This paper provides a background resource for the workshop in Brussels on March 19-20 2007 on resource allocation frameworks for humanitarian assistance. It aims to provide a quick overview of the different ways in which resources can be allocated, using examples from the donor community, operational agencies and disciplines beyond aid including health economics. It analyses the salient features, pros and cons of these approaches and suggests some questions for humanitarian aid donors about developing more rigorous and systematic allocation approaches. As a rapid and preliminary survey, this paper should not be regarded as comprehensive or systematic, but rather a starting point presenting some elements which will need to be fleshed out and discussed further. Many gaps remain in our common understanding of how other donors work.
