17th December 2025
A round up of Humanitarian Xchange face-to-face conferences in 2025 and what lies ahead.
The start of 2025 unfolded in unprecedented ways for the humanitarian sector, underscoring the urgent need for local communities to be equipped, supported, and actively leading humanitarian action. As global conflict and climate-related shocks intensified crises worldwide, humanitarians rose to the challenge with resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to affected communities.
The Humanitarian Leadership Academy also remained actively resolute in the commitment to create spaces that centre frontline responders. Through the Humanitarian Xchange, HLA continued to offer convening spaces co-created with local and national actors where frontline responders are heard, can share lessons learned, and collaborate to develop more agile, effective, and resilient responses to today’s complex crises.
In 2025 HLA with Save the Children Iraq, Save the Children Uganda and Save the Children in Sudan facilitated meaningful conversations and accelerated useful next steps for humanitarians across the Middle East and East Africa. Face-to-face HX conferences took place in Iraq, Uganda and Sudan, bringing together local responders, civil society, academia, researchers, NGOs, INGOs and partners committed to locally led humanitarian action.
From Crisis to Opportunity
In April, more than 150 leaders from across sectors convened at Humanitarian Xchange Baghdad where honest conversations on peace building, youth led response, funding, leadership, and meaningful partnerships outlined a movement towards a stronger, more inclusive future for individuals and humanitarian organisations in Iraq.
The exposure to innovative approaches and best practices has influenced our internal ways of working, encouraging more participatory planning, inclusive decision-making, and stronger monitoring and evaluation mechanisms”
Adaptation and Resilience
In Uganda, youth leadership, the impact of refugee-led response, the role of diaspora, innovation and advocacy were recognised and celebrated in September. More than 140 leaders convened at Humanitarian Xchange Kampala which anchored around the Sudan response.
The spirit of Ubuntu resonated deeply in the stories shared – from the work of Emergency Response Rooms in Sudan, to refugee-led initiatives and Uganda’s long-standing support for displaced communities. HX Kampala participants emphasised trust as a foundation for effective capacity sharing and highlighted that true localisation means scaling up sustained direct support for frontline responders.
For [my] organisation, [HX] really has allowed us to engage with some of the organisations from Uganda, from East Africa and globally [as well as with] initiatives that support localisation.”
Strengthening Response through Collaboration and Innovation
In Port Sudan, more than 90 leaders came together at a pivotal moment to reflect on the critical collective response efforts of frontline responders in Sudan. Sudan’s mutual aid groups and Emergency Response Rooms convened with academia, researchers, NGOs, and INGOs in conversations centred on strengthening community resilience, sustainable funding, and policy influence.
HX proved that when we create the right spaces for dialogue and partnership, we can accelerate change and strengthen response rooted in local leadership.”
Let’s continue to support local actors on the frontlines and Sudan’s communities in shaping solutions that are contextually aligned, cost-efficient, sustainable, and guided by the very people they serve.”
A platform to amplify voices
Beyond providing an inspiring, honest and empowering space for connection, HX continued to amplify voices, unlock access to further support and advocate for sustained attention to one of world’s most pressing humanitarian crises in Sudan.
Read:
Rayan’s personal reflection on displacement, resilience and refugee-led solidarity.
Youth Leadership – a spotlight on Musaab Alhadi, Coordinator Group Cash Transfer Save the Children in Sudan
Facilitating capacity strengthening for frontline responders – Humanitarian AI training in Sudan
Listen to podcasts:
Protecting Dignity: a spotlight on the work of Women Refugees for Peace and Development Organisation
At the Table or on the Menu; hear from local responders on the frontlines in Sudan
Looking to the future
Humanitarian Xchange is an established platform for locally led convening and is poised to continue bridging gaps for knowledge-sharing, peer learning, and cross-sectoral dialogue among humanitarian practitioners, local responders, funding partners, academicians and researchers.
As both an advocacy platform and a model for meaningful engagement, HX continues to shine a light on the knowledge, leadership, and lived experience of those working at the forefront of humanitarian response.
The Humanitarian Leadership Academy looks ahead with optimism and welcomes partnerships that share this commitment—working together to shape a more inclusive, effective, and locally led future for humanitarian action.
In 2024, Humanitarian Leadership Academy launched the Humanitarian Xchange (HX) – a groundbreaking global event series designed to cultivate a forward-thinking environment for addressing humanitarian challenges and driving transformative change.
HX serves as a platform to bridge the gap between international humanitarian actors and local responders, ensuring that crisis-affected communities have a direct voice in shaping humanitarian action. It is a collaborative space for knowledge-sharing, peer learning, and cross-sectoral dialogue among humanitarian practitioners, local responders, donors, and researchers.
The inaugural Humanitarian Xchange (HX24) event was held on 20 February in London, UK and was named Best Charity Event/Event for Positive Change in the Conference and Event Awards.
Humanitarian Xchange is supported by Google.org and Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
Visit the HX website to learn more.