Living in and Recovering from Crisis: Non-state Social Provision

Organisers: Jeremy Lind (Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University), Zahrah Nesbitt- Ahmed (Centre for Disaster Protection) and Rachel Sabates-Wheeler (Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University)

This stream invites contributions that critically reflect on the forms, politics and outcomes of non- state social provision (NSSP) that support lives and livelihoods in crisis-affected settings. Overwhelmingly, people survive crises and recover through NSSP, ranging from support received through reciprocal ties, local solidarities and other mutual support networks embedded in kin, clan and ethnic relations, to assistance delivered by non-state (and sometimes armed) political actors and movements as well as religious groups. Such identity and place-based moral economies are particularly important in places where the presence of the ‘state’ thins and where local agency often mediates the implementation of more ‘official’ forms of social protection and humanitarian assistance. Political agency and power relations that shape social provision in crises raise key questions over how assistance is provided, in whose interests, and with what consequences for generating better lives. Panels in this stream will explore, theoretically and empirically, non-state provision and political processes of negotiation sub-nationally that result in significant adaptations of state and aid-coordinated provision.

Please be in touch with the stream organisers to discuss your idea for a presentation or panel.

Jeremy Lind at J.Lind@ids.ac.uk; Zahrah Nesbitt-Ahmed at ZNesbittAhmed@disasterprotection.org, and Rachel Sabates-Wheeler at R.Sabates-Wheeler@ids.ac.uk