How can the Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus Work from the Bottom Up?

This discussion paper analyzes the humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) nexus, a framework designed to create sustainable humanitarian responses by linking humanitarian, development, and peace activities. It addresses the root causes of conflicts and responds to criticisms of the traditional humanitarian aid system. Aimed at policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in the humanitarian field, the paper utilizes decolonial critique to explore how the HDP approach can work from the bottom up, based on findings from Iraq, Mali, and South Sudan. The paper identifies challenges and offers insights for implementing a bottom-up HDP nexus approach that empowers local actors and addresses power imbalances in aid operations.