The CGD Podcast: “Clear Outcomes Are Key to Effective Humanitarian Work” – with IRC’s David Miliband
Date: June 6, 2016
Host: Rajesh Merchandani (Center for Global Development)
Guest: David Miliband (President, International Rescue Committee)
Episode Overview
This episode focuses on the critical importance of clear outcomes in humanitarian work, exploring how the International Rescue Committee (IRC) confronts modern crises—particularly the Syrian conflict. Host Rajesh Merchandani and David Miliband discuss the evolution of the humanitarian sector, the necessity for evidence-based decision-making, challenges caused by protracted displacement, sector reform, and how development and humanitarian goals increasingly intersect. They also reflect on global leadership, Brexit, and optimism for the world’s future.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Personal Connection and the IRC’s Historical Mission
- Einstein’s Influence: The IRC was inspired by Albert Einstein in 1933 to help those fleeing Nazi Germany ([00:05–01:07]).
- Miliband’s Family Ties:
- David Miliband shares his personal link to the IRC’s founding, as the son of Jewish parents who were refugees during WWII.
- Quote:
“In a small way, I’m closing a circle. I’m repaying something of a debt by doing something to help those who are in desperate need today to recognize what was done for my parents 70 or 80 years ago.”
— David Miliband [01:07]
2. The Impact of the Syrian Crisis
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Scope of the Crisis:
- The Syrian conflict represents the “worst of modern humanitarian crises,” with massive flows of refugees (5M) and internally displaced people (7M) ([02:19]).
- Flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and complex geopolitics have created a protracted crisis ([02:19–03:10]).
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Humanitarian Programming:
- IRC operates with 2,000 staff inside Syria and 1,500 in neighboring states.
- Focus on health, protection of women and children, cash distribution, and outcomes-based programming.
- Miliband emphasizes the IRC’s commitment to lesser-known crises as well as headline-grabbing ones.
-
Quote:
“We deal with it through extraordinarily committed programming...and a real, I think, rigor about what we call our outcomes and evidence framework—being very clear about what we’re doing, our entry criteria, and building an evidence base to ensure our programming is of the highest quality.”
— David Miliband [03:13]
3. The “Humanitarian Sector” and the Need for Systemic Reform
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Sector vs. System:
- Miliband distinguishes between a sector (disparate organizations) and a system (coordinated, evidence-driven outcomes) ([04:46–05:53]).
- The humanitarian field, he argues, must evolve into a system with shared outcomes, accountabilities, and evidence bases.
-
Quote:
“The scale, nature, [and] complexity of humanitarian need today demands that we move from a humanitarian sector...towards a system that has clear outcomes, clear accountabilities, clear evidence base that underpins it, clear cost effectiveness metrics.”
— David Miliband [05:28]
4. Outcomes, Metrics, and “Beyond Survival”
- Clear Outcomes Key to Success:
- Leadership must prioritize measurable outcomes ([06:03]).
- Humanitarian and development actors must work together, especially since 43% of the world’s extreme poor live in fragile and conflict states.
- Beyond “Just Not Dying”:
- The minimal objective (“people don’t die”) is insufficient given protracted displacement (average duration: 17 years).
- Emphasis on helping people “thrive,” not just survive—education, protection, and income are essential ([06:47–07:50]).
- Quote:
“You’ve been displaced from Washington, D.C…. We'll make sure you don’t die in the next 17 years—you’d say, ‘I want more than that.’ … We’ve got to think about how to help people thrive, not just how to help people survive.”
— David Miliband [06:54]
5. Integrating Humanitarian and Development Strategies
- No Sharp Divide:
- Both development and humanitarian work should be preventive and responsive ([08:19]).
- Calls for limited, focused outcomes: health, education, protection, and income.
- All IRC programs to be “evidence-based or evidence-generating by 2020.”
- Advocates for systematic research and development to drive innovation ([08:19–09:39]).
6. Better Aid, Not Just More
- Cash Transfers & Innovation:
- Discussion of IRC’s cash-based aid approaches, and CGD’s research on cost-effectiveness in humanitarian response ([09:39–10:32]).
- Alignment between IRC and CGD principles:
- Quote:
“‘Better aid, not more aid’ is certainly an IRC mantra.”
— David Miliband [10:26]
- Quote:
- Praises “action-oriented scholarship” and field insight as critical to smarter aid ([10:32–11:14]).
7. Protracted Camp Life and Refugee Policy: The Case of Dadaab
- Dadaab Camp in Kenya:
- Recognizes the frustration in Kenya over a 25-year “temporary” refugee solution ([11:37]).
- Warns against violating commitments (e.g., forced repatriation), while advocating for a “win-win” for both refugees and host communities.
- Notes that local Kenyans outside the camps often have worse indicators than refugees inside ([11:37–12:58]).
- Encourages inclusive solutions and development investment, referencing World Bank leadership in this area.
8. On the UK, Refugee Response, and Brexit
- UK Leadership Praised:
- High marks for UK humanitarian response and creation of DFID ([13:45–15:15]).
- Criticizes limited Syrian resettlement and lack of diplomatic strategies for Syria's political future.
- On Brexit:
- Miliband argues passionately for remaining in the EU, seeing it as a “force multiplier” for British influence and values, especially in development.
- Quote:
“Brexit would be an act of arson on the international system. And this is no time to have arson on the international system, given the massive challenges that we’re facing around the world.”
— David Miliband [16:22]
9. Final Reflections: Realism and Optimism
- Balancing Despair and Hope:
- Visits to places like Dadaab can inspire both pessimism (statistics) and hope (spirit and resilience of individuals).
- The world faces many challenges, but also has unprecedented resources to tackle them ([17:44–18:29]).
- Quote:
“But the resources of the world to tackle those problems are greater than ever before. And that's what’s got to keep us all going.”
— David Miliband [18:20]
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
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On closing the personal circle:
“In a small way, I’m closing a circle. I’m repaying something of a debt..." [01:07]
-
On humanitarian survival vs. thriving:
“We’ve got to think about how to help people thrive, not just how to help people survive.” [06:54]
-
On the need for systemic change:
“The scale, nature, [and] complexity of humanitarian need today demands that we move from a humanitarian sector...towards a system...” [05:28]
-
On Brexit and internationalism:
“Brexit would be an act of arson on the international system.” [16:22]
-
On hope and resources:
“The resources of the world to tackle those problems are greater than ever before. And that's what’s got to keep us all going.” [18:20]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [00:05–01:07] — Introduction, IRC founding, and Miliband’s connection
- [02:19–03:10] — The scale and complexity of the Syrian refugee crisis
- [03:13–04:35] — IRC’s operational response and focus on lesser-known crises
- [04:46–05:53] — Humanitarian sector vs. humanitarian system
- [06:03–07:50] — Outcomes framework and “beyond survival”
- [08:19–09:39] — Integrating response, strategy, and innovation
- [09:39–10:32] — Cash transfers and “better aid” mantra
- [11:37–12:58] — Dadaab camp and Kenya’s refugee policy
- [13:45–15:15] — The UK’s humanitarian work, limitations, and diplomatic context
- [15:32–17:41] — Brexit and Britain's global role
- [17:44–18:29] — Realism, hope, and global resources
Tone and Style
David Miliband balances intellectual rigor and policy detail with a tone that is passionate, pragmatic, and peppered with personal reflections and a dry sense of humor. The conversation is thoughtful yet urgent, blending big-picture analysis with on-the-ground realities, and underscores the moral and strategic imperatives for reforming humanitarian work.