Collaborating for Survival: Lessons from the Humanitarian Funding Crisis

Navigating the Collapse of Traditional Funding

The humanitarian sector is currently facing a period of intense restructuring following significant shifts in international aid. With the removal of substantial portions of US funding—which previously accounted for 42% of global humanitarian aid—organizations are finding themselves in a state of "collapse" and must find new ways to operate on a shoestring budget.

The Shift Toward Tangible Collaboration

In response to these resource constraints, there has been a notable increase in the appetite for radical collaboration. Organizations that previously operated in silos are now looking to share systems, back-office IT infrastructure, and digital tools to maintain their impact. At NetHope, the focus has shifted toward how digital tools can support both back-office needs and active humanitarian action.

"It feels like there's a moment where organizations want to collaborate in tangible things more—they want to see how they share their systems between organizations."

The Survival of Learning Programs