South Sudan: Rethinking Humanitarianism | the Rise of Privatised Aid - a Conversation With Fogbow

What the report says

The New Humanitarian, in a podcast episode republished by AllAfrica, examines the growing role of private companies in humanitarian relief through a conversation with Fogbow CEO Brook Jerue and host Tammam Aloudat. The discussion centers on whether firms that use former military personnel and work with political actors can still claim to follow humanitarian principles, and who should be responsible for holding them to account.

Fogbow is an American logistics company that says it helps deliver aid in difficult environments. According to the article, its operations have mainly included small air drops and truck deliveries in conflict-affected areas such as South Sudan, Sudan and Gaza. Jerue argues that being a small private company makes Fogbow more agile than large aid agencies and allows it to reach places where traditional organizations struggle, while critics say such private aid risks politicizing assistance and may serve the interests of governments or armed actors.

The piece places Fogbow within a broader debate about the privatization, militarization and politicization of aid. It notes concerns that private aid models could bypass established humanitarian agencies and weaken neutrality, while supporters say they can improve speed and access. The article also mentions Fogbow’s adviser David Beasley, the former World Food Programme chief, and references earlier reporting on the company’s work raising red flags in South Sudan and beyond. The conversation reflects wider questions about transparency, accountability and the future of emergency relief in conflict zones.