If Marie Staunton were to identify the exact moment when the international aid architecture began to change, the former Plan International director would point to the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand in 2004.
Before this, “it was possible for development agencies like Plan to say, ‘We do not do emergencies.’ But no longer,” Staunton told Devex. The disaster swept away years of work in India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, leading the organization to incorporate not just humanitarian aid but also disaster resilience into its programs.
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About the author
Daphne Davies
Daphne Davies is a London-based freelance journalist and consultant with more than 30 years' experience in international development. She has worked with the U.N., the European Union, national governments and global civil society organizations, including Amnesty, WWF and LDC Watch. Her expertise is in monitoring government policies in relation to international cooperation. Her interests are in sustainability, social and economic matters, women and least developed countries.
