EXPLORING RESEARCH HORIZONS IN THE ASIA AND PACIFIC REGIONS SCOPING REPORT FROM RESEARCH SURVEY 100 PARTICIPANTS 25 COUNTRIES 17 QUESTIONS This report outlines the preliminary findings from the survey Research priorities for humanitarian action in Asia and the Pacific on priorities for humanitarian research as identified by key humanitarian stakeholders. It will inform the overall direction of the research, including the large-scale research projects, practice paper series, and a range of other products including events and policy notes.
WHAT HUMANITARIAN ACTORS WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT: SURVEY RESULTS Humanitarian actors in the region were invited to rank research ideas by their practicality for informing their work. They were also encouraged to suggest completely new ideas not identified. The purpose of the survey was also to map perceptions on how to ensure research is accessible, applicable and relevant in the sector. The survey also requested stakeholders identify how information is best communicated and what types of research products will be most useful for them. Countries where survey respondents are currently based The survey respondents are currently based in 25 countries from all regions of the world. 87% of respondents are currently based in the Asia and Pacific region. Australia was the most represented country with 62 respondents, followed by Fiji, Indonesia, Thailand and Vanuatu. More survey respondents were located in Asia than the Pacific region. LEBANON MALAYSIA 87% 62% Asia and the Pacific region Australian respondents Type of organisations that respondents work for The survey reached an audience comprised of people working for: the Australian Government, New Zealand Governments, national governments in Asia and the Pacific, national and international NGOs, peak bodies, NGO networks, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, UN agencies and departments, academic institutions and universities, civil society organisations, private sector, and more. The Australian and New Zealand Governments were the most represented employers, with 27% of survey respondents, followed by international NGOs with 21%, the private sector with 10% and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement with 9%. 27 21 10 9 Australia/NZ Government International NGO Private Sector Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement 6 6 3 Academic institution/university Peak body/ngo network Local/national NGO 1 Civil society organisation 8 Other 7 UN agency/department 1 National government - Asia 1 National government Pacific 2 Operationalising the WHS commitments in the Pacific region
WHAT HUMANITARIAN ACTORS PRIORITISE Inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised groups in humanitarian response was ranked as the most important research theme. Localisation and operationalising the Grand Bargain commitments in the Asia and Pacific regions was ranked as the second most important research theme. Stakeholders were also invited to suggest research areas not encompassed in these outlined topics. Suggested thematic areas included: humanitarian finance and cash in emergencies; urban response and disaster risk management; humanitarian response in protracted crises; regional compliance with International Humanitarian Law; and many more. Ranking of research priorities 1. Inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised groups in humanitarian response 2. Localisation and operationalising the Grand Bargain commitments in the Asia and Pacific regions 3. Women in humanitarian leadership 4. The future of the humanitarian system 5. Humanitarian innovation Participants were asked to select their top two priorities under each thematic area. The results are illustrated in the graphic below. Top two priorities under each thematic area Inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised groups in humanitarian response Priority 1 Researching forgotten voices in humanitarian action who they are and what are they saying Priority 2 Researching best practices in obtaining and effectively using disaggregated data in response Localisation and operationalising the Grand Bargain commitments in Asia and Pacific regions Priority 1 Understanding what is already happening in the region e.g. baselining existing work Priority 2 Measuring the impact of localisation Women in humanitarian leadership Priority 1 Identifying barriers and enablers for women in humanitarian leadership Priority 2 Mapping the impact of gender equity in humanitarian leadership The future of the humanitarian system Priority 1 Researching the changing composition and role of current and future humanitarian actors Priority 2 Researching the changing role of global and regional institutions in the Asia and Pacific regions, e.g., UN, regional peak bodies and regional coordination mechanisms Humanitarian innovation Priority 1 Evaluating the impact of the use of innovative technology in the humanitarian sector e.g. drones Priority 2 Understanding the potential impact of technology on humanitarian principles and international legal frameworks Operationalising the WHS commitments in the Pacific region 3
Priorities for participants currently based in the Asia and Pacific regions aligned with the overall results depicted in the above graphic. The opinions of those currently based in other regions differed to the overall results in relation to localisation and operationalising the Grand Bargain commitments in the Asia and Pacific regions, for which researching funding models and mechanisms to support localisation was considered the top research priority. MAKING THE MOST OF OUR RESEARCH Participants were requested to identify the main ways that they currently use research in their work. Using research to identify best practices for programming was the most common use, followed by using research in policy development and to inform overarching strategy development for program priorities and geographical areas. Survey results indicated that research is least commonly used to inform funding applications to donors and to inform changing business practices. Top three ways that research is currently used 1 Identification of best practice for programming 2 Policy development 3 To inform overarching strategy development for program priorities and geographical areas Short practice papers and case studies were overwhelmingly identified as the most useful format for research outputs. Interestingly, research reports were regarded the least useful format for research outputs. These results appear to indicate that practitioners prefer formats that convey research findings more concisely. The research outputs of the Humanitarian Horizons Research Programme will be published with this in mind. Short practice papers will accompany research reports and case studies will be produced where relevant. Guidance papers, fact sheets and infographics will serve to convey research findings in more accessible and concise formats. In addition, many outputs will be published in plain English formats to increase accessibility. 4 Operationalising the WHS commitments in the Pacific region
COMPLEMENTARITY WITH EXISTING RESEARCH INITIATIVES As part of the survey, respondents were asked to identify other large scale research initiatives planning, or in process in the Asia and Pacific regions. As part of ongoing consultations with key stakeholders, Humanitarian Advisory group will seek to map out opportunities for complementing other research initiatives. The infographic below shows a snapshot of existing humanitarian initiatives in the region that have research complementarity potential: Snapshot of existing research initiatives in the region START Network Disaster Emergencies Preparedness Programme research on case study countries in the Asia region on localisation Shifting the Power project on localisation in the Asia region Humanitarian Policy Group Asia and Pacific Research Strategy as part of 2017-2019 Integrated Research Programme on localisation Australian Red Cross research funded by DFAT on localisation in the Pacific region CARE Young Women s Leadership Programme in Vanuatu WHERE TO NEXT? The results of the scoping survey will be discussed in the coming weeks with key stakeholders including the Research Advisory Committee; Australian Department Foreign Affairs and Trade; New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Australian Red Cross; Australian Humanitarian Partnership Support Unit; and Humanitarian Policy Group. These discussions will focus on the extent to which survey results resonate with other organisational priorities and on areas for complementary research. A final research programme will be developed at the end of this consultation period. yy Key dates Australian Humanitarian Partnership Disaster READY Initiative in five priorities countries in the Pacific region. Opportunity for research to complement five identified outcome areas. December 2017: full research program for Humanitarian Horizons January 2018: first practice paper June 2018: first research products from research on operationalizing Grand Bargain in the Pacific New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, CBM and Pacific Disability Forum research disability inclusion in the Pacific Operationalising the WHS commitments in the Pacific region 5