The fifth comic in our ‘Uncertain Worlds’ series focuses on how social assistance and humanitarian relief are provided in the context of conflicts, crises and disasters.
In these settings, where state capacities are weak, uncertainties are common. So why are so many humanitarian, social assistance and disaster relief operations based on risk assessment and management, where stability and predictability are assumed? In conflict and disasters, things are unpredictable, and surprises can happen.
Rather than relying on fixed plans, aid programmes need to experiment, improvise, adapt and learn. The best way to do this is to keep in close touch with what’s happening on the ground.
This means rethinking the importance given to fixed budgets, standardised targeting and uniform protocols. Instead, flexible contingency planning and anticipatory financing can help to respond to uncertainty, alongside a focus on working together with local people.
Read the comic
Read the article
Caravani, M., Lind, J., Sabates-Wheeler, R. and Scoones, I. (2022) Providing social assistance and humanitarian relief: The case for embracing uncertainty, Development Policy Review, 40(5), e12613.
About the Uncertain Worlds series
What are you uncertain about? If you can’t control or predict the future, how can you prepare for it? Uncertainty can be scary, but can it also be a source of hope or opportunity?
The PASTRES project is sharing seven comics in a series called ‘Uncertain Worlds’. It explores stories about uncertainty in the worlds of pastoralism, economics and finance, pandemics, migration, humanitarian aid, insurance and knowledge networks. Many of the comics draw on lessons from pastoralists, whose ways of life can help to challenge our assumptions of how to respond to the unpredictable and unknown.
The comics have been created by the artist Daniel Locke in collaboration with the PASTRES team. Each comic is linked to a peer-reviewed academic article produced in collaboration with the PASTRES project.
Exhibition: Uncertain Worlds
Large scale printed versions of the comics will be on show in October 2023 at an exhibition, Uncertain Worlds.
The exhibition will be in Brighton, UK from 25-29 October 2023. Opening hours are 11am – 5pm and entry is free.
Address:
Phoenix Art Space
10-14 Waterloo Place,
Brighton, BN2 9NB
View map
View website
There will be a launch event on the evening of 24 October: email n.oxley@ids.ac.uk for details.
Find out more
For an overview and links to all the comics when they are published, visit the Uncertain Worlds page.
Pastoralism, Uncertainty and Resilience - PASTRES 
