Paper short abstract:

This paper seeks to (re) evaluate the conceptualization of crises in Africa, the impact of interdisciplinary theoretical approaches, and the impact on people’s lives. It aims to understand and show how crises manifest, the humanitarian assistance they attract, and the outcomes that they produce.

Paper long abstract:

This paper discusses the current state of crises, its conceptualization, challenges, and potential interventions - in Africa. To determine whether an epidemic, natural disaster, or other event qualifies as a crisis or pandemic, and to reevaluate the established criteria for what constitutes a crisis. How to rethink the concept of crises without imposing a Western-centric one? How to consider the definition of crises to (re)situate, possibly re(structure), or (re)create the definition of crises.

This paper aims to initiate discussions that would provide a new perspective on crises, be they disaster or health-related, through a comparative and interdisciplinary approach. The paper will critically interrogate how crises affect people’s lives: When and by whom is a natural disaster considered a humanitarian crisis? When does a health issue become one of international concern? When is an epidemic a pandemic? What goes into the conceptualisation of crisis? What meanings does a crisis take on as it travels between different contexts? How are Africans’ experiences with crises described? How can interdisciplinary theoretical approaches help us better understand how African crises manifest themselves, the humanitarian assistance they attract, and the outcomes they produce? Through these questions, and more, we hope to show how crises and pandemics are portrayed and handled in various African contexts to gain additional insight into how crises manifest there. Lastly, the paper interrogates existing plans to better address future crises in Africa.