Interview with Paul Spiegel
Paul Spiegel, MPH ’96, MD, is recognized for his research on preventing and responding to complex humanitarian emergencies and director of the Center for Humanitarian Health at Johns Hopkins University. Spiegel is also chair of the the CHH–Lancet Commission for Health, Conflict and Forced Displacement.
The Lancet Commission on Health, Conflict, and Forced Displacement aims to reimagine the humanitarian system in the era of increased conflict and its impact on health and well-being of affected communities. Today, the humanitarian system seems increasingly weak or unable to cope with new conflicts and protracted crises, many of which are no longer on our radar or part of the news cycle. Through evidence gathering, research, engagement with communities on the ground, storytelling and a rigorous analysis of innovative approaches aims to “rethink and reimagine the strategies, architectures, and delivery modes of humanitarian aid by proposing systemic changes and bold recommendations that influence global humanitarian and health agendas, and to encourage collective action.”
CFD Director Muhammad Zaman will serve as a commissioner. The commission is chaired by Professor Paul Spiegel (Johns Hopkins University). Ozge Karadag (Bahcesehir University (BAU), School of Medicine, Türkiye), Karl Blanchet (University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland ), Chi-Chi Undie (Baobab Research Programme Consortium, Population Council, Nairobi, Kenya) will serve as co-chair.
CFD Newsletter Director Autumn Bachofen sat down with Paul Spiegel for an interview to discuss his vision for the Commission.
Autumn Bachofen: Why establish a commission on health, conflict, and forced displacement, and why now?
Paul Spiegel: The current humanitarian system is overwhelmed and not able to cope. While there have been attempts to change the system, they have been more iterative than implementing real and sustained change. From the humanitarian architecture, leadership and financial systems, there needs to be a wholesale rethinking of the current system – taking into account climate change, technology and AI, and changing geopolitics.
AB: What do you expect the outcome(s) of the project to be? Is this an academic exercise, or will there be tangible, practical outcomes? Do you have specific goals for the commission?
PS: Lancet Commissions typically make approx. 10 transformational but feasible recommendations per Commission. We have an extraordinarily diverse group of academics and professionals from thinktanks as well as public health professionals who were refugees in the past – to work over a two-year period on various themes. A great deal of work and thought will occur over the next few years to investigate, deconstruct and explore the current systems, and then conclude with far reaching recommendations that fundamentally address the current broken system. While I do not wish to preempt the process, I envisage essential changes in terms of how funding will be undertaken and by whom, how coordination will occur with a focus on localization, and a re-examination of accountability, international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles. The goal is clear – to envisage a humanitarian system that is fit for purpose for the future.
AB: What makes this commission different from previous efforts to bring together scholars, practitioners, and humanitarians?
PS: There have been various attempts, including the 2016 Humanitarian Summit and the Grand Bargain, amongst other reforms. Such events generally require a great deal of compromise as governments, UN agencies, INGOs and donors often have competing interests. We have chosen Commissioners who are not restricted as to what they can say by the organizations for whom they work. We can do research, thing big, and be open and transparent in ways that other efforts have often not been able to do.
AB: What is your timeline for the commission, and how are you thinking about disseminating the results to the broader community, especially those living in low and middle income countries?
PS: The CHH-Lancet Commission on Health, Conflict and Forced Displacement will likely take 2 years until it is published- likely early to mid 2026. Dissemination will be as important as the research and consequent recommendations. Throughout, we will include affected populations, NNGO and INGOs as well as UN organizations, donors and governments to keep them up to date on the process. We also have NexGen scholars (each Commissioner chose a younger researcher with whom to work). They will be essential to ensure the Commission considers different ideas as well as a wide array of methods to support the report’s dissemination.