CvH Blog

As humanitarian aid work attracts rising levels of funding and engages a growing number of decision makers and actors around the world, it is widely accepted that socio-cultural differences must be central considerations for those who provide such aid. In effect, the humanitarian sector must mobilize not only specific skills (technical, scientific, diplomatic, etc.) but also seek to understand the historical, social and cultural contexts in play among populations of concern, which are not addressed by a simple exercise of goodwill.

This begs a number of central questions: How to take into account the social, cultural, political, economical or religious specificities, and the expectations, of the populations to be helped? How to decode the particular mindsets of associations, NGOs and local governments, without losing sight of the individuals whose suffering is the reason for the intervention? How to adapt technical know-how to the particularities of the target groups, not only in order to avoid wasting time, money and energy, but also (and above all) to avoid “mal-assisting” already vulnerable and often dependent populations? Finally, how to make sure that in addressing contextual particularities one does not undermine the general principles that guide humanitarian action?

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