Annual Report 2023

2023 was another challenging year for the humanitarian community. Climate shocks, disease, political instability and conflict have left nearly 300 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, and seen more than 114 million people displaced (UN OCHA)

This accelerating level of global humanitarian need is the driving force behind our new Strategy, which we launched this year. The Strategy defines our work until 2040, laying out our ambition to make research and innovation (R&I) a transformative force within the humanitarian community. In delivering these ambitions, we ourselves will have to change: the way we look and behave; the way we engage and convene; the way we fund; the way we are governed, all must evolve.

In the last year we have already begun to make inroads: through our focused and responsive funding calls, showcasing the impact of R&I on humanitarian action – both in our own work and that of the wider community – and direct engagement and discussion with actors at all levels of the system.

Our Annual Report captures our activities and their impact in 2023, and offers insights into what coming years will bring.