The Impact of Political Will by Donor Governments on Humanitarian Funding Decisions: A Comparative Study
Abstract
This thesis aims to investigate the extent to which political will influences the humanitarian funding decision-making process. To accomplish this, it examines the historical context in which humanitarian funding mechanisms operate and their impact on beneficiaries and programming. To provide a more in-depth analysis, the case studies of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Ukraine are explored. The humanitarian response to these two crises varies significantly, and the primary factor contributing to this difference is political will. The situation in Ukraine has global implications, real or perceived, that led to a remarkable mobilization of aid from the Western world, despite the perceived greater need in the DRC. This paper reveals that political will is a crucial factor in shaping humanitarian responses and should be considered when developing funding strategies and policies. Media coverage is an influential factor that contributes to prioritizing one crisis over another. When a particular crisis receives substantial media attention, it diverts funding and global attention from other pressing needs. This thesis delves deeper into these notions and elucidates how they are manifested in the cases of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine.
Subject Area
International Relations|Political science
Recommended Citation
Lucchesi, Emily, "The Impact of Political Will by Donor Governments on Humanitarian Funding Decisions: A Comparative Study" (2023). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI30488810.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI30488810
