Why address corruption in humanitarian assistance?

Humanitarian assistance aims to help those affected by natural disasters, human conflict and other forms of severe political, economic or social breakdowns. Its objective is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the context of life-threatening situations. This is mainly done through the short-term provision of emergency goods and services to affected areas, although initial humanitarian relief operations often evolve into longer-term reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

There are a number of factors that make humanitarian assistance particularly prone to corruption. The large influx of external resources, both financial and in kind, the urgency of delivering relief and reconstruction supplies and the breakdown of local institutions and public services, all exacerbate the risks of corruption in emergency situations. Relief supplies and services – including food, water, shelter and health care – can, as a result of corruption, be diverted away from affected communities or distributed unequally.

The issue of corruption in humanitarian assistance is a key concern for practitioners, who dedicate much energy to trying to minimise the risks of diversion. However, it has barely been discussed in policy terms and little researched. Humanitarian actors have been reluctant to discuss corruption publicly because of fears that being open about the risks and extent of diversion might erode public support and threaten operational security or the ability to operate in a country. This silence inhibits knowledge sharing and good practice in minimising corruption.

We welcome your suggestions and recommendations for improvements and additions to these pages. Please contact Marie-Luise Ahlendorf at mahlendorf@transparency.org for further information.