When asking affected communities about the relevance of humanitarian aid, most respondents say that they do not feel their needs are being met by the aid they receive. Whether respondents ask for different aid or more of the same, their primary needs are basic: cash, food and shelter top the list of unmet needs.

Despite commitments in the Grand Bargain and elsewhere to include people who receive aid in making decisions that affect their lives – that is, "a participation revolution" – our research finds that people affected by humanitarian crises generally do not feel included in such decisions.