November 2022

This paper has been produced as part of a series on humanitarian and development leadership, and for presentation and discussion at an event in Berlin on 10th November 2022, co-hosted by the Global Executive Leadership Initiative (GELI) and the Centre for Humanitarian Action (CHA) in Berlin. The Berlin event is supported by and made possible with the generous support of the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO).

The paper is based in evidence and insight gathered through a series of research projects carried out over the past few years, complemented by data collection specifically commissioned by GELI. It is hoped that the Berlin event will help global policy makers, humanitarian practitioners, and donors take the discussions forward in a proactive manner to ensure policy is influenced by evidence-based research, and the leaders in humanitarian operations are sufficiently supported to deliver assistance effectively to people living in critical conditions as a result of conflict, natural hazards, climate-induced crises and other underlying causes of humanitarian suffering.

HERE would like to thank GELI for establishing this agenda and making the space for these discussions. Humanitarian leadership is under-researched, yet is key to ensuring the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance and protection. Many thanks also to all individuals who have shared their experiences and thoughts with the HERE research team, both in previous research and specifically with regard to this piece. We hope the research in this paper and complementary reports in the series will contribute to much needed discussions and positive change in the sector.