Effective Adaptation to Global and Humanitarian Challenges

Abstract: Problem If current trends in disasters are anything to go by, we can expect more complex disasters in the future as a population, perhaps already weakened by conflict, climate or disease, is hit by a natural disaster.  This then requires a multifaceted and complex intervention of humanitarian actors. Therefore, the adaptations increasingly require identification of themes to mitigate the complex vulnerabilities that come with these challenges like reforms, collaboration and specialization of tasks between humanitarian organizations inter alia. Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to identify the underlying factors that lead to global and humanitarian challenges in order to suggest effective adaptations to address them in the preparedness phase. Methodology The paper takes a qualitative approach, adopting a phenomenological research. In depth interviews are used to identify the most outstanding themes and patterns in sync with the humanitarian challenges and adaptations identifies in the AlertNet Poll (2011) and DARA humanitarian response index (2011). The themes are used to narrate solutions to the research questions Findings The results suggest that the adaptations identified in the reports regulate humanitarian and global challenges. The humanitarian challenges effective adaptations to overcome these challenges have been identified but not limited to collaboration of humanitarian logistics actors, emphasis on preparedness and disaster risk reduction and the unification of relief and developmental policies and frameworks to ensure long term planning and assessment of disasters Conclusion The research concludes that disaster risk reduction and preparedness, humanitarian logistics reforms and collaboration in all humanitarian aspects are the most effective adaptation to the global and humanitarian challenges. If current trends in disasters are anything to go by, we can expect more complex disasters in the future as a population, perhaps already weakened by conflict, climate or disease, is hit by a natural disaster. This then requires a multifaceted and complex intervention of humanitarian actors. Therefore, the adaptations increasingly require identification of themes to mitigate the complex vulnerabilities that come with these challenges like reforms, collaboration and specialization of tasks between humanitarian organizations inter alia. Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to identify the underlying factors that lead to global and humanitarian challenges in order to suggest effective adaptations to address them in the preparedness phase. Methodology The paper takes a qualitative approach, adopting a phenomenological research. In depth interviews are used to identify the most outstanding themes and patterns in sync with the humanitarian challenges and adaptations identifies in the AlertNet Poll (2011) and DARA humanitarian response index (2011). The themes are used to narrate solutions to the research questions Findings The results suggest that the adaptations identified in the reports regulate humanitarian and global challenges. The humanitarian challenges effective adaptations to overcome these challenges have been identified but not limited to collaboration of humanitarian logistics actors, emphasis on preparedness and disaster risk reduction and the unification of relief and developmental policies and frameworks to ensure long term planning and assessment of disasters Conclusion The research concludes that disaster risk reduction and preparedness, humanitarian logistics reforms and collaboration in all humanitarian aspects are the most effective adaptation to the global and humanitarian challenges.