The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) is an interfaculty Harvard University initiative dedicated to advancing research, practice, and policy in the field of humanitarian assistance. HHI’s mission is “to relieve human suffering in war and disaster by advancing the science and practice of humanitarian response worldwide.”[1]
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In 1999, Harvard University established a program on humanitarian crises and human rights at the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights in response to growing interest in humanitarian response. By 2002, the demand for technical expertise and educational and training opportunities from NGO partners, professionals, and graduate students overwhelmed the capacity of the existing program. In 2005, the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative was established as a University-wide academic and research center to address issues of evidence-based humanitarian interest under the leadership of faculty directors Jennifer Leaning, MD, SMH and Michael VanRooyen, MD, MPH.[2]
The Initiative is supported by Harvard's Office of the Provost, and has faculty participation from the Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University Committee on Human Rights Studies, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, and major Harvard-affiliated medical centers including Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Boston, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
In addition, The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative maintains partnerships with major relief organizations and government agencies to improve the effectiveness of aid delivery worldwide. HHI serves as a source for technical, research, and training assistance to more than 40 humanitarian agencies [3] and international institutions, including: American Red Cross, AmeriCares, CARE, International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC), International Rescue Committee(IRC), Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam America, Physicians for Human Rights(PHR), Save the Children USA, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO).
*Darfur, Sudan and Chad
HHI is one of the leading centers at Harvard University for research, analysis, and response to the humanitarian crises in Sudan and Chad. Researchers Alex de Waal and Jennifer Leaning serve as a resource to policy makers, the media, and the general public on the issues facing Darfur, Sudan and Chad.
*Gender-based Violence Initiative
HHI’s Program on Gender-based Violence explores complex issues relating to women and war by addressing the health, human rights, and advocacy needs of women affected by conflict. HHI’s work has included collaboration with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Panzi Hospital and extensive research into the causes and impacts of mass rape as a weapon of war.[4]
*Crisis Mapping and Conflict Early Warning
HHI's current research seeks to identify innovative thinking and alternative approaches to community-based conflict early warning and response strategies, crisis mapping and use of information communication technology in areas of conflict worldwide.[5]
*Humanitarian Studies Initiative (HSI)
HSI is a rigorous humanitarian response curriculum taught by Harvard University professors and humanitarian experts to train the next generation of humanitarian leaders. The flagship course teaches students skills such as refugee camp management, water sanitation, sexual violence prevention, NGO management, and international humanitarian law.[6]
Mullin, Lisa. Public Radio International’s The World, “Interview with Dr. Julia VanRooyen, a surgeon with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative,” http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/15673
Harvard Public Health Now, "Twelve Myths and Misconceptions in Disaster Response," by Michael Lasalandra, February 1, 2008. Think Tank for Aid Workers, Harvard Magazine, November 2007. Scientific American, The Science of Doing Good, by Sheri Fink, October 2007.
Koinange, Jeff (2006-05-26), "Rape, brutality ignored to aid Congo peace", CNN.com, <http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/05/23/koinange.rape.war/index.html>. Retrieved on 21 April 2008.
Gettleman, Jeffrey (2007-10-07), "Rape Epidemic Raises Trauma of Congo War", The New York Times, <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/world/africa/07congo.html>. Retrieved on 21 April 2008.
Meir, Patrick. "Crisis Mapping and Early Warning," http://earlywarning.wordpress.com/2008/07/08/conflict-early-warning-and-crisis-mapping/>. Retrieved on 8 July 2008.