What is the relationship between the core principles and standards for humanitarian assistance and protection, and those of faith-motivated aid? What are the opportunities for strategic cooperation between faith-based and secular humanitarian organizations? How can faith or religious affiliation c ... an be a barrier or asset to assistance work? Is the provision of some forms of assistance hindered by some beliefs or faith cultures and, if so, how can these barriers be overcome? - See more at: http://atha.se/content/humanitarian-assistance-webcast-contemporary-role-faith-based-aid#sthash.pzBe6df0.dpuf more

In the year 2008, for the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population was living in urban areas. Cities have become more numerous, more populous, and denser. The complexity and density of urban environments significantly alter the viability of certain humanitarian protection st ... rategies that might work well in rural, more sparsely populated areas. In addition, it has become difficult to draw the line between acute and chronic vulnerability and therefore, the identification of beneficiaries. This blur in distinction between chronic and acute vulnerability has raised a number of important questions for humanitarian organizations regarding if and how they should intervene. While many such organizations are equipped with the appropriate skills to mitigate overwhelming public health challenges is such contexts, the absence of a crisis point - such as armed conflict or natural disaster - brings the mandate of humanitarian agencies into question. more