Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies - Contribution 2023-2024
The Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies (GCHS) aims at enhancing the capacity of individual and institutional humanitarian actors to bring relevant, adapted and timely responses to the needs of populations affected by armed conflict, disasters or social exclusion. It aims at strengthening the competencies of humanitarian professionals through education, training, research and it advances systematisation and professionalization of humanitarian activities and actors.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Global |
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR Education
Humanitarian efficiency
Tertiary education |
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2024 |
CHF 600’000
|
- Professionals active in the humanitarian sector, including from the global south
- Institutional humanitarian actors
- Humanitarian institutions and actors based in Geneva
- Education: Promotion of training of humanitarian agents, as well as of reflection and research on humanitarian action and deliver online and localised courses in different languages
- Research: Provision of a research platform for researchers from various universities.
- Humanitarian Exchange: Critical debates with peers. Reinforcement of the multilateral humanitarian system through the promotion of collaboration between humanitarian actors and the academic world
- Internationally recognised high quality postgraduate courses accessible to a larger group of professionals. Deliver some of the courses in conflict-affected countries.
- Rigorous and relevant research, e.g. Researching the Impact of Attacks on Healthcare (RIAH); Senselet: Non-Communicable Diseases in Ethiopia; or Lancet European Migration Hub. Additionally, research projects in countries of interest on key issues such as forced displacement, humanitarian innovations and various health issues.
- Ongoing dialogue and exchange with policy makers and humanitarian professionals to improve humanitarian interventions and policies.
- Swiss Universities or FHS
- Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies (GCHS)
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation EMERGENCY RESPONSE
EDUCATION
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Relief co-ordination; protection and support services
Higher education
Aid Type Core contribution
Project number 7F01379
| Background | Humanitarian contexts are increasingly characterised by great diversity and complexity, warranting ever greater professionalization in the sector; especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which has exacerbated national protectionism, increased the marginalisation of vulnerable communities and has seen the principle of working for the common-good erode, in the race to find national/local solutions. |
| Objectives | Through education, research and humanitarian exchange, GCHS strengthens the capacity and practice of humanitarian professionals wherever they work in order to empower them to respond effectively to global humanitarian challenges. GCHS contributes to critical reflections on contemporary humanitarianism with the view of bringing positive transformations to the humanitarian system. Individual and institutional humanitarian actors’ capacity to bring relevant, adapted and timely response to the needs of populations affected by armed conflict, disasters or social exclusion is enhanced. |
| Target groups |
|
| Medium-term outcomes |
Additionally, with the support to GCHS the promotion of Geneva as a humanitarian hub is further strengthened. |
| Results |
Expected results: Results from previous phases: Switzerland has supported GCHS and its predecessors since their foundation in 1998. Between 2008-2020 the institution was called Centre d’étude et de recherche en Action Humanitaire (CERAH) and before that Programme interdisciplinaire en Action Humanitaire (PIAH). Over two decades, the centre established itself as an educational provider in the humanitarian sector, offering post-graduate degrees, distance learning courses, summer school, thematic short courses and several seminars. It is well placed within a strong net of strategic partnerships and has become an important organiser of public conferences and seminars/ webinars on humanitarian issues. |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Swiss Academic and Research Institution |
| Coordination with other projects and actors | GCHS is a joint centre of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Developments Studies. Besides SDC, the ICRC and MSF are main partners and members of the board of directors. |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 600’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 300’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 5’834’663 |
| Project phases | Phase 16 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024 (Current phase) Phase 14 01.01.2017 - 31.12.2021 (Completed) Phase 13 01.01.2015 - 31.12.2016 (Completed) Phase 12 01.01.2013 - 31.12.2014 (Completed) |
