Matt Thomas, Fellow
Matt Thomas
Rapidly exploring future humanitarian impacts ...

Two years of huge emergency after huge emergency - from the Covid-19 pandemic’s various variants to evacuations from Afghanistan and a series of storms battering the UK - our people are tired, yet the need for humanitarian aid continues to grow. And then the Ukraine crisis boiled over.

We have always struggled to plan for the many uncertainties the future may bring, but the massive disruptions of the last couple of years made us realise that grappling with uncertainty is not an option.

The British Red Cross’s Strategic Insight and Foresight team has been developing a way to rapidly construct scenarios about the future, helping our teams get a sense of likely people’s short-term and longer-term humanitarian needs, as well as the potential ripple effects caused by a crisis.

Rapidly exploring future humanitarian impacts of the Ukraine conflict

Fabio Bonacina

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The future of humanitarian NGOs: implementing a risk management framework

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The future of humanitarian NGOs: implementing a risk management framework

NGOs today need modernized structures and governance to remain effective and competitive. A proactive approach to risk management—covering identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of risks like cybersecurity, climate change, and ESG factors—is essential for resilience. Governance within ESG is especially vital for sustainable financing. Transparency and compliance, alongside skills in strategic planning and risk management, strengthen reputation and stakeholder trust. As NGOs adapt to a rapidly changing environment, a tailored risk management approach helps ensure operational stability, financial health, and the continued effectiveness of their missions amidst complex global challenges.

The future awaits.