This thesis investigates Médécins Sans Frontières (MSF) communication in the setting of South Sudan. More precisely, the thesis investigates MSF’s engagement in a discussion regarding the potential harm NGOs, both other and themselves, might cause in terms of conflict dynamics. The thesis takes off in the perceived conflict between the adaptation of the Hippocratic Approach, as outlined by Mary B Anderson, and the increased necessity of branding in today’s humanitarian industry and seeks to understand how this might unfold in practice. Demonstrating MSF’s commitment to ideals in line with the Hippocratic Approach, which encourage self-criticism and accountability, the thesis moves on to illustrate how branding has become an inevitable measure for NGOs to remain operational. Based on previous research identifying a successful branding as information, trust and image, where self-criticism might be counter-productive, the thesis tries to identify the conflict between the two fields. The thesis sets out to uncover some of the tensions more concretely by investigating MSF’s communication in the conflict-settings of South Sudan. It does so utilizing the method Qualitative Content Analysis. The material stems from MSF’s self-published reports, reviews and articles. In conclusion, the thesis finds that MSF does engage in a discussion about harms caused by other organizations as well as harm caused by themselves. However, the harms discussed are not put in terms of conflict dynamics in South Sudan. Furthermore, the thesis identifies some disproportion in criticism towards other organizations versus self-criticism. The thesis refrains from drawing any permanent conclusions and suggest a comparative case study to better understand the tensions in NGO’s building of a Hippocratic brand.

Xenophobia ‘fear and hatred of strangers’ has become part of the international humanitarian agenda with the increased human mobility due to complex emergencies. Nevertheless, there is a knowledge gap in how to address such a complex social problem. Xenophobia has become evident in Colombia, and the UNHCR has responded with the media campaign ‘Somos Panas Colombia’, with the objective to reduce it and promote solidarity toward Venezuelan migrants. My research objective is to identify the social dynamics between the host communities and migrants in this context; then to understand how the UNHCR campaign can interact with these dynamics. The dynamics are categorized into dividers and connectors, through the Do No Harm approach, and discussed from social psychology perspectives. In this manner, we can distinguish which factors can be strengthened, and which can be weakened through campaign activities. Furthermore, in order to identify the optimal conditions for encouraging positive group interactions, the research employs the framework of the Intergroup Contact theory, which suggests that contact under the conditions of equality, common goals, cooperation and institutional support typically reduces prejudice. Such conditions strengthen a common ingroup identity that could include both Venezuelans and Colombians. This systematic thinking undergirds the analysis to understand how to most effectively reduce intergroup tensions and xenophobia, as well as how not to exacerbate it. My findings are that real structural factors, like pressure on the social service systems, combined with perceptions of these to be threatened, exacerbated by media reporting, divide the communities; whilst common interests and values, highlighted by the civil society and credible opinion leaders who display tolerant and positive relationships with migrants help to connect them. Finally, I conclude that the UNHCR has broadly identified the intergroup dynamics and has the potential of effectively addressing them through the campaign content strategies of sending rational-emotional messages that induce empathy and activates solidary behavior, and the communication strategy of building partnerships to reach target populations in an effective manner.

Ensuring that harm does not take place in the work conducted in other countries by the humanitarian and development sector, is vital. However, there still seems to be a lack of research looking into specific conflict-sensitive approaches. The Do No Harm (DNH) framework was developed by Mary B. Anderson in 1999 and in regards to conflict sensitivity tools, the DNH framework is one of the most well-known. Still, there is only a small amount of research that has looked into how the DNH framework has been implemented and the impact that the framework has had in the humanitarian and development sector.  This thesis aims to examine how the DNH framework has been implemented and used by the Swedish development sector. The research is conducted through a qualitative case study of the Swedish development sector and the findings are analyzed through the lens of different policy change theories.  The thesis finds that the Swedish development sector early on was aware of DNH and that the framework quite rapidly was adopted into the sector as a policy instrument. However, it also concludes that the DNH framework has not been fully implemented in the policy objectives or on the ground, which led to the addition of a research question that investigated why the DNH framework had not been thoroughly implemented. Upon looking into the reasons for this lack of implementation, the study finds that the theories of Punctuated Equilibrium and Path Dependency can provide some explanations for this. Further, it can also be concluded that there are improvements to be made in terms of applying the framework on the ground and considering the conflict-sensitive perspective in relation to development work, not only in the humanitarian field.

Indigenous communities living in Arauca department, a region located on the Eastern Plains of Colombia, are at an imminent risk of physical and cultural extermination -according to the orders 004 and 382 from the Constitutional Court of Colombia- due to a double vulnerability which stems from a historic structural violence dating from the creation of the nation-state and direct violence as a consequence of armed conflict. The physical extermination refers to the high mortality rates that this population suffers either by violence or natural death, while the cultural extermination is a result of both an accelerated process of acculturation and a progressive loss of culture, territory and respect from traditional authorities. This study, by analyzing the local context and the actions that have done harm, addresses the best practices for humanitarian interventions over the role of territory, culture, governance and autonomy as key factors for empowering community members to overcome, face or diminish the consequences of these vulnerabilities.

Die vorliegende Arbeit geht der Forschungsfrage „Ist die illegitime Schädigung der Nutzer untrennbar verbunden mit dem Geschäftsmodell der Aufmerksamkeitsökonomie?“ nach. Sie beschreibt ein Geschäftsmodell, dass von der Dreiecksbeziehung Plattformbetreiber – Nutzer – Werbetreibender geprägt ist und dessen Anreizstrukturen dazu führen, dass Plattformbetreiber davon profitieren, Nutzer so lange wie möglich auf ihren Plattformen zu hal-ten. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Nutzung der Plattformen mit psychischen Problemen zusammenhängt, was eine Schädigung im wirtschaftsethischen Kontext darstellen kann. Weiter wird demonstriert, welchen technischen und psychologischen Mechanismen Mehrnutzung und Schädigung unterliegen. Vor dem Hintergrund der wirtschafts-ethischen Konzepte des Nichtschädigungsgebots (keine Schädigung ohne legitimen Grund), der Goldenen Regel (behandele andere so, wie Du selbst behandelt werden möchtest), dem Spielverständnis (gemeinsames, mentales Modell über Handlungen innerhalb eines Handlungsrahmens) und der Legitimität (gesellschaftlich verallgemeinerbare Akzeptanz von gegebenenfalls auch schädigenden Handlungen) wird das Geschäftsmodell der Aufmerksamkeitsökonomie diskutiert.

In 2017 there was a large influx of Rohingya people to Bangladesh. This work examines tensions between the host communities and the Rohingya people in Bangladesh, and how humanitarian aid has impacted these tensions. Through the methodology, in the form of a literature review of peer-reviewed articles published between 2017 and 2024, as well as accompanied by the work's analytical lens Mary B. Anderson's operationalisation of the humanitarian principle Do No Harm from 1999. It is concluded that tensions between the host communities and the Rohingya people are impacted by humanitarian aid in four different ways, and that the literature reviews proposed solutions can be categorized into three different groups with different methods of fulfilment. The work further establishes that possible tensions may occur within host communities and that aid actors must prioritise their cooperation with other aid actors. Furthermore, it is recommended that Bangladesh continue to work with the aid actors, as well as aid actors, to implement a balanced distribution of aid and design the aid programs to do as little harm as possible.

Les rivières, lacs et aquifères transfrontaliers à travers la planète sont des catalyseurs de tension internationale. Le partage des ressources en eau entre les États est sujet à des défis de plus en plus aigus avec une demande en constante croissance et une variabilité de l’offre exacerbée par les changements climatiques. Cet enjeu bénéficie de peu d’encadrement juridique alors que les accords entre États riverains sont exceptionnels et peu efficaces et que le droit en la matière est controversé. Ce mémoire se veut une étude de trois méthodes d’analyse en droit international public des conflits dans le partage de ces cours d’eau partagés en utilisant l’exemple de la construction d’un ouvrage hydraulique d’envergure sur le Nil Bleu, dont l’Éthiopie, le Soudan et l’Égypte sont les tributaires. Une première méthode consiste à étudier les instruments régionaux qui ont tenté d’attribuer les eaux transfrontières et les droits de développement industriel. Une seconde approche propose d’examiner l’application du droit multilatéral et coutumier relatif aux utilisations des cours d'eau internationaux à des fins autres que la navigation. La troisième démarche vise à déterminer l’étendue et les bénéfices de l’obligation de coopérer en droit international public. Une fois ces trois méthodes appliquées, l’auteur arrive à la conclusion que les instruments régionaux du bassin du Nil et le droit international applicable, notamment codifié dans la Convention sur le droit relatif aux utilisations des cours d'eau internationaux à des fins autres que la navigation, n’offrent aucune solution juridique définitive en raison (i) de l’absence de force contraignante ou (ii) de conflits interprétatifs irréconciliables. Quant à elle, l’obligation de coopérer, quoi que limitée dans son étendue, est source d’optimisme. / Transboundary rivers, lakes and aquifers around the world are catalysts for international tension. The sharing of water resources between States is subject to increasingly acute challenges with a constantly growing demand and a variability of supply exacerbated by climate change. This issue benefits from limited legal guidance, while agreements between riparian states are exceptional and inefficient and the law in this area is controversial. This paper examines three methods of analysis in public international law of conflicts in the sharing of these shared watercourses, using the example of the construction of a major hydraulic structure on the Blue Nile, of which Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt are tributaries. A first approach is to examine the regional instruments that have attempted to allocate transboundary waters and industrial development rights. A second approach proposes to examine the application of multilateral and customary international law relating to the non-navigational uses of international watercourses. The third approach seeks to determine the scope and benefits of the duty to cooperate under public international law. After applying these three methods, the author concludes that the regional instruments of the Nile Basin and the applicable international law, notably codified in the Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, do not offer any firm legal solution due to (i) lack of binding force or (ii) irreconcilable interpretative conflicts. As for the obligation to cooperate, although limited in scope, it is a source of optimism.

In the past decades, there has been an alarming increase in the amount of toxicity on earthdue to pollution and consumerism and the natural environment is faster than everdisappearing due to the extensive activity of humans on planet earth (Nations United,2020; United Nations, 2020). The increased amount of rubbish and non-natural waste hasbeen identified as a major issue in the supply chain and waste management inhumanitarian organizations across the board. This thesis has reviewed existing academic research and identified the five commonthemes: Management – training and standardization – stakeholders and donors -transparency - climate change and development, in which the ability to become moresustainable is present. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hasbeen showing environmental accountability and for that reason, its environmental policyand supply chain have been addressed to understand its waste management and if it issupporting the three sustainable dimensions. Plastic pollution is addressed as a humanitarian crisis and arguing that the devastatingeffects that microplastics are having on our ecosystem and it is clearly showing that it iscausing harm to the environment, the economy, and the social effect. Haiti has since theearthquake in 2010 received a variety of aid, majority from USAID but the sustainableaccountability in their action have been hard to identify. Reviewing the work of USAID and their collaboration with environmental protectioncompanies makes you likely to say that they are supporting the three sustainabledimensions but with further assessment, it is obvious, that humanitarian waste is doingharm and there must be improvements within the organization’s perspective onwaste/plastic while attending a crisis.