Literature monitoring

Principled Compromises or Compromised Principles? A review of principled humanitarian response in Ukraine, Ed Schenkenberg and al., HERE-Geneva, DRC, 2026

This report describes the extent to which the four core principles that underpin humanitarian action have been applied in and are relevant to the ongoing response to people in need in Ukraine. The delivery of humanitarian aid in complex environments is by nature a balancing act between often competing priorities, and there is no such thing as a fully principled approach. “Principled compromises” are called for, however, rather than “compromised principles.”

https://here-geneva.org/principled-compromises-or-compromised-principles-a-review-of-principled-humanitarian-response-in-ukraine/

When aid disappears: Lessons from South Sudanese mutual aid, Luka Biong Deng and al., CSRF, 2026

This research piece examines South Sudanese mutual aid against the backdrop of shrinking international funding for humanitarian aid to the country and its communities. It reveals a robust, deeply rooted ecosystem of community-led responses, which not only provide the first line of response to crises but also serve as one of the most important elements of the humanitarian crisis response chain, with women and youth playing prominent roles. Examples of these community-led responses are related to (i) flood and environmental crises mitigation, (ii) food security and resource-sharing mechanisms, (iii) peacebuilding, social cohesion and conflict mitigation efforts, (iv) local women- and youth-led resilience community structures, (v) traditional justice, cultural safety nets and indigenous institutions and (vi) community-based emergency rescue and humanitarian support.

https://csrf-southsudan.org/repository/csrf-research-when-aid-disappears-lessons-from-south-sudanese-mutual-aid/