Possibilities and Constraints of Humanitarian Partnerships: A Principle-Based Assessment Framework

In recent years, corporations have increasingly participated in humanitarian relief efforts. So far, however, research has yet to begin to explore the benefits and risks of corporate humanitarian engagement for affected populations. While research increasingly focuses on the impacts of corporate societal engagement in general, humanitarian action presents unique challenges that warrant special attention. Unlike engagement concerning human rights or development, humanitarian action occurs in acute crisis, which always gives rise to extreme human vulnerability, intense politicization, and high degrees of uncertainty. These characteristics make the acute crisis a context of exacerbated risk for all actors involved. Due to the gravity of these risks, action in the humanitarian field is underpinned by a set of widely agreed-upon humanitarian principles, which not only provide a rationale and ethical frame for humanitarian action but also serve as a practical guideline for managing those vital dilemmas, with which the humanitarian field is ridden. The paper argues that in order to benefit humanitarian relief efforts, corporations must be willing and able to adhere to humanitarian principles. It maps out the challenges such adherence presents for corporations and develops an assessment framework for corporate humanitarian partnerships that mobilizes these principles. On the basis of this framework, a series of strategic constraints for business engagement in humanitarian action is identified.