IMPACT at the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) 2025
As #HNPW2025 wrapped up last week, this year’s gathering was shaped by an increasingly familiar backdrop: growing needs, limited resources, and a humanitarian system under pressure. IMPACT joined eight sessions alongside partners across the sector, contributing to discussions on where the humanitarian sector is headed, what's working, what isn't, and how we can do better in this new landscape.
Here’s a roundup of the panels we spoke at:
Understanding and Prioritising Needs: Do Communities Have a Say?
Organized by Groupe URD – Margot Fortin shared reflections on centring community voices in humanitarian assessments.
Every Life Counts: Using Mortality Data to Drive More Effective Humanitarian Action
Organized by UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub – Saeed Rahman highlighted the critical role of mortality data in strengthening humanitarian responses.
Striking the Right Balance: Rapid vs. Detailed Damage Assessments
Organized by the Global Shelter Cluster – Matthew Wencel discussed IMPACT’s application of rapid assessments in disaster and conflict settings.
How Earth Observation is Improving Humanitarian Response & Environmental Assessments
Organized by NASA Lifelines, PAX, UNWP & UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit (JEU) – Tetyana Kuchma shared insights on the use of remote sensing in post-conflict and crisis-affected areas.
Overcoming Systemic Barriers to Localized, Multi-Stakeholder Humanitarian Action
Organized by UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) – Stephanie Anderson spoke on the benefits of the settlements approach and the systemic barriers that hinder more integrated, local-first responses.
Keeping the Lights On: Safeguarding Essential Services for Effective Response
Organized by IMPACT Initiatives – This session focused on the essential services and systems that must be protected to ensure principled and effective humanitarian response. In case you missed it, watch the recording:
Reimagining Displacement: Alternatives That Empower
Organized by the CCCM Cluster – Luca Girardi contributed to discussions on community-driven approaches to displacement that promote inclusion, self-reliance, and long-term solutions.
Coordinating in Crisis: Improving Humanitarian Response Through NGO Collaboration
Organized by ICVA Network – Katie Rickard shared lessons learned on enhancing coordination and impact across actors.