Abstract for: On Model-Based Decision-Support for Humanitarian Response and Development Aid: Making a Difference with Modelling & Simulation

The field of modelling and simulation has much to offer to decision-makers and analysts dealing with humanitarian aid and crisis response. In this paper, we aim at introducing modelling and simulation to analysts and decision-makers in humanitarian aid agencies. We provide an hands-on example, we discuss recent and current innovations that make modelling and simulation practically useful for humanitarian aid, identify some of the remaining gaps that need to be filled, and draft a research agenda for model-based humanitarian crisis response. We will further develop this paper into a full-fledged e-book that can be used by analysts and decision-makers in humanitarian aid agencies to acquire practical modelling and simulation skills and in-depth understanding of model-based approaches towards decision-making, and hence, to open up the field of modelling and simulation to those in humanitarian aid, or, to open up the field of humanitarian aid to those in modelling and simulation.