As seen here in The New Humanitarian: https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2025/06/19/beyond-reset-five-priorities-genuine-humanitarian-transformation
Opinion Piece published on 19 June 2025
By Anita Kattakuzhy, Director of Policy at NEAR; Dustin Barter, Senior Research Fellow at the Humanitarian Policy Group of ODI Global; and Ruby Johnson, Director Global Resilience Fund / Purposeful.
We live in unprecedented times: Extreme humanitarian needs are being met with dramatic funding cuts. Something has to give, yet the so-called “humanitarian reset” is an ill-conceived and reductionist approach for a moment that requires genuine system transformation.
Such concern is compounded by recent reports that the United Nations faces an institutional reckoning, raising fears that self-preservation will be prioritised. The UN has become entrenched at the centre of the humanitarian system. Many decisions are taken behind closed doors, while Global South populations, civil society, and states are largely excluded. This is acutely problematic. As the reset pushes forward, it must be a catalyst for radical system change that is both immediate and long-term.
There are no quick fixes to the existential calamity in the humanitarian sector, but we cannot continue down the current top-down processes of reform. Many international agencies resist substantive change, but donors wield considerable influence with their funding.
We offer five priorities for humanitarian system transformation. It is based on discussions with civil society actors, bilateral donors, and other international humanitarian actors, and is intended to contribute towards what must be an equitable and ambitious change process. The UN (and international NGOs) already play a disproportionate role in the sector. True transformation must be driven by the Global South actors facing crises. Our proposals may cause discomfort – it must be embraced.