Fresh Humanitarian Perspectives

Keeping communities at the heart of AI for humanitarians 02.07.2026 47min

Send us Fan Mail When we talk about co-designing humanitarian AI systems with communities, what does this look like in practice - and what happens when systems fail to address real world humanitarian complexities? The HLA's Ka Man Parkinson sits down with three practitioners who have been an integral part of the HLA/Data Friendly Space humanitarian AI research and convening journey over the past year: Musaab Alhadi, Ali Al Mokdad and Nour Arab. They explore tensions between humanitarian rea...

The Humanitarian AI paradox in 2026: A literacy and leadership challenge 28.06.2026 30min

Send us Fan Mail How can humanitarian organisations develop responsible and ethical approaches to AI - during a time of deep funding shortfalls and structural change? During 2025-2026, the HLA and Data Friendly Space have been leading the world's first study to track how humanitarians are using AI. We're sitting down for a mid-year conversation to take stock and discuss what the data and insights point to what is urgently needed next to support responsible AI adoption across the sector...

From Policy to Practice: How Localisation Really Works in Sudan 22.06.2026 42min

Send us Fan Mail "The real question is whether the humanitarian system is willing to distribute power fast enough to match that reality. Because ultimately, localisation is not about politics. It's about trust, decision making, resources, recognition, and whether the people closest to the crisis are also closest to the decision shaping of the response." - Julio Simancas, Head of Partnerships and Localisation, Save the Children, Sudan In this episode of Fresh Humanitarian Perspectives, h...

Attention, algorithms and AI: How humanitarian organisations are rethinking communications in 2026 28.04.2026 46min

Send us Fan Mail In the face of profound and rapid change, how are humanitarian organisations rethinking communications in 2026? The humanitarian landscape is changing quickly - shaped by AI, funding pressures, and shifting audience expectations, raising critical questions about how organisations communicate, connect, and build trust. In this episode, Amanda Hinkel-Mauceri, Director of Marketing and Communications at Humentum, and Gülsüm Özkaya, International Humanitarian Af...

[AR] The road is not easy… but it is possible | ليس الطريق سهلاً… لكنه ممكن 20.04.2026 56min

Send us Fan Mail كيف يمكن للقادة المحليين تجاوز الحواجز المنظومية لإحداث تغيير إنساني حقيقي؟ "نحن ليس لدينا مشكلة طموح... المشكلة هي بالفرص." – علي المقداد في هذه الحلقة باللغة العربية من بودكاست آفاق إنسانية جديدة، يستضيف فيصل مسلط، مدير مشروع الاستجابة للأزمات في الأكاديمية الإنسانية للقيادة (HLA)، علي المقداد، القائد الاستراتيجي الأول، في حوار صريح حول معنى القيادة في السياقات الإنسانية المعقدة. كلاهما اخترق الحواجز التي كثيراً ما تحول دون تقدم المواهب المحلية — من الافتراضات التقييدية حو...

Privacy as protection: Rethinking blockchain, cryptocurrency and humanitarian sector reform 31.03.2026 59min

Send us Fan Mail How does blockchain and cryptocurrency fit into broader conversations on humanitarian sector reform? Are they a temporary 'fad' - or are there deeper applications and implications worth exploring meaningfully today? When we hear the terms cryptocurrency and blockchain in the humanitarian context, we may consider these as deeply technical and financial domains that may not be relevant to those beyond the field of cash and voucher assistance (CVA). Today's podcast g...

True Youth Involvement and the Humanitarian Reset 24.03.2026 13min

Send us Fan Mail "This humanitarian reset will fail if young people are not involved in the conversations" - Abdulrazak Abubakar, Co-Founder of Kaleri Youth Group Nigeria In this special segment of the podcast, Amouki Kaayou, Jocelyn Keller, Judy Mwangoma and Pure Esumei - young professionals attending and volunteering with the UNOCHA HNPW Secretariat for this year's Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks HNPW shared their perspectives on the humanitarian reset with Nwabundo Okoh, HLA C...

How are humanitarians using AI in 2026? Launching the next phase of our research 09.01.2026 26min

Send us Fan Mail Tracking trends in artificial intelligence adoption across the humanitarian sector through a new pulse survey To mark the launch of the January 2026 pulse survey, Ka Man Parkinson and Lucy Hall from the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, and Madigan Johnson from Data Friendly Space discuss this next phase of their groundbreaking humanitarian AI research. Building on insights from their foundational 2025 study with responses from over 2,500 humanitarians across 144 countries a...

Humanity, dignity, agency: a call for shifts in humanitarian leadership - In conversation with Marina Kobzeva 15.12.2025 1h 13min

Send us Fan Mail How can solidarity transform humanitarian leadership to truly centre communities? In this candid leadership-focused conversation, Marina Kobzeva speaks with Ka Man Parkinson about the humanitarian sector at a critical juncture - and the unlearning, reflection and change required of all of us. Drawing on her lived experience and two decades as a humanitarian leader, Marina explores how the system "projectises" crisis, and why the most effective response is often led by...

Humanitarian AI podcast series | Developing AI literacy: a matter of trust, critical thinking and localisation 26.11.2025 1h 12min

Send us Fan Mail How can humanitarian organisations bridge the AI readiness gap through critical thinking and localised approaches? Humanitarian organisations face a critical challenge: while individual staff members are racing ahead with AI experimentation in their daily work. According to new research from NetHope, only around 9% of nonprofit organisations report being fully ready for systematic AI adoption. This gap between individual curiosity and institutional preparedness isn't...

To AI or not to AI: a humanitarian comms conversation 10.11.2025 59min

Send us Fan Mail Questioning visuals in humanitarian communications and fundraising in light of localisation and AI. The use of images is crucial in the way we communicate especially in the humanitarian sector where an image is truly "worth a thousand words", many emotions, conversations and storage for historic information. In this episode Deborah Adesina (Debby), Doctoral Scholar at the University of Liverpool and David Girling, Associate Professor at the University of East Anglia, UK both ...

Humanitarian AI podcast series | Localising AI solutions: practitioner experiences from Rwanda 15.10.2025 1h 14min

Send us Fan Mail How can experimentation and collaboration bridge the gap between humanitarian AI aspirations and reality? Our recent AI research conducted in partnership with Data Friendly Space highlighted infrastructural constraints and risk tolerance as major barriers to AI adoption. In this fifth instalment of our six-part Humanitarian AI podcast series, we explore how Rwanda's innovation ecosystem offers practical lessons for the humanitarian sector. We're delighted to welcome Deo...

Humanitarian AI podcast series | Building inclusive AI: indigenous knowledge frameworks from Kenya and beyond 08.10.2025 1h 11min

Send us Fan Mail How can indigenous knowledge systems and African philosophy reshape how we build and deploy AI for humanitarian work? Our research surfaced ethical and cultural concerns from humanitarians worldwide, particularly around the ownership and suitability of AI systems developed elsewhere for localised humanitarian action. How can communities shape AI rather than simply receive it? In the fourth instalment of our six-part Humanitarian AI podcast series, Wakanyi Hoffman, Head of Res...

Humanitarian AI podcast series | Addressing governance gaps: perspectives from Nigeria and beyond 02.10.2025 1h 16min

Send us Fan Mail How can humanitarians engage responsibly with AI tools without clear governance frameworks? Only one in five humanitarian organisations have formal AI policies despite widespread usage - creating a "governance vacuum." How can organisations develop robust AI governance when operating across diverse regulatory environments whilst AI regulation is still emerging? In the third instalment of our six-part Humanitarian AI podcast series, Timi Olagunju speaks to Ka Man Parkinson to ...

Humanitarian AI podcast series | Bridging implementation gaps: from AI literacy to localisation 24.09.2025 1h 5min

Send us Fan Mail How can humanitarian organisations bridge the gap between individual AI experimentation and organisational adoption? In this second instalment of our six-part humanitarian AI podcast series, Ka Man Parkinson sits down with Michael Tjalve to explore how organisations can move from experimentation to the deployment of ethical, fit-for-purpose AI solutions - if an organisation decides that this is the right pathway for them. Michael brings over two decades of expertise working a...

Humanitarian AI podcast series | Reflecting on our community-centred humanitarian AI research: your questions answered 17.09.2025 35min

Send us Fan Mail The humanitarian community conversation on AI continues. Tune into a companion episode where the team respond to community questions raised at the August 2025 online launch event of the report 'How are humanitarians using AI in 2025? Mapping current practice and future potential' from the Humanitarian Leadership Academy and Data Friendly Space. The research team Lucy Hall and Ka Man Parkinson from the HLA and Madigan Johnson from DFS answer audience questions covering s...

Humanitarian AI podcast series | How are humanitarians using AI: reflections on our community-centred research approach 16.09.2025 56min

Send us Fan Mail How can artificial intelligence research be designed with community engagement at heart? When a simple LinkedIn poll asking humanitarians how often they use AI was scaled into a global survey attracting 2,500+ responses, it revealed something unexpected: practitioners are hungry to discuss AI adoption but lack the community space to air views and experiences. The team behind the first systematic study of AI use in humanitarian work reveal how they turned organic communi...

Protecting dignity - spotlight on Women Refugees for Peace and Development Organisation 10.09.2025 46min

Send us Fan Mail “Do not look at refugees solely as vulnerable people in need of aid. Recognise them as skilled capable and resilient individuals who have been displaced by the conflict. We believe that refugees should be seen as partners not just as beneficiaries and that’s what Women Refugees for Peace and Development are currently doing.” – Amira Some call it the 'forgotten crisis' but since April 2023, conflict in Sudan has led to a severe humanitarian disaster, with many fatalities and m...

Inviting in the chaos: strategic insights for humanitarian leaders from Ali Al Mokdad 12.08.2025 1h 11min

Send us Fan Mail What happens when someone who anticipated the sector's funding freezes looks ahead to what's coming next? 💭 "Chaos is part of this ecosystem we are operating, and we've been operating on the edge of that chaos... So it's very important when you are rethinking your models right now you have an opportunity. Please don't waste a serious crisis." - Ali Al Mokdad In this second instalment of a wide-ranging conversation with the HLA's Ka Man Parkinson, Ali Al Mokdad shifts from per...

Leading with vision and heart: reflections on humanitarian leadership with Ali Al Mokdad 28.07.2025 1h 7min

Send us Fan Mail “Being a leader, especially in this sector right now - it's not clear. We are all struggling and trying to find answers to big questions…I think the main important part is to try to sit and think and reflect…it's important to keep your eyes on the North Star, on the long-term goal, but also look at the present - how to deal with what's happening now while remembering the big picture." – Ali Al Mokdad What happens when traditional leadership models meet the complex real...