15th RDR Annual Conference - Where is the ‘Human’ in Humanitarianism?
UCL East, One Pool Street
Time
9:00 am–5:30 pm (GMT+1)
About
The 15th RDR Annual Conference will examine the critical intersection of humanitarianism and disaster risk reduction in the era of digital innovation. In times of unprecedented digital advancements and complex political dynamics, the landscape of humanitarianism is rapidly evolving. This conference seeks to explore how humanitarian actors can remain committed to prioritising human dignity, compassion, and protection while adapting to the digital age and navigating the shifting geopolitical landscape. From the rise of artificial intelligence and big data in crisis response to the growing challenges posed by nationalism, populism, and state sovereignty, the humanitarian field faces both new opportunities and significant ethical dilemmas.
This conference aims to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue that will equip researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with the insights needed to navigate the future of humanitarianism while maintaining its core human-centred ethos. Sessions will represent a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to humanitarian studies, disaster management science, political science, international relations, crisis information systems, digital ethics, and peace studies to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
2025 is an important year for the humanitarian and disaster risk reduction sectors, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Sendai Framework, the 10-year mark of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the recent news surrounding USAID, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies.