Humanitarianism(s) in Transition

Between Ideals, Power and Agency

21 – 22 April 2026

The humanitarian system is undergoing profound structural upheaval. Originally grounded in a broadly supported ethical framework, it now faces the fragmentation of political responsibility and the politicization of humanitarian action itself. This is compounded by unprecedented donor withdrawal, shrinking access to affected populations, and a significant erosion of international humanitarian law.  

As humanitarian actors increasingly abandon—or risk abandoning—people, communities, and partners they claim to “help,” credibility and legitimacy are further undermined. This erosion strikes at the heart of humanity and the very purpose the humanitarian system was built to uphold. 

 All of this unfolds amid escalating violent conflicts, intensifying climate-related disasters, and growing doubts about global justice. In this profound crisis lies both an urgent need and a unique opportunity: the chance to renew humanitarianism by addressing the systemic flaws of a slow-moving, Global-North-centered model. 

The Humanitarian Congress Berlin 2026 convenes at a moment of critical reflection—when humanitarian actors must confront, with honesty, how effectively they have adapted to shifting realities following the global reshuffling of early 2025. This coincides with 10 years since the World Humanitarian Summit commitments, which called for bold reforms that have largely stalled. The sector remains trapped in cycles of hesitation, self-preservation, and half-measures, often failing to recognize its role within a larger ecosystem of interdependencies. Efforts to drive transformation have repeatedly faltered due to internal resistance, protectionism, and competing priorities—exacerbated by persistent power imbalances between the Global North and Global South. The result is a humanitarian system that continues to treat symptoms rather than addressing systemic dysfunction. 

A shifting funding landscape and a multipolar world have sparked recent global reform initiatives—including attempts to radically streamline multilateral humanitarian operations. These efforts have exposed long-suppressed tensions. Restructuring proposals are not merely technical adjustments but deeply political moves, signaling a deliberate shift away from principled humanitarianism toward models driven by geopolitical, military, and economic interests. Priorities now center on cost-efficiency, centralization, and control— without meaningfully involving Global South experts from decisions that fundamentally reshape the sector. 

Amid this upheaval, foundational norms are being renegotiated—or abandoned entirely. The legal and ethical pillars of humanitarianism are increasingly under contested. Empathy and solidarity are being replaced by transactional approaches. Strategic gaps left by major donor withdrawals are being filled by actors—or even adversaries—who view humanitarian values as optional, inconvenient, or tools for advancing other agendas. Affected populations and humanitarian workers are reduced to numbers, collateral damage, or bargaining chips, while civil society is dismissed as a nuisance or a threat. 

This is the backdrop against which the Humanitarian Congress Berlin 2026 takes shape—not as a space for routine dialogue, but as a platform for radical honesty, structural introspection, and collective accountability. 

Join us in rethinking Humanitarianism(s)!