Story in 5: Lizzie McLeod, Mercy Corps

We live in times of profound change. This has had a great impact on humanitarian needs, and the approaches taken to meet these needs. Changes in technology, ecology, politics, economics and demographics have shaped, and will continue to shape, humanitarian action. Many humanitarians and observers of humanitarian action have suggested that change initiatives in the sector have been unambitious and unsuccessful. Indeed, many people think that the humanitarian system is unable, or unwilling, to make the changes that are required to remain effective and relevant in a rapidly changing world. Following the World Humanitarian Summit many stakeholders have made commitments to significant changes. But can the system change? And if so, how?

ALNAP's 31st Annual Meeting, in Stockholm on 14 - 17 February, looked at how change occurs in the humanitarian system, and how it can be done better. The discussions around change took different shapes. The ALNAP Secretariat prepared a timeline of change in humanitarian action, organised panel discussions, an Agora in which organisations showcased current change initiatives, and Stories in 5 - short presentations about change in the sector.