In Beijing, China
The 2025 Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW 2025) event was successfully concluded in Geneva, Switzerland. HNPW is an annual forum that takes place in Geneva since 2015, organized by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Its objective is to bring together humanitarian aid professionals to collaborate on challenges and solutions in their field. HNPW 2025 was held at the International Conference Center Geneva in hybrid format from 17 to 28 March. In this two-week high-level event, IRDR co-organized a session with Peaceland Foundation and MAP-AQ entitled: “Strengthening Anticipatory Action: Inclusive Approaches to Global Disaster Resilience Building”.
The session explored how inclusivity, localization, cross-sector partnerships, and global collaboration can address response capacity gaps and position anticipatory action as a fundamental pillar of humanitarian efforts aiming at fostering a dynamic dialogue with the global humanitarian community and paving the way for transformative partnerships that can redefine emergency response frameworks
Leading experts, organizations, and stakeholders from around the world shared insights, best practices, and innovative solutions in disaster risk reduction and humanitarian actions. Key discussions revolved around capacity building, risk analysis, climate adaptation, early warning systems, and the integration of technology in global resilience efforts. Various speakers provided valuable perspectives on strengthening international collaboration and enhancing response mechanisms for disaster-affected communities.
Insights From the Session
Tina Liu, a representative from Peaceland Foundation, highlighted the success of the “Global Emergency Response Capacity Building Programme,” which focuses on training emergency rescue officers, fostering long-term partnerships with local governments and rescue organizations, and promoting sustainable training mechanisms in multiple countries.
Andrea Klopau from Kontur Inc. discussed innovations in risk management and disaster assessment tools. He emphasized the importance of integrating population, disaster, and environmental data to improve disaster response and announced plans to distribute water filters to water-stressed African countries.
Candy Zhou from Social Workers Across Borders (SWAB) made a presentation on wildfire risk assessment, referencing the Los Angeles wildfires. She proposed solutions such as GIS adoption, multi-source data fusion, and cost-effective disaster management to address climate change-related disasters.
Melody Mingming Zhang, a Canadian representative and medical student, advocated for AI integration in the health sector to reduce practitioner burnout and improve medical education. Meanwhile, Minze Li from the University of Cambridge discussed urban disaster resilience, emphasizing climate adaptation, carbon neutrality, and real-time flood and storm warning systems.
Key Outcomes
The discussions and presentations at HNPW 2025 align with UNDRR’s advocacy strategy for disaster risk reduction (DRR), emphasizing the importance of strengthening anticipatory action through global collaboration, inclusive partnerships, and localized capacity-building. These efforts are crucial in disaster risk reduction, enhancing community resilience, and promoting proactive, sustainable anticipatory actions. During the session, panelists emphasized the need for stronger partnerships, advanced technologies, and sustainable policies to address the increasing challenges posed by climate change and complex disaster risk landscape. As the global community continues to tackle these pressing issues, platforms like HNPW remain essential in fostering cooperation and knowledge-sharing to build a safer and more resilient future.
