This document presents a typology of how states engage with the international humanitarian system based on their capacity and willingness to respond to humanitarian crises. It shows that states able and willing to respond are least likely to require international support, while states unable or unwilling may be reticent to international engagement and could disagree with international actors overtaking their role in responding. International actors must navigate challenges to ensure they do not overlook national capacity or push too directly against state sovereignty.

1. State capacity for humanitarian response
State
willingness to
respond to
humanitarian
crisis
Unable Able
Willing
Unwilling
International support
can be poorly received;
challenge of ensuring
international actors do
not overlook national
capacity.
International actors
keen to engage but
the state may be
reticent; can lead to
disagreements with
the state.
International
support is
generally not
requested by the
state or required.
International
humanitarian system
may advocate for the
state to respond or
may push to engage
directly; likely to result
in disagreement with
state.
Typology of engagement of the International Humanitarian System with the state (Andy Featherstone, March 2014)