Southasiadisasters.net issue no. 208, January 2024

This issue of Southasiadisasters.net is titled “Strengthening the Humanitarian System: From India to South Asia” provides a series of useful reflections on the content of the SHSI report as a detailed overview of India’s humanitarian structures and policies, while also providing forward-looking options for implementing some of its recommendations. It is a useful compilation of perspectives from different types of humanitarian actors focused both on the national and state levels, with contributions focused on Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. The articles cover some topics of clear importance for India but also for humanitarian actors in other countries to consider, particularly issues of migration, disaster risk reduction and preparedness that are of growing importance globally given the increasing threats of climate-related disasters.

This issue’s contents include:

(1) Introduction; (2) 2022 SOHS Reflections for Utilisation; (3) Addressing Humanitarian Needs in South Asia: What Role for Research and Innovation?; (4) Strengthening the Humanitarian System in India; (5) Humanitarian Actions for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in India; (6) SHS-India Report: Key Follow-up Actions; (7) Regional Sharing of the State of the Humanitarian System 2022 and India Report 2023; (8) UNDP Perspective on Humanitarian System: Top Two Agenda; (9) Strengthening the Humanitarian System in India: Agenda for FIN India Trust; (10) RWI Role in India’s Humanitarian System; (11) Strengthening the Humanitarian System in India; (12) Humanitarian Research and Innovation Priorities for India, and (13) Utilisation of SHS-India: Key Innovation Themes for India.

Some of the best thinkers, researchers, experts, and activists, including Mihir R. Bhatt with AIDMI Team; Dr. Jennifer Doherty, ALNAP, UK; Pradnya Paithankar, World Food Programme (WFP), India; Prof. Sudhakar Patra, Berhampur University, Odisha, India; Dr. Shakuntala Pratihary, Odisha, India; Abha Mishra, UNDP India, Odisha, India; Joëlla de Ruijter, FIN India Trust, Tamil Nadu, India; Prabhakar Nanda, Rural Welfare Institute (Gramya Kalyan Samstha), Puri, Odisha, India; and Meda Gurudutt Prasad, CADME, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Theme: Humanitarian, Localisation, Humanitarian Action, SHS India, SOHS 2022, Utilisation, Evaluation, Financing Adaptation, Heatwaves, Research and Innovations, Affected Population, Resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation