WHY SYSTEMS CHANGE?
WHY NOW?

As we’ve referenced previously the current humanitarian aid system is entrenched in challenges relating to colonisation and racism. For the sector generally, recognising and reflecting on some of these realities is uncomfortable, and often not something that is easy to surface and change.

Why Systems Change

WHY SYSTEMS CHANGE?
WHY NOW?

As we’ve referenced previously the current humanitarian aid system is entrenched in challenges relating to colonisation and racism. For the sector generally, recognising and reflecting on some of these realities is uncomfortable, and often not something that is easy to surface and change.

SYSTEMS CHANGE

What system or systems are we talking about?

In our context, the system that we are looking to influence is the international humanitarian aid sector and all the interconnected parts that make it up.

The humanitarian aid sector is a vast, century-old system with deeply entrenched and often outdated ways of thinking and working. Influencing, changing or shifting even part of it is incredibly complex and takes considerable time and energy. However it can be rewarding work, and systems change practice gives people structure and tools to create meaningful change.

We’ve spoken about what systems change is and how a systems change approach might be different. But at Start Network, and those across the humanitarian aid sector, why systems change and why now?

In our latest strategy, we set out how the humanitarian aid system has needed a radical and transformational rethink for some time. As ALNAP’s State of the Humanitarian System report suggests it [the humanitarian aid sector] is ‘performing, but not progressing’.

We are struggling to collectively imagine and implement appropriate, system-level reforms in the face of growing needs and challenges globally. From the climate impacts of a wetter and warmer world on people and ecosystems; to the proliferation of state and non-state conflicts worldwide.

Put simply, we believe the current humanitarian aid system doesn’t meet the needs of people affected by crisis in an equitable and sustainable way that respects their dignity and choice.

Critique of the current system

Our analysis of the challenges in the current system, and what needs to change are summarised on the following page.

These challenges are systemic and complex - symptoms of a misaligned system. They are not simple to address as they are deeply rooted issues of power imbalance, misaligned incentives, paternalistic mindsets and colonialist behaviour.

A systems change approach can provide a structure to work with and across our networks to untangle some of these current and entrenched issues. It encourages us to ask critical questions of the ways things are now, and invites us to imagine and move toward an alternative humanitarian aid system that addresses some of these challenges. We will never ‘solve’ or be finished ‘with systems change, but we can influence it and try and make it work better for those most at risk of crisis and conflict.

Why systems change?

From a System that:

Centralises and concentrates power and resources in a handful of dominant and self-interested organisations making key decisions far from the locus of crisis

Prioritises accountability to donors and governments over people in crisis 

Is too reactive and funding too slow to reach those impacted by conflict and disaster

Is overly risk averse. Risk is pushed to smaller organisations without commensurate funds or support to manage risk effectively 

Lacks demonstrated models and evidence for viable alternatives to current ways of working 
To a System Where:

Power and resources are concentrated in local Hubs with local and national NGOs and those directly affected by crisis making key decisions right at the locus of crisis

Accountability structures are not linear but dynamic, reflecting the complexity of humanitarian challenges, and center those communities and people directly affected by crisis and disaster

Funding for humanitarian aid is fast, flexible, equitable, and used for not just responding to crises but for anticipating and building resilience

The system as a whole takes a balanced approach to risk, sharing the risk burden equitably and with commensurate support to navigate risk effectively

Humanitarian programming shifts to a portfolio approach to experimentation that places people affected by crisis at its heart, generates alternatives to current ways of working,  and focuses more on learning than outputs and KPIs.
A decolonial and anti-racist approach to systems change

It’s critical that any time we place ourselves in the role of ‘changing the system’; we critically and continuously reflect on the power that we hold, and our role in making sure that a future system we are supporting to emerge doesn’t doesn’t bring with it practices or behaviours that are colonial or racist.

This is difficult, challenging and but critical work for any person, team or organisation working in or across the humanitarian sector and interested in bringing about genuine transformative change. Our work across the organisation and network, and therefore our approach to systems change cannot be successful unless it centres decolonial and anti-racist principles and behaviours.

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