Systemic inequities in humanitarian aid trace back to colonial legacies and global power imbalances
Original framing: “[Comment] Transforming the humanitarian system: our role to confront embedded inequities” — The Lancet
The current humanitarian system has deep roots in colonial-era practices of resource extraction and control, where 'aid' was used to maintain dependency and reinforce global hierarchies. Historical parallels can be drawn with the 19th-century 'civilizing mission' that justified colonial intervention under the guise of benevolence.
The humanitarian system is a product of colonial histories and global power asymmetries, with policies and practices that often reinforce the very inequities it claims to address.
Indigenous and community-based knowledge systems offer alternative models rooted in reciprocity and resilience that are frequently excluded from mainstream humanitarian frameworks. By decentralizing decision-making, integrating local expertise, and reforming donor accountability, the system can shift from a top-down, dependency-inducing model to one that empowers communities and addresses root causes. This transformation requires not only policy change but also a cultural shift in how aid is conceptualized and delivered, with marginalized voices at the center. Historical parallels and cross-cultural insights further reinforce the need to move beyond Western-centric paradigms toward more inclusive, adaptive, and equitable humanitarian responses.