Long Story Short #3: What the Oxfam scandal means for the aid industry

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Guests: Jessica Abrahams, Devex Associate Editor, and Molly Anders, Devex U.K. Correspondent

Recent revelations about the 2011 sexual exploitation by high-level Oxfam officials who went on to continue careers in humanitarian assistance have left the aid community wondering what went wrong. Advocates have pointed to longstanding issues, such as ill-equipped human resource systems and legal loopholes as contributing factors. Meanwhile, high-level officials, including DFID chief Penny Mordaunt have made strong calls to action on improving safeguarding in the sector — and increasing accountability for development partners. Does the Oxfam scandal represent a moment of reckoning for the aid industry — and what change could come as a result?

Additional reading:
• Oxfam announces reforms, due to meet UK aid chief after sexual misconduct scandal
•  Oxfam sexual abuse scandal: Are the aid sector's HR systems failing?
• Accountability in the aid sector: Humanitarians can no longer be above the law
• Exclusive: EU ready to tighten NGO funding rules after sex scandals
• UK aid chiefs agree safeguarding action plan as DFID uncovers new incidents

Watch more episodes of Long Story Short:
Long Story Short #1: 5 stories to watch in 2018
Long Story Short #2: A new era for the World Bank?
Long Story Short #4: The State of #GlobalDevWomen
Long Story Short #5: The cost of desensitization
Long Story Short #6: The "America First" development agenda
Long Story Short #7: Inside the Commission on the Status of Women
Long Story Short #8: The do's and don'ts of global development storytelling