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Where Next for Humanitarian Reform? From the Grand Bargain to the Humanitarian Reset: What tangible changes are needed to make real change to how humanitarian aid is delivered?
The humanitarian system is navigating a defining period of transition. Escalating crises, widening funding gaps, geopolitical fragmentation, shrinking humanitarian space, and growing pressure on multilateralism are placing unprecedented strain on humanitarian action. At the same time, longstanding critiques of the humanitarian system - including around power imbalances, localisation, financing, coordination, and accountability - remain unresolved.
This moment is particularly significant as 2026 marks ten years since the launch of the Grand Bargain, while the sector is also engaging in major reform discussions, including through the Humanitarian Reset. In a context of scarce resources, the humanitarian community must confront a number of fundamental questions:
- What reforms have actually delivered meaningful change?
- Where has progress stalled – and why?
- Are current reform efforts sufficient to respond to today’s political and financial realities?
- And what must happen in the next two-three years to avoid another cycle of reform without transformation?
This session intends to explore the concrete political, financial and structural changes that are needed over the coming years to build a humanitarian system that is more equitable, accountable and capable of responding to today’s realities. It will bring together representatives from across the humanitarian ecosystem to reflect on where reform efforts have succeeded, where they have fallen short, and what priorities should define the next phase of humanitarian reform.
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