Mutual aid in crisis and disaster situations: Case study in Australia

03/09/2024

The Entraide study focuses on a number of countries with a variety of ‘crisis’ situations (of political origin, natural disasters or linked to climate change). The aim is to analyse spontaneous solidarity initiatives by informal actors and citizens, and how they relate to institutional aid actors. One of these case studies takes place in Australia.

Based on a series of case studies, this operational research project aims to improve understanding of the mutual aid that takes place spontaneously in crisis situations and the relations between mutual aid networks and professional aid organisations. The aim will be to make operational recommendations for individuals, solidarity groups and organisations for before, during and after a crisis.

It seemed interesting to carry out a case study in Australia due to Australia’s high exposure to natural disasters linked to climate change (megafires and floods) in a developed country context.

This case study is being carried out in partnership with Plan C, an Australian organisation that works to build the resilience of communities in the face of disasters and crises.

This operational research project is part of, ‘Learning and Innovating to Improve Crisis Response – phase 3’ (2022 – 2025). This project, which aims to help structure the NGO sector, is funded by the French Development Agency, Fondation de France, the Principality of Monaco and the Auvergne Rhône Alpes Region.