On 21 August 2026, Delu Lusambya will defend his thesis investigating how aid organizations provide space to have the voices of affected communities heard and considered in decisions that affect them.
- PhD student
- Date
- Friday 21 Aug 2026, 10:30 - 12:30
- Type
- PhD defence
- Spoken Language
- English
- Room
- Aula B and livestream
- Location
- International Institute of Social Studies
Exploring humanitarian governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lusambya analyses the practices through which the voices of affected communities influence or not the change in humanitarian governance, ensuring humanitarian actions align with their expectations.
His thesis provides important insights and takeaways for public policies and downward accountability practices.
Download the abstracts
Watch Desu's defence live
Doctoral Board
Chair
Doctoral dissertation supervisors
Professor Thea Hilhorst
Professor Patrick Milabyo, Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales-Bukavu
Dr Carolien Jacobs, Leiden University
Dr Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann
Full Doctoral Committee
Professor Claude Iguma Wakenge, Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural de Bukavu
Dr Myfanwy James, The London School of Economics and Political Science
Professor Koen Vlassenroot, Ghent University
Professor Dirk Jan Koch, ISS
Dr Sylvia Bergh, ISS
- More information
The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:30 hrs in the Aula of the ISS, Kortenaerkade 12, The Hague. The doors will be closed after the start of the Public Defence, but will be briefly opened after the candidate’s introduction to allow latecomers to enter.
Children under 7 years old are not allowed in the Aula during the first part of the ceremony.
Professors are invited to join the academic procession.
- Related links
- ISS PhD programme
