Thread by @hpg_odi

As we near the end of 2021 another 🧵!

This time on #protection (H/T @gem_ai)

As referenced in HPG’s annual event last week, humanitarians are grappling with spiraling crises and atrocities in 🇦🇫 , 🇪🇹 &🇲🇲 (1/12)

odi.org/en/events/huma…

There are significant institutional, structural and cultural barriers to effectively carrying out advocacy to promote protection.

🟥 Humanitarian’s are in an age of caution
🟥 There are high levels of risk aversion
(2/12) odi.org/en/publication…

This + lack of leadership in the humanitarian system, inhibit the use of advocacy to promote protection advocacy at the highest levels.

Leaders lack political and technical support.

odi.org/en/publication… (3/12)

❄️This has a chilling effect across humanitarian orgs

Part of the problem is:

1⃣ There are a lack of incentives – and even disincentives to advocate on behalf of civilians (4/12)

2⃣ There is a lack of prioritisation of advocacy – this results in gaps in skills, capacity & expertise 🧠

3⃣ It also leads to overly internationalised, vague use of legalistic advocacy positions

odi.org/en/publication… (5/12)

Greater collaboration is required, including with local / national actors.

But ❗️

🟥HPG found that existing partnerships are often tokenistic or extractive of local/nation actors

odi.org/en/publication… (6/12)

🟥What's more, internationally owned language of protection is exclusionary 🙅

🟥We need to support local/national actors to directly advocate, particularly when the legitimacy of global north states is under question (7/12)

But, there are opportunities, especially when there is collaboration with human rights and peace actors.

Collaborations can share risk and maximise skill sets across organisations.
odi.org/en/events/oppo… (8/12)

Examples include:

1⃣ Strategic litigation against the UK government on arms sales for use in Yemen 🇾🇪odi.org/en/publication… (9/12)

2⃣ Collaborations with human rights and peace actors in influencing US Department of Defense on Protection of Civilians in policy and practice.
odi.org/en/publication… (10/12)

3⃣ Strong mobilisation, high-level leadership, and mutually reinforcing approaches can influence system-level change

odi.org/en/publication… (11/12)

HPG is building examples and collecting more good practice. Watch this space for 2022.

Thanks to @AlexandraSpen25 @AmandaLouGray @gem_ai Vicki Metcalfe-Hough & Mark Bowden.

Explore all of work on protection and more in our Year in Review: odi.org/en/hpgs-year-i… (12/12)