Andrew J. Cunningham
Andrew has thirty years’ experience in humanitarian affairs, operations, and research. He worked for many years with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and currently works as an independent consultant specializing in policy analysis and qualitative research for humanitarian agencies. He has a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London researching state-INGO relations. He is a board member of the International Humanitarian Studies Association and former member of the International Board of MSF.
Biography
Thirty years’ international experience in development, humanitarian affairs and operations, and humanitarian research. Fourteen years fulltime with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), twelve years of which were in the field in a wide variety of geographical locations and two years in HQ in humanitarian analysis functions. PhD in War Studies at King’s College London, researching the relationship between states and international humanitarian organizations in the context of conflict. Eleven years as an independent consultant specializing in policy analysis and qualitative research for humanitarian agencies. Thematic expertise: Humanitarian access and security; the relationship between states and international humanitarian NGOs; and humanitarian principles.Education
-
PhD War Studies King's College London
Areas of Research / Professional Expertise
-
The relationship between states and humanitarian and development NGOs.
Civil society space in humanitarian contexts.
Humanitarian principles and negotiated access.
Personal Interests
-
The peace of gardening in an urban context.
Websites
Books
Articles
Who is your constituency? The political engagement of humanitarian organizations
Published: Dec 01, 2017 by Journal of International Humanitarian Action 2:9
Authors: Lockyear, C. and Cunningham, A.
How and with whom NGOs engage contributes to their identity and their ability to implement activities. The appropriateness of their political engagement, and the impact of such engagement on their identity, is frequently a source of confusion and contention within humanitarian organisations, particularly when it comes to consideration of the neutrality principle. This argues for the value of using the concept of constituency in analysing the political identity of a humanitarian organisation.
Post-conflict contexts and humanitarian organizations: The changing relationship with states. Journal of International Humanitarian Action 2:7
Published: Sep 01, 2017 by Journal of International Humanitarian Action 2:7
Authors: Cunningham, A.
The operational space for humanitarian NGOs are conflicts. Post-conflict situations present far less clear-cut choices for humanitarian INGOs. This article queries whether humanitarian crises continue into post-conflict periods. A transition framework based on Koselleck’s definition of crisis is proposed to help organizations understand the war-to-peace, set against the literature on linking relief, rehabilitation, and development and Walter Benjamin’s conception of peace.
Kidnapping and the limits of acceptance
Published: Jun 01, 2017 by Journal of International Humanitarian Action 2:4
Authors: Cunningham, A
For many humanitarian agencies, acceptance is the preferred security management tool. Humanitarian agencies have long been uncomfortable with the contradiction of using deterrence mechanisms in humanitarian operations. But in hyper-insecure contexts, is acceptance a viable option? This paper argues that in some contexts, the acceptance strategy no longer works. A ‘zone of exception’ framework is proposed based on the work of Carl Schmitt.
Introduction: State sovereignty and humanitarian action
Published: Oct 01, 2013 by Disasters
Authors: Kahn, C. and Cunningham, A.
Introduction to the thematic of state sovereignty and humanitarian action