In recent decades communities within the Horn of Africa (HoA) and the Sahel have faced continuous cycles of crisis. These are the result of complex interactions between political, economic, social and environmental factors. In spite of efforts to respond to these combined sources of stress, recent climate-related crises coupled with conflict and chronic poverty have directly threatened the lives of millions of people. The collective response to these emergencies and underlying structural contributors to vulnerability have exposed the shortcomings of international aid practices and national and regional policies.