Are We Really Practicing Impartiality in Humanitarian Aid?

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Hey fellow humanitarian leader,

We talk a lot about impartiality in humanitarian work—it’s in our mission statements, on our posters, and in every negotiation with governments. But how often do we actually apply it in the decisions we make?

A recent article by Marc DuBois points out that impartiality is often more of a slogan than a practice. While we know aid should be based on need alone—no discrimination, no politics—the reality is messier. Donor priorities, organizational targets, security concerns, and even internal biases all shape where and how aid is delivered.

What Does Impartiality Really Mean?

It’s built on two key ideas:
✔ Non-discrimination – No bias based on nationality, race, religion, gender, class, or politics. Aid should go where it’s needed most.
✔ Proportionality – The most urgent cases come first. That means prioritizing those in the worst situations, not just those who are easiest to reach.

The Problem: We’re Good at One, Not the Other

Most agencies focus on non-discrimination—ensuring aid is available to different groups—but proportionality often gets overlooked. Research shows that we tend to serve the people we can access rather than ensure we reach those in the deepest crisis.

For example, aid in South Sudan focuses mainly on camps and protection centres. But what about the people in harder-to-reach areas, who might be even worse off? In Ukraine, older people are highly vulnerable, but aid often prioritizes women and children. These trade-offs matter, and they should be intentional, not accidental.

So, What Can We Do?

We’re never going to be 100% impartial, but we can do better by:
🔹 Checking our biases – Are we serving the easiest-to-reach populations or those most needful?
🔹 Investing in data – Are we making decisions based on actual needs or just relying on what’s convenient?
🔹 Being honest about trade-offs – Impartiality isn’t black and white. Let’s stop pretending it is and talk openly about where we compromise.

Impartiality is the principle that makes humanitarian aid truly humanitarian. But we have to practice it, not just preach it.

What do you think? How can we make impartiality more than just a buzzword?

Thanks for reading this far, and sorry if you did not find this helpful,
Luca

Further Reading:

1. Marc DuBois, "Impartiality – a principle that needs practice," Humanitarian Practice Network, December 11, 2024.

2. International Committee of the Red Cross, "Challenges to the impartiality and identity of humanitarian action," International Review of the Red Cross, April 2024.

3. "Humanitarian principles," UNHCR Emergency Handbook.

4. "Why humanitarians should stop hiding behind impartiality," The New Humanitarian, August 22, 2022.

5. "Gender, inclusion and humanitarian principles in conflict contexts," Chatham House, October 2023.

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