Plenary Panel: A Changing Landscape: Engaging Non-traditional Donors and Actors

Humanitarian actors face a changing landscape of opportunities and constraints. Humanitarian crises are increasingly complex and protracted, yet crisis fatigue among traditional humanitarian donors–especially G20 countries– is contributing to instability in the humanitarian sector while partners are struggling to meet financial commitments and engage in coherent planning. Within the context of the Grand Bargain, opportunities for humanitarian action that is locally driven, conflict-sensitive, data-informed, and anticipatory are gaining increased recognition. This approach promises a more impactful and efficient use of humanitarian financing.

The humanitarian community must engage differently to meet the challenge of growing needs and plateauing funding. This panel brings together non-traditional partners from development institutions and the private sector to discuss how they are responding to the changing humanitarian landscape, including addressing fragility, building partnerships with local responders, and using limited resources efficiently.