• News
    • Latest news
    • News search
    • Health
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Career news
    • Content series
    • Try Devex Pro
  • Jobs
    • Job search
    • Post a job
    • Employer search
    • CV Writing
    • Upcoming career events
    • Try Career Account
  • Funding
    • Funding search
    • Funding news
  • Talent
    • Candidate search
    • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Events
    • Upcoming and past events
    • Partner on an event
  • Post a job
  • About
      • About us
      • Membership
      • Newsletters
      • Advertising partnerships
      • Devex Talent Solutions
      • Contact us
Join DevexSign in
Join DevexSign in

News

  • Latest news
  • News search
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Career news
  • Content series
  • Try Devex Pro

Jobs

  • Job search
  • Post a job
  • Employer search
  • CV Writing
  • Upcoming career events
  • Try Career Account

Funding

  • Funding search
  • Funding news

Talent

  • Candidate search
  • Devex Talent Solutions

Events

  • Upcoming and past events
  • Partner on an event
Post a job

About

  • About us
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising partnerships
  • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Contact us
  • My Devex
  • Update my profile % complete
  • Account & privacy settings
  • My saved jobs
  • Manage newsletters
  • Support
  • Sign out
Latest newsNews searchHealthFinanceFoodCareer newsContent seriesTry Devex Pro
    • Opinion
    • #ResilienceInAction

    How to boost resilience in practice

    What are the most pressing items on the agenda at the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey? Undersecretary-General of the United Nations and head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O'Brien tells Devex.

    By Stephen O'Brien // 25 February 2016

    For years the aid system has been designed around the presumption that humanitarians meet priority lifesaving needs, and then step aside for development institutions to move in. In reality, in most emergencies, the response is simply not that episodic — it is often a blend, or needs to be a blend of humanitarian agencies meeting critical needs, while the recovery and development phase gets underway.  

    Often conditions remain critical for years on end, meaning the most vulnerable people risk not recovering from shock or becoming self-sufficient and more resilient to future shocks. The facts tell the story: humanitarian appeals are launched every year on average, for seven successive years. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Sudan, annual appeals have been launched for 16 years in succession.

    But following years of discussion and analysis there is clear evidence of a transformational shift. Leaders are recognizing the need to put resilience and recovery at the center of assistance.  This is evidenced by governments’ adoption of social safety net programs; by institutions embracing cash assistance to boost self-reliance; and by stronger inter-sector collaboration in response, to name but three examples.

    This article is free to read - just register or sign in

    Access news, newsletters, events and more.

    Join usSign in

    Read more #ResilienceInAction stories:

    ► What will the World Humanitarian Summit offer #globaldev?

    ► Measuring resilience to shift climate investment away from recovery

    ► Tips for private sector: Getting the most out of partnerships

    ► A coalition for greater impact: 1 billion people on the path to resilience

    ► Meaning in action: IFRC's One Billion Coalition for Resilience

    • Humanitarian Aid
    • Türkiye (Turkey)
    Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).
    The views in this opinion piece do not necessarily reflect Devex's editorial views.

    About the author

    • Stephen O'Brien

      Stephen O'Brien@UNReliefChief

      Stephen O'Brien heads the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

    Search for articles

    Related Stories

    LocalizationOpinion: Localization was Syria’s lifeline — NGOs must apply this elsewhere

    Opinion: Localization was Syria’s lifeline — NGOs must apply this elsewhere

    Climate FinanceOpinion: Why climate funders are adopting a ‘resilience’ lens

    Opinion: Why climate funders are adopting a ‘resilience’ lens

    Artificial intelligence Opinion: AI is a genuine opportunity for the international community

    Opinion: AI is a genuine opportunity for the international community

    Recruiter InsightsStaffing priorities for the Sudan humanitarian crisis

    Staffing priorities for the Sudan humanitarian crisis

    Most Read

    • 1
      How low-emissions livestock are transforming dairy farming in Africa
    • 2
      Opinion: Mobile credit, savings, and insurance can drive financial health
    • 3
      The UN's changing of the guard
    • 4
      USAID's humanitarian bureau is under pressure and overstretched
    • 5
      Opinion: India’s bold leadership in turning the tide for TB
    • News
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Talent
    • Events

    Devex is the media platform for the global development community.

    A social enterprise, we connect and inform over 1.3 million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. We invite you to join us.

    • About us
    • Membership
    • Newsletters
    • Advertising partnerships
    • Devex Talent Solutions
    • Post a job
    • Careers at Devex
    • Contact us
    © Copyright 2000 - 2025 Devex|User Agreement|Privacy Statement