Since most protracted crises are characterised by violent insecurity and either weak or abusive state institutions, humanitarian engagement increasingly takes place alongside other modes of engagement (security, state-building, development). How to configure these together constitutes an issue of concern to ODI as a whole. Issues of principle combine with questions about ‘what works' in different kinds of context, though generalisation is dangerous.

Sub themes

• Early recovery
• Programming in fragile states
• Relief to development transitions
• Protracted crises