海外发展研究所-缩小人道主义筹资差距：审查自人道主义筹资问题高级别小组报告以来取得的进展（英文）-2021.4-46页_539kb

Summary of Reducing the Humanitarian Financing Gap: Review of Progress since the Report of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing

Core Content

This report by Barnaby Willits-King and Alexandra Spencer, published in April 2021, evaluates the progress made since the 2016 High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing (HLP) report, Too important to fail – addressing the humanitarian financing gap. The report highlights the continued relevance of the HLP's key recommendations and identifies challenges and opportunities for advancing the agenda of reducing the humanitarian financing gap.

Main Viewpoints

• The HLP's recommendations on shrinking needs (Pillar 1) and broadening the resource base (Pillar 2) remain valid and even more relevant today.
• Humanitarian needs have doubled since 2016, with conflicts persisting in Syria and Yemen and emerging in new regions.
• The financing gap remains significant, with only 48% of funding needs met in 2020, down from the typical 60%.
• Progress on Pillar 1 has been more substantial than on Pillar 2, particularly in areas such as the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and risk-informed anticipatory action.
• Pillar 2 progress has been limited, with few new donors, private sector, or Islamic finance partners contributing meaningfully to the humanitarian system.
• High-level leadership and structured follow-up mechanisms are essential to measure and drive progress.
• A more ambitious vision is needed for the future, including the integration of development approaches and predictable financing for crisis responses.

Key Information

Major Trends and Results

• Development approaches to crisis have gained traction, particularly through the World Bank's engagement and the OECD/DAC's focus on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
• Risk-informed action has increased in profile, with initiatives like the Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) showing promise.
• The Grand Bargain (GB) has become a key platform for discussing humanitarian financing reforms, though it lacks a dedicated mechanism to track the HLP's recommendations.
• Covid-19 has exacerbated existing challenges, impacting both humanitarian needs and funding flows.

Challenges

• Donor risk aversion and entrenched structures have slowed the adoption of new approaches.
• Fragmented initiatives and lack of coordination have hindered scaling and sharing of best practices.
• Private sector and Islamic finance have not yet been fully integrated into the humanitarian system despite their potential.
• ODA reductions and economic pressures have constrained international humanitarian assistance.

Opportunities for Further Progress

• Develop a light follow-up mechanism for HLP recommendations, possibly integrated into the next iteration of the Grand Bargain.
• Scale up anticipatory action and risk financing through high-level support and collaboration.
• Strengthen nexus working by creating a coalition of major donors and agencies.
• Enhance private sector and Islamic finance cooperation through structured platforms and clear objectives.
• Explore new funding mechanisms beyond traditional appeals, including all-resource planning and better tracking of non-traditional funders.

Recommendations for Action

1. Develop a framework for HLP follow-up and create a more ambitious vision for crisis response system reform.
2. Scale up anticipatory action by increasing donor support and fostering collaboration through coalitions like REAP.
3. Strengthen nexus working by involving key development actors and aligning with the GB and IASC.
4. Enhance private sector cooperation and innovative financing through platforms like the WEF and UN Global Compact.
5. Engage new donors systematically through DAC and other mechanisms, focusing on predictable funding.
6. Develop a long-term vision for Islamic social finance with high-level sponsorship.
7. Improve measurement of progress by incorporating benchmarks and indicators into follow-up mechanisms.

Conclusion

While progress has been made on reducing humanitarian needs through development approaches, the broader agenda of broadening the resource base remains underdeveloped. A focused, structured, and complementary approach is recommended to ensure meaningful and sustainable advancement of the HLP's goals, particularly in the context of ongoing global crises and the need for predictable, inclusive financing.