EHTZ - Everyday Humanitarianism in Tanzania

What have we learned from five years of researching everyday humanitarianism in Tanzania—and what’s next? In this final episode, we reflect on the journey of EHTZ. From key insights and turning points to the evolving landscape of humanitarian research, we explore what the project achieved, what surprised us along the way, and what lies ahead for both scholarship and practice in Tanzania. To discus...

What happens when research leaves the classroom and enters the public conversation? In this thirteenth episode, we bring you a special live recording from the EHTZ research dissemination event in Dar es Salaam. The discussion focuses on how findings from the Everyday Humanitarianism in Tanzania project resonate beyond academia—and what they mean for practice, policy, and public dialogue. To guide...

How can academic research influence real-world decisions? In this twelfth episode, we explore what it takes to move research beyond academic journals and into the hands of policymakers. What makes findings stick? What are the obstacles to engagement? And how can researchers work more effectively across the gap between knowledge and action? To discuss this, our host Alex Maxelon is joined by Peter...

How does gender shape humanitarian action? In this eleventh episode, we explore what humanitarianism looks like when viewed through a feminist lens. From everyday acts of care to the politics of aid, we discuss how gender influences who gives, who receives, and whose voices are heard in times of crisis. We also reflect on the power of women-led grassroots efforts and their often-overlooked role in...

Who deserves help—and who decides? In this tenth episode, we explore how Tanzanians think about giving through the lens of deservingness. Drawing on a large-scale survey conducted across three regions, we examine how people assess need, respond to crisis, and make decisions about who is worth supporting. To discuss this, our host Alex Maxelon is joined by: Prof. Mogens Kamp Justesen , Professor of...

How do local acts of help reshape refugee support beyond the confines of the camps? In this ninth episode, we explore how humanitarian responses unfold in and around Tanzania’s refugee camps—not just from NGOs and international actors, but from Tanzanian citizens and refugees themselves. To discuss this, our host Alex Maxelon is joined by: Prof. Simon Turner , Professor of Social Anthropology at L...

How do religious ties shape the way people help each other in times of crisis? In this eight episode, we explore the role of faith in everyday humanitarianism. Drawing on research from Kilosa, Tanzania, we examine how individual religious actors—rather than large organizations—mobilize aid in the face of floods and other disasters. To discuss this, our host Alex Maxelon is joined by Dr. Lucas Kitu...

How do Tanzania’s elites and middle classes contribute to humanitarian efforts? In this seventh episode, we examine how wealthier Tanzanians respond to crises—not as foreign donors or aid workers, but as neighbors, employers, and community leaders. From financial contributions to in-kind support and social networking, we explore how giving is shaped by proximity, obligation, and moral expectation....

Who helps when disasters strike—and what are their main challenges? In this sixth episode, we explore how Tanzanian communities respond to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and earthquakes. While formal systems are often slow to act, ordinary people step in with immediate support. We examine how everyday giving operates alongside—and sometimes in spite of—formal institutions, and what th...

How does humanitarianism reproduce or resist the legacies of colonialism? In this fifth episode, we take a closer look at what it means to decolonize humanitarianism—not just in theory, but through the lived realities of people navigating aid and governance in spaces shaped by inequality and control. We explore how these dynamics play out in Palestine and reflect on what comparisons with Tanzania...

How can research be decolonized—and what does that mean in practice? In this fourth episode, we explore the structural inequalities embedded in international research collaborations and examine what it takes to build equitable partnerships between Global North and Global South institutions. From power imbalances in knowledge production to strategies for centering Southern perspectives, we reflect...

What does it really take to do humanitarian research on the ground? In this third episode, we explore the challenges and rewards of conducting fieldwork in remote and crisis-affected areas across Tanzania. From securing access and navigating logistical hurdles to building trust with local communities, we take a behind-the-scenes look at what makes fieldwork both demanding and deeply meaningful. To...

How do you turn a bold research idea into a large-scale international collaboration? In this second episode, we go behind the scenes of the EHTZ project to learn how it all began—from early ideas and assembling the right team to building a North–South research partnership and securing international funding. To discuss this, our host Alex Maxelon is joined by: Prof. Lisa Ann Richey , Principal Inve...

What is everyday humanitarianism—and why do we study it in the Tanzanian context? In this first episode, we introduce the concept at the heart of EHTZ. From defining what counts as a crisis to understanding who gives, we explore how everyday acts of help challenge dominant narratives about humanitarianism. To discuss this, our host Alex Maxelon is joined by Prof. Lisa Ann Richey , Principal Invest...

What is everyday humanitarianism —and what can you expect from this podcast? In this short trailer, our host Alex Maxelon introduces the EHTZ podcast, a series that explores how ordinary people in Tanzania respond to crises and support their communities in ways that go beyond traditional aid. From elite giving and refugee support to feminist and religious perspectives, this podcast shares insights...