Our research demonstrated that while progress has been made at the policy level, improvements in practice remain inconsistent. Despite decades of rhetoric, there remain significant disparities between policy and practice in regards to adherence to humanitarian principles, protection, and accountability. In 2018, we established ourselves as a key partner to UN agencies, INGOs and governments when looking critically at the performance of the humanitarian system – particularly as it operated in relation to armed conflict. Formally and informally, we have sought to advance a critical understanding of some of the most pressing challenges to humanitarian action.