The world is urbanising, and so too are humanitarian emergencies. However, many international humanitarian actors have found that traditional approaches — often rurally-derived or camp-focused — are ill-suited to urban environments. This briefing identifies key evidence gaps on urban crises and humanitarian responses, and outlines priorities to guide a future research agenda. Broadly, these priorities call for a better understanding of urban processes and systems, and of local actors’ experiences and perceptions, both of which can inform context-appropriate and inclusive approaches to urban humanitarian response. We emphasise the value of communicating evidence in a form that can be used for broader advocacy and public awareness, promoting the need for all actors to develop new approaches and capacities in this increasingly important area.
In response to the urbanisation of humanitarian emergencies, the humanitarian sector is increasingly recognising that:
• Rapid urbanisation, alongside other pressures, is contributing to more frequent and complex urban emergencies (Figure 1). This is especially true in developing countries that lack the capacity to respond (pro- and retroactively)
• Future urban emergencies will require greater levels of humanitarian assistance, yet most international humanitarian actors have a rural focus
• International humanitarian actors are struggling to adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by urban environments (Table 1).
This briefing draws on a literature review on urban crisis and humanitarian response1 developed to address these growing concerns. The review uncovered significant evidence gaps in adapting and developing new humanitarian approaches and capacities that work in urban environments and on engaging local actors.