Fresh Humanitarian Perspectives

Send us Fan Mail In the face of profound and rapid change, how are humanitarian organisations rethinking communications in 2026? The humanitarian landscape is changing quickly - shaped by AI, funding pressures, and shifting audience expectations, raising critical questions about how organisations communicate, connect, and build trust. In this episode, Amanda Hinkel-Mauceri, Director of Marketing and Communications at Humentum, and Gülsüm Özkaya, International Humanitarian Af...

Send us Fan Mail How does blockchain and cryptocurrency fit into broader conversations on humanitarian sector reform? Are they a temporary 'fad' - or are there deeper applications and implications worth exploring meaningfully today? When we hear the terms cryptocurrency and blockchain in the humanitarian context, we may consider these as deeply technical and financial domains that may not be relevant to those beyond the field of cash and voucher assistance (CVA). Today's podcast g...

Send us Fan Mail Tracking trends in artificial intelligence adoption across the humanitarian sector through a new pulse survey To mark the launch of the January 2026 pulse survey, Ka Man Parkinson and Lucy Hall from the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, and Madigan Johnson from Data Friendly Space discuss this next phase of their groundbreaking humanitarian AI research. Building on insights from their foundational 2025 study with responses from over 2,500 humanitarians across 144 countries a...

Send us Fan Mail How can humanitarian organisations bridge the AI readiness gap through critical thinking and localised approaches? Humanitarian organisations face a critical challenge: while individual staff members are racing ahead with AI experimentation in their daily work. According to new research from NetHope, only around 9% of nonprofit organisations report being fully ready for systematic AI adoption. This gap between individual curiosity and institutional preparedness isn't...

Send us Fan Mail How can experimentation and collaboration bridge the gap between humanitarian AI aspirations and reality? Our recent AI research conducted in partnership with Data Friendly Space highlighted infrastructural constraints and risk tolerance as major barriers to AI adoption. In this fifth instalment of our six-part Humanitarian AI podcast series, we explore how Rwanda's innovation ecosystem offers practical lessons for the humanitarian sector. We're delighted to welcome Deo...

Send us Fan Mail How can humanitarians engage responsibly with AI tools without clear governance frameworks? Only one in five humanitarian organisations have formal AI policies despite widespread usage - creating a "governance vacuum." How can organisations develop robust AI governance when operating across diverse regulatory environments whilst AI regulation is still emerging? In the third instalment of our six-part Humanitarian AI podcast series, Timi Olagunju speaks to Ka Man Parkinson to ...

Send us Fan Mail The humanitarian community conversation on AI continues. Tune into a companion episode where the team respond to community questions raised at the August 2025 online launch event of the report 'How are humanitarians using AI in 2025? Mapping current practice and future potential' from the Humanitarian Leadership Academy and Data Friendly Space. The research team Lucy Hall and Ka Man Parkinson from the HLA and Madigan Johnson from DFS answer audience questions covering s...

Send us Fan Mail “Do not look at refugees solely as vulnerable people in need of aid. Recognise them as skilled capable and resilient individuals who have been displaced by the conflict. We believe that refugees should be seen as partners not just as beneficiaries and that’s what Women Refugees for Peace and Development are currently doing.” – Amira Some call it the 'forgotten crisis' but since April 2023, conflict in Sudan has led to a severe humanitarian disaster, with many fatalities and m...

Send us Fan Mail “Being a leader, especially in this sector right now - it's not clear. We are all struggling and trying to find answers to big questions…I think the main important part is to try to sit and think and reflect…it's important to keep your eyes on the North Star, on the long-term goal, but also look at the present - how to deal with what's happening now while remembering the big picture." – Ali Al Mokdad What happens when traditional leadership models meet the complex real...

Send us Fan Mail How can you stay connected to your 'why' as a humanitarian leader during these challenging times? 💬 "Whatever it is that you do, if you're not doing it with a full heart... something needs to change." - Foutoun Khalil Tune in to an inspiring conversation with two remarkable women navigating leadership in today's challenging humanitarian landscape. Ka Man Parkinson speaks to Foutoun Khalil, Head of Awards at Save the Children Lebanon, as she shares her bold career transition f...

Send us Fan Mail How can technology support dignified, community-led humanitarian action? Continuing a thematic exploration of humanitarian tech, Ka Man Parkinson speaks with Layma Murtaza and Safi Noorzai from Aseel – a social enterprise reimagining how aid can work through digital innovation, local leadership and global connection. This is a conversation about systems change from the ground up: the power of coalitions, the urgency of new funding models, and why centring people – not just pr...

Send us Fan Mail How can academic research shape humanitarian action? This is the question at the heart of today's insightful discussion between two Education in Emergencies (EiE) colleagues from Save the Children International. Casey Pearson (EiE Technical Learning Specialist) sits down with Rafka Daoud (EiE Professional Development Programme Manager) to explore the critical connections between education, training and research, drawing on insights from Rafka’s recent doctoral research ...

Send us Fan Mail How can you shape a meaningful and purpose-driven career in the humanitarian sector and beyond? Tune in to this episode to glean insights from Ana Lucia Villagran, a Learning Solutions Specialist at HLA’s Latin America and Caribbean Regional Centre from Guatemala, and Selim Uysal, an independent humanitarian consultant and trainer from Türkiye, now based in Germany. Ana Lucia and Selim share their personal journeys of discovering purpose in their careers that have...