, forcing it to make drastic reductions in food and cash assistance across the globe.  We explore how these cuts unfolded on the ground, particularly in Uganda, and the human toll they’ve taken.   The discussions highlight the structural challenges, the human impact of these cuts — including heartbreaking examples of coping mechanisms adopted by refugees — and the broader implications for the humanitarian sector.  Guests: Valerie Guarnieri: Assistant Executive Director for Program and Policy Development at the UN World Food Programme (WFP). Kristof Titeca: Professor of Development Studies at the Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp. Roos Derrix: PhD student at the University of Antwerp. Co-Host:  Alice Obrecht, Head of Research & Impact, ALNAP Emmeline Kerkvliet, former Research Officer, ALNAP ALNAP’s A Matter of Priorities: a podcast on tough choices in humanitarian funding  Join our WhatsApp channel [https://bit.ly/3ALytO7]