2024 Theses Master's

Understanding the Challenges and Potential of the HDP Nexus in Protracted Crises: Insights from the 2011 and 2022 Famines in the Horn of Africa

Mincheva, Kristina

The root causes of underdevelopment in Africa continue to fuel extensive debate, encompassing perspectives that range from inadequate foreign aid and the legacy of colonialism to political instability and systemic corruption. This research focuses on a critical dimension of this discourse: the extent to which the humanitarian-development-peace nexus (the "triple nexus"), often championed as a solution to protracted crises, can address recurring emergencies such as famine.

Anchored in the Horn of Africa, focusing on Kenya, this study interrogates whether the triple nexus functions as a cohesive framework and evaluates how it can be applied to mitigate structural vulnerabilities. The region’s recurrent humanitarian crises, exemplified by the devastating 2011 famine that claimed over a quarter of a million lives and the re-emergence of famine conditions a decade later, expose the disconnect between policy ambitions and ground-level implementation.

Using qualitative methods, including comparative analysis and key informant interviews, the research explores the operational challenges of the nexus, such as siloed funding, limited local engagement, and the inadequate integration of the peace component. Framed within the broader discourse on "decolonizing aid," this study critiques structural flaws in the aid industry that perpetuate dependency and marginalize local agency. It argues that the humanitarian regime should adopt a bottom-up approach, prioritizing collaboration with grassroots organizations rather than relying on the typical top-down, outsider-led model, which is fundamentally flawed.

By critically examining the nexus’s ability to integrate short-term relief, long-term development, and peacebuilding, this research assesses its potential to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Ultimately, it identifies key gaps in the nexus's operationalization and emphasizes the urgent need for localized, inclusive, and systemic approaches to sustainable crisis management.