Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2021
The Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2021 provides detailed analysis of the crisis financing landscape. Development Initiatives found that humanitarian funding failed to grow despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read Online DownloadsRead our latest update on Humanitarian funding and reform
Our report 'Falling short? Humanitarian funding and reform' presents the latest data on global humanitarian assistance, as well as progress on Grand Bargain localisation targets, cash and voucher assistance, and anticipatory action.
Visit the reportForeword
The unanticipated shock of the Covid-19 pandemic intensified the strain on a humanitarian system struggling to cope with existing challenges.
Read the forewordExecutive summary
The impacts of Covid-19 coupled with existing crises resulted in increased humanitarian needs. UN appeals had record levels of underfunding, and extreme poverty has risen in fragile states.
Read the executive summaryChapter One
People and crisis
In 2020, 243.8 million people required humanitarian assistance – with people living in poverty, protracted crisis and fragile states, including women and girls, vulnerable to the impacts of Covid-19.
Read chapter oneChapter Two
Humanitarian and wider crisis financing
International humanitarian assistance flatlined at US$30.9 billion, despite record appeal requirements. Multilateral development banks are active in and lending more to countries experiencing crisis.
Read chapter twoChapter Three
Donors and recipients of humanitarian and wider crisis financing
Most of the largest donors increased funding but three, including the UK, made big cuts. Funding to the ten largest recipients for needs unrelated to Covid-19 fell by US$3 billion.
Read chapter threeChapter Four
Funding for effectiveness and efficiency
Improvements have been made in the delivery of assistance, such as cash transfers, but more progress is needed on Grand Bargain commitments, including on localisation and unearmarked funding.
Read chapter fourChapter Five
Methodology and definitions
Details of the methodology and definitions used in this report – including data sources, acronyms and abbreviations.
Read chapter five- What is humanitarian assistance?
- Cash
- Channels of delivery
- Constant prices
- Country and region naming conventions
- Covid-19 pandemic response
- Crisis categories
- Disaster risk reduction
- Earmarked funding
- Exchange rates
- Funding for local and national actors
- International humanitarian assistance
- Multi-year humanitarian funding
- Poverty
- Poverty and food security
- Private funding
- Protracted crisis countries
- Rounding
- UN-coordinated appeals
- Data sources
- Acronyms and abbreviations
appendix one
Acknowledgements
Thank you to those who contributed to and supported the publication of this report.
Read appendix one
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