Walking into this course as a Business major, I had never taken a sociology course, or anything remotely related to the humanitarian aid sector. Despite this I had an open mind about the course and wanted to expand my knowledge as a global citizen. Throughout the course, each theme presented on flaws and issues within the humanitarian aid sector were highly visible in our current socioeconomic environment. Through the several assigned course readings accompanied by the guest speakers who were as Prof. Arcaro would say, “quite literally”, boots on the ground working in various areas affected by political, war, and weather related turmoil and disasters exemplified the disconnect and struggle to properly provide aid to those who are in such desperate need. To cut to the chase, the humanitarian aid sector is affected by a multitude of factors which negatively impact their ability to provide aid in an efficient and effective matter without displacing or harming those involved. Attempting to send in outsiders to often times militarized or highly dangerous areas of the world in the hopes of making a positive impact is the essence to which the paradox of the humanitarian aid sector falls into. Humanitarian aid workers perform some of the most dangerous work in the world without the proper resources to protect themselves or the projects they are working on. Accompanying this, the concept of flag planting, or being the first NGO to an affected area, makes it even more difficult for the right form of assistance to be provided. Rather than an NGO which has the proper resources to actually make a difference frequently westerners with a dream of saving the world attempt to create their own NGO with not the slightest clue as to what they are getting into.
The Humanitarian aid sector has no simple fix to the countless number of issues it faces both externally, as well as internally. However, from a business background it is interesting to note that if there was a shift in the business model of the aid sector than there might be an easier way to provide accurate and accountable aid to those in need. Normally the aid sector has been premised on NGO’s providing for beneficiaries or a business to consumer model. However, through some application or company there could be a way for those in need to reach out to various recognized NGO’s for specific resources and needs thus shifting it to a business to business model. With accurate business reporting and real-time data such as pounds of rice ordered for specific sectors then it is very possible there might be quantifiable and actual results in solving the issues surrounding the aid sector. If there was a possibility for refugee camps or families in displacement shelter to actively update their needs in real time, such as a need for penicillin for an infection, countless lives could be saved. Despite the allure of this idea, there is still a long way for both the aid sector and the world as a whole to come together in order to solve these issues.