08 October 2026

The CSRF will go on hiatus as feedback on a funding proposal for continued operations is pending. Normal operations continue until 31 October 2026. Please continue to use the resources on the website, which will be maintained into 2027 regardless of the funding situation. We ask for your understanding as new outputs, trainings, and events go on pause, or if queries go unanswered, from October onwards.

See the FAQs here if you have further queries.

Home Covid-19 This global pandemic could transform humanitarianism forever. Here’s how

This global pandemic could transform humanitarianism forever. Here’s how

June 8, 2020

The New Humanitarian

There is a moment at the start of every major crisis when you think: “This is going to change everything.” COVID-19 was no exception.

“In humanitarian response, there will be a ‘before’ and ‘after’ COVID-19,” Ed Schenkenberg van Mierop, executive director of the think tank HERE-Geneva, wrote in late March.

But as the crisis born of this global pandemic has evolved, some of the promises of deep transformation in a humanitarian aid sector that has long resisted reform have proven overly optimistic – at least so far.

Here are 13 ways the pandemic may change the future of humanitarianism – and the forces of resistance that may get in the way.

This global pandemic could transform humanitarianism forever. Here’s how

Tags