May 5, 2025
“Standards Without Listening Are Just Control”: William Anderson on the Sphere Rewrite and the Future of Humanitarian Accountability
It has been described as the second most essential thing after a toothbrush for humanitarians. But the Sphere Handbook is about to undergo its most significant transformation yet. William Anderson, CEO of Sphere, explains why a moment of crisis may offer the opportunity to get things right, by rethinking what standards are for, how dignity gets lost in systems thinking, and why the next version of the Handbook will be more contextualized and community-fed than ever before.
May 11, 2025
Seeing Without Defining: Michael Steffen on Photography and Power Dynamics
At this year’s European Humanitarian Forum, Michael Steffen’s photographs from South Sudan, taken during his field work with Malteser International, are being exhibited publicly for the first time. In our conversation, we talk about photography as a form of listening, the ethical boundaries of representation, and how power dynamics still shape the stories we tell - even when we try our best to get it right.
April 4, 2025
“This Is Not Idealism—It’s Realism”: Ilona Kickbusch on Global, One and Planetary Health
Global Health, One Health, Planetary Health. These concepts are on everyone's lips—from humanitarian practitioners to international donors, from academic conferences to G7 communiqués. But how well do we truly understand them? What do they mean in a time of shifting geopolitics, environmental crisis, and institutional uncertainty?
OneSec spoke with Prof. Dr. Ilona Kickbusch, one of the most influential voices in global public health, about the political power of language, the responsibilities of the sector—and why it’s time to rethink what we mean by “health.”
December 13, 2024
Post-Assad Syria: True Justice Means Transforming Pain Into Purpose
Ahmad Helmi on rebuilding Syria post-Assad: justice for victims, fostering resilience, and empowering civil society for lasting change.
March 17, 2025
From Anemia to Action: How Iron Can Change the Lives of Women and Communities
Women and girls often eat last, despite their higher nutritional needs due to menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth. Yet food systems frequently overlook them, with consequences for their health and communities. This article explores how feminist food and nutrition assistance is addressing these imbalances to help women and girls thrive.
Featured Articles
February 17, 2025
A Place to Heal, A Path to Independence: The Role of Safe Spaces for Women in Crisis
Explore key lessons from Hauwa Luka, Protection Officer at Malteser International, on creating safe spaces for women affected by gender-based violence. Learn how safe spaces promote safety, empowerment, and community engagement while fostering economic independence through literacy and income-generating activities.
October 22, 2024
Beyond the Buzzword: Why Localization Must Center on Community Voices
Localization is often presented as the panacea for transforming humanitarian aid. But what does it really mean, and are local NGOs automatically better equipped to represent communities? We sat down with Gerry McCarthy, who has extensive participatory engagement experience and is the co-creator of the P-FIM method, to unpack these questions.
Current Topics
May 22, 2025
Between Pressure and Principles: What the Sector Brought to the European Humanitarian Forum 2025
At a time of rising needs, shrinking resources, and increasing financial and operational pressures, the European Humanitarian Forum 2025 brought together political ambition and urgency. This article reflects on the Forum’s key themes – from humanitarian diplomacy and fragility to the ongoing question of dignity, quality, and principled action under pressure. In an increasingly transactional environment, the sector’s ability to stay rooted in its core values may prove to be its most vital test.
March 28, 2025
Strengthening Humanitarian Efforts Through Local Voices: How P-FIM is Changing the Game
What if humanitarian assistance wasn’t about delivering solutions, but about uncovering them? The People First Impact Method (P-FIM) is challenging traditional top-down approaches by placing trust and local ownership at the heart of humanitarian work. Through my experience facilitating a P-FIM training in Nigeria, I’ve witnessed firsthand how shifting the focus from problem-solving to deep listening and trust building transforms how we engage with communities.
January 8, 2025
“It’s Growing Together”: Building Partnerships, Resilience, and Local Leadership in Humanitarian Work
After 23 years of leading regional program work at Malteser International, Roland Hansen is transitioning to his new role as Senior Business Partnership Advisor. What does it take to adapt and lead in a sector as dynamic as humanitarian work? In this exclusive OneSec interview, Roland reflects on his remarkable journey and offers insights into localization, leadership, and the evolving landscape of humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) collaboration.
November 24, 2024
GFFO: Localization Needs Both Our Efforts and INGOs to Step Up
Dr. Sebastian Neubauer leads the team for humanitarian assistance in Africa within the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO). His work involves balancing multiple priorities, from risk management to localization in challenging environments like Sudan and Somalia. In this interview, Dr. Neubauer shares his insights on the complexities of localization, the role of INGOs, and what’s needed to turn localization from policy to practice.
November 19, 2024
WASH in Emergency Response: Five Simple Shifts to Prioritize Dignity
Arno Coerver, Global WASH and Environment Advisor, highlights how small shifts in WASH programming can help preserve dignity in crises. From gender-sensitive facilities to community-led planning, he reminds us that WASH is about more than survival—it's about fostering respect and humanity in the toughest conditions.
November 11, 2024
Anticipatory Action: Bridging the Funding Divide to Save Lives
Marie Wagner, Anticipatory Humanitarian Action Advisor at Welthungerhilfe, highlights the critical need to bridge the funding divide—ensuring both the development and implementation of Anticipatory Action are adequately financed to prove and improve.