Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW)

What is HNPW?

The Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) is the annual event of the Leading-Edge Programme (LEP) and the largest event of its kind. Every year, the HNPW brings together more than 2000 experts in crisis preparedness and response from over 350 organisations and countries. Well-established Networks and Partnerships, such as the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group or the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination, but also newly created networks hold their annual meetings and consultations at the HNPW and collaborate in identifying solutions and solving common challenges in crisis preparedness and response. The event offers a space where LEP stakeholders meet annually to take stock, become inspired and build new coalitions.

The HNPW provides a unique forum for humanitarian networks and partnerships to meet and address key humanitarian issues. One of the largest humanitarian events of its kind, it gathers participants from the UN, NGOs, Member States, the private sector, the military, academia and beyond to discuss and solve common challenges in humanitarian affairs.

HNPW & GISF

In 2021, HNPW identified Integrating Security Risk Management Across Humanitarian Action as one of nine priority topics for the first time. Recognising the Global Interagency Security Forum’s (GISF) leading role in supporting collaboration on SRM and improving aid workers’ protection, GISF was selected to lead sessions on this critical topic.

From 2022-2025, now under the Area of Common Concern (AOCC), GISF continued to lead on this topic at HNPW.

In 2026, GISF is partnering with UNHCR on Integrating Security Risk Management Across Humanitarian Action as part of the HNPW. We’ll be joined by experts from across the NGO sector to explore the challenges to safe humanitarian action, and how individuals and organisations can work together to create a strong culture of security risk management (SRM) that enables aid workers to do their job safely.

We welcome all humanitarians to join our sessions and discuss how to keep aid workers safe and facilitate access to affected communities. SRM impacts all aspects of humanitarian action, and together, we will improve communication and coordination across the sector and identify how SRM must adapt to face current challenges.

Registration for HNPW is now open! To find out more and register, click here. 

Sessions

Week one | 2-6 March 2026| Virtual

Monday 2 March at 14:00 CET – Faith-Rooted SRM: Community Intelligence, Youth Leadership, and Climate Resilient Solutions to Reduce Humanitarian Risk

Monday 2 March at 15:30 CET – HOPES Project – Humanitarian Opportunities: Protect Engage and Stand For

Wednesday 4 March at 16:00 CET – Security Risk Management (SRM) for Healthcare

Wednesday 4 March at 17:00 CET – Moving past “emerging PoC issues”: Bringing the protection of civilians in the digital age

Thursday 5 March at 15:00 CET – The ‘Humanitarian Reset’ in Action: Catalyzing Locally-Led NGO Coordination Forums

Friday 6 March at 14:00 CET – Making Security Risk Management (SRM) Manageable: Tools and Tactics for Small NGOs

Friday 6 March at 15:30 CET – Rethinking Humanitarian Visibility in the Age of Drones and Decentralised Targeting

Week two | 10-12 March 2026 | In-Person

The HNPW has been streamlined and restructured to give it a more strategic direction. The 2026 event will feature two Network Days on Tuesday, 10 March, and Thursday, 12 March and a central Community Day on Wednesday, 11 March. This day will be dedicated to the Keynote Session and discussions within the Areas of Common Concern (AOCC), focusing on critical issues central to the humanitarian reset.

Sessions will be released shortly.