In a world where humanitarian crises and natural disasters are increasingly frequent, the approaches to managing and mitigating these events have become a critical topic of global concern. However, the perspectives of local communities, who are most affected, are often overlooked in these discussions, said Puji Pujiono, founder and senior adviser of the Pujiono Centre — an Indonesian nonprofit organization established to support evidence-based policymaking in disaster management and climate change adaptation.
“Many [humanitarian] interventions are done on [impulse], on habit, on power relations that quite often trampled upon the dignity, the interests and the very potential of local community to take care of their own affairs,” he said.
The Pujiono Centre was established following an earthquake in Jakarta, where local disaster workers and humanitarian responders saw the need for an organization that could voice local perspectives and bridge the gaps among major players in disaster response, Pujiono explained.
About the author
Olivia Govik
Olivia is a Senior Editorial Associate and Reporter at Devex. Based in our Barcelona office, she mainly works with bringing partnerships content to life in different formats. She holds degrees in communications, political sciences, and international relations, and developed a passion for global development while studying and working in different parts of the world. Prior to joining Devex, she worked in Brussels on communications related to European Union-funded development projects.
