Humanitarian Policy Group

Unable or unwilling? Indonesia’s disaster governance failure after the Sumatra floods Is the Indonesian government is unable – or unwilling – to protect its people amid the ongoing ecological destruction in Sumatra?

🇮🇩 Floods swept parts of Sumatra, Indonesia late last year, claiming more than 1,200 lives. The slow pace of the govt response to this tragedy raises a key question: is the Indonesian govt unable – or unwilling – to protect its people amid ongoing ecological destruction?

🔗 Read on: buff.ly/KibSB6j

Charting a hopeful path to centring women-led organisations in humanitarian response Increasing funding to women-led organisations (WLOs) is critical if we are to move towards a humanitarian ecosystem that centres the work and contribution of local actors.

📅 ONLINE EVENT: Charting a hopeful path to centring women-led organisations (WLOs) in humanitarian response

Join us on 18 March as we explore practical ways to increase funding for WLOs, and how donors and partners can better support locally-led humanitarian responses. Info & RSVP:

Country-based pooled funds… the key to unlocking localised funding, or just another blunt instrument? How do you get more funds to local and national actors whilst also cutting overall humanitarian funding? We explore with the data.

"For many organisations, country-based pooled funds (CBPF) remain theoretically inclusive but practically inaccessible."

46% of CBPF went to local actors in 2025 – but in many countries reached 10 or fewer (mainly well-connected) orgs. What does this mean for smaller operations? ➡️ buff.ly/JLc8ah4

ODI Global at Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks 2026 Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) is a major annual humanitarian conference providing a collaborative space for humanitarian practitioners and experts.

📢📆 We'll be at Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks next week! Join us in person (in Geneva) or online for a dynamic series of panel discussions tackling some of the most urgent challenges facing the humanitarian sector today.

🔗 More info and RSVP → buff.ly/A0KVyAw #HNPW26

How change agendas fail – and what we can all do about it Where does the sense of helplessness about the humanitarian system come from? And how can we better understand change processes inside the machinery of power? Any effort to transform humanitarian…

✂️ More than a year after the collapse of USAID and sweeping humanitarian funding cuts, calls for reform are growing – alongside frustration that 'the system' can’t change.

📝 Our new blog challenges this narrative, drawing on recent research into funding for women-led orgs. Read on: buff.ly/v54WBZB

Feminist advocacy is essential for civilian protection in Ukraine As the full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year, the safety of civilians must remain paramount – and feminist advocacy is an essential tool to ensure that this happens.

🇺🇦 As the full-scale invasion of #Ukraine enters its fifth year this week, the safety of civilians must remain paramount – and feminist advocacy is an essential tool to ensure that this happens, writes @odi.global researcher @michalkojanv.bsky.social. Read on for the full analysis: buff.ly/g2aWcea

🗣️ Today marks Int'l Mother Language Day, a time to highlight the role of languages in promoting inclusion.

Here, humanitarian expert Ellie Kemp explains why it's vital that researchers understand the local languages & dialects of communities they work with, if they are to have a meaningful impact.

🇵🇸 "We will see an already teetering health system collapse even further." – Dustin Barter, HPG researcher

Charities warn they will be unable to continue #Gaza operations from 1 March due to new registration criteria they say they cannot ethically comply with. More: buff.ly/4ypEa3I @telegraph.co.uk

ODI Global and NEAR’s Advisory Panel on the Future of Humanitarian Action: Global South perspectives A visual representation of perspectives from the Global South on our vision paper on the future of humanitarian action, during a series of dialogues held by ODI Global and NEAR.

The Advisory Panel on the Future of Humanitarian Action, facilitated by @odi.global/HPG & NEAR, has been consulting on its recent vision paper with actors from across the sector to explore how and where it resonates, what it missed & where things are already changing. Find out more ➡️ buff.ly/ArZguSr

Digital spectacle and the reshaping of crisis response in northwest Nigeria For armed groups in northwest Nigeria, digital platforms like TikTok have become part of an 'algorithmic theatre' where short, viral clips shape fear, legitimacy and even state response.

🤳 #TikTok is among the social media platforms on the frontlines of information warfare in northwest #Nigeria. In recent years its short, viral clips have shaped fear, legitimacy, narratives – and even state response. So what does this means for humanitarian actors and policymakers? buff.ly/kV5V9T3

Humanitarian aid at a crossroads: making the case for global solidarity Join us on Thursday 4 December for the HPG Annual Event 2025.

Ben & Patrick explored these themes in a recent thought-provoking discussion we held about making the case for global solidarity in humanitarianism – watch it back in full now: buff.ly/6rWzYw9 📺

Ten ways to build a new narrative for humanitarianism Changing the narrative of an aid response system that is often blind to its inherent failings will be hard, but it is essential.

"Narratives are not merely the words people choose to use. They are the stories that frame how societies understand the world."

Patrick Gathara & @benphillips76.bsky.social explore 🔟 ways to challenge existing narratives and foster a new story for humanitarianism’s future: buff.ly/nEPBoO6

Women leaders in crisis settings around the world are setting the standard for inclusive, effective humanitarian responses.

It's time that donors created a diversified, accessible and supportive funding ecosystem to match.

#HumanitarianFunding #WLO #WomenLed #FundFeminists

Pathways to better funding for women-led organisations Women-led organisations (WLOs) are indispensable humanitarian actors whose proximity, trust and gendered analysis enable them to reach people and fulfil priorities that other actors simply cannot.…

📢 NEW REPORT: Women-led organisations (#WLOs) are indispensable humanitarian actors, but the current aid funding landscape is littered with barriers to full participation and sustainable resourcing. Read our latest report laying out pathways to better funding for WLOs: buff.ly/ua8Gn7O

Media portrayals of humanitarian action still appear deeply colonial – how can the sector change this narrative? Patrick Gathara from @newhumanitarian.bsky.social offers his thoughts.

Patrick recently led our discussion unpacking an increasingly challenging aid context, watch now→ buff.ly/6rWzYw9 📺

What makes humanitarian action legitimate in today’s world – and who gets to decide?

The aid sector is rapidly changing, with a diverse 'ecosystem' of actors with different values, motivations & approaches.

So what makes humanitarian action legitimate in today’s world – and who gets to decide? Share your views in this bold new digital consultation: buff.ly/w64j7G3 💬

Making Myanmar: humanitarianism amid revolutionary state-building This in-depth study calls for a profound rethinking of humanitarianism amid contested governance, with relevance for many contexts beyond Myanmar that face such realities.

This month marks five years on from an era-defining military coup in #Myanmar. Since then, local resistance groups are building new systems of governance and security amid junta violence – but the int'l humanitarian system is failing to adapt.

Read on in our recent case study ➡️ buff.ly/RYSlRDi

From reflection to action: HPG’s research priorities for 2026 This year, the Humanitarian Policy Group at ODI Global will focus on ensuring that our research helps make a practical difference, giving people across the sector real options to work with.

💥 ICYMI: We recently outlined HPG's top research priorities for 2026, which includes state-led crisis responses in East Africa, community-led protection for LGBTQIA+ groups, the impacts of climate, debt and care work on displacement, and the drivers of migration.

Catch up now → buff.ly/yD5hHho

Should humanitarians aim to be politically neutral? Shahin Ashraf MBE of @islamicrelief.bsky.social discusses, as part of a wider exploration of global solidarity within an increasingly challenging aid context.

📺 Watch the conversation in full now: buff.ly/4G15Vtr

"Stop" sign

Sanctions – while targeted in theory – often have highly restrictive and damaging impacts on humanitarian operations. But there is a practical, evidence-based path forward. More in our recent papers...

🔗 Report: buff.ly/1ITQvek

🔗 Outcome note: buff.ly/ehoH58r

From reflection to action: HPG’s research priorities for 2026 This year, the Humanitarian Policy Group at ODI Global will focus on ensuring that our research helps make a practical difference, giving people across the sector real options to work with.

With the current headlines, it can feel like a sense of resignation is setting in. That's why this year, our focus is on ensuring that our research helps make a practical difference, giving people across the sector real options to work with.

More on our 2026 research agenda ➡️ buff.ly/yD5hHho

Ben Phillips, Director of the Public Good Narrative Project, explains why poor framing hampers humanitarian efforts and why it's vital to build narratives that truly resonate.

📺 Watch the conversation in full: buff.ly/4G15Vtr @benphillips76.bsky.social

Work with HPG - We are seeking a research partner to join our project examining how gender norms shape protection risks for people with diverse SOGIESC in crisis settings in Haiti. Deadline: 23 January

🏳️‍🌈🇭🇹 How do gender norms shape protection risks for people with diverse #SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression & Sex Characteristics) in crisis settings in #Haiti? We're seeking a research partner to help answer this question.

🔗 Full details: buff.ly/EDy2jBp
📆 Apply by 23/01

Watch as HPG Director Freddie Carver reflects on a year of profound challenges for the humanitarian system, while looking ahead to fostering deeper learning and dialogue through our work in 2026 ⤵️

❗ICYMI: We spent last week at #RSpace – an independent, refugee-led convening alongside the #GRF2025.

We were there to highlight our recent report on financing refugee leadership (buff.ly/TYYjNcW) – watch below to learn why it's important that HPG shares its work at a powerful forum like R-Space.

How to finance refugee leadership: navigating a humanitarian system at breaking point Refugee-led organisations (RLOs) deliver critical services, but the funding they receive is comparatively tiny. Our new report identifies how the humanitarian sector can and must navigate key…

5️⃣ How to finance refugee leadership: navigating a humanitarian system at breaking point, by Caitlin Sturridge, Mike Pearson, Fran Girling-Morris (Development Initiatives) & Dr. Claude Samaha (Basmeh & Zeitooneh) → buff.ly/TYYjNcW (5/5)

The politics of working better together These two policy briefs summarise the findings of an active learning component focusing on the partnership between HPG and Neem Foundation, who co-delivered a research project based on shared…

4️⃣ The politics of working better together, by HPG & Neem Foundation → buff.ly/QrFIXbr (4/5)

Victims, perpetrators or agents of change? Gender norms and protection This scoping paper encourages the sector to use the ongoing humanitarian reset as an opportunity to foster more nuanced, inclusive and effective humanitarian and protection action. Doing so is…

3️⃣ Victims, perpetrators or agents of change? Gender norms and protection, by Megan Daigle, Ján Michalko & Leen Fouad → buff.ly/ikjfW0o (3/5)

Keeping protection paramount amidst a 'humanitarian reset': the need for proactive protection action to reduce civilian harm The humanitarian system is at breaking point. Humanitarian actors and donors must not allow a funding-driven 'humanitarian reset' to lead to a backslide in effective protection action. Humanitarians…

2️⃣ Keeping protection paramount amidst a 'humanitarian reset': the need for proactive protection action to reduce civilian harm, by Gemma Davies, Felicity Gray & Véronique Barbelet → buff.ly/t3r7brz (2/5)

A humanitarian trap? Navigating neutrality, relief and rights in Ethiopia, Myanmar, Syria and Guatemala This scoping study examines the ever present but intensifying tensions between the provision of humanitarian relief and advancement of rights in four country case studies: Ethiopia, Myanmar, Syria…

📝 As 2025 draws to a close, take a look back at five of our most-read reports and papers from across the year!

1️⃣ A humanitarian trap? Navigating neutrality, relief and rights in Ethiopia, Myanmar, Syria and Guatemala, by Leen Fouad, Dustin Barter & Zainab Moallin → buff.ly/CXEyaZu (1/5)