Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Crisis affected populations should receive effective, appropriate humanitarian aid that is not harmful. Alongside an increasing demand for ‘value for money’, proof of impact & effectiveness in provision of humanitarian aid, there is a need for contextual evidence. Increasingly humanitarian needs go unmet worldwide while capacity is stagnating, spurring a growing need for innovation. Although the value of an evidence-based (EB) approach is increasingly recognised, hurdles remain to enhance the use of evidence in the humanitarian sector. The Evidence Lounge provides a space where the hurdles and gaps in the evidence can be addressed & results shared, accessible to all, disseminated through the appropriate channels to avoid duplications & waste of resources.
Objectives: To endorse an EB approach to humanitarian aid, when & where appropriate, by identifying shared or individual initiatives that support use of robust evidence in humanitarian decision making & action.
Methods: Evidence Lounge uses online activities to build momentum & support. The initiative includes an interactive blog series, & an opportunity to join a Slack community for online discussion, sharing & interaction. Blog postings are advertised within the Slack community & on Twitter (@EvidenceLounge). Partners & supporters (including Cochrane) promote the Evidence Lounge, individual blog postings & the website through their own social media channels and communication teams.
Results: Evidence Lounge activities will attract the attention of participants through partner & supporter activities which continue online during the WHS, bringing the online community together with those at the WHS, providing a platform to endorse key messages, present initiatives & interact with ambassadors of the initiative. Post WHS the Slack community will remain active as an online community to support future collaborations in support of an EB approach in humanitarian action.
Conclusions: The humanitarian sector needs to commit to an EB approach to their action, by strengthening the sector’s evidence base, improving sharing and dissemination of the evidence available, & promoting the use of evidence.
Objectives: To endorse an EB approach to humanitarian aid, when & where appropriate, by identifying shared or individual initiatives that support use of robust evidence in humanitarian decision making & action.
Methods: Evidence Lounge uses online activities to build momentum & support. The initiative includes an interactive blog series, & an opportunity to join a Slack community for online discussion, sharing & interaction. Blog postings are advertised within the Slack community & on Twitter (@EvidenceLounge). Partners & supporters (including Cochrane) promote the Evidence Lounge, individual blog postings & the website through their own social media channels and communication teams.
Results: Evidence Lounge activities will attract the attention of participants through partner & supporter activities which continue online during the WHS, bringing the online community together with those at the WHS, providing a platform to endorse key messages, present initiatives & interact with ambassadors of the initiative. Post WHS the Slack community will remain active as an online community to support future collaborations in support of an EB approach in humanitarian action.
Conclusions: The humanitarian sector needs to commit to an EB approach to their action, by strengthening the sector’s evidence base, improving sharing and dissemination of the evidence available, & promoting the use of evidence.