The Academy for Humanitarian Action (aha) opens for participants for Leadership in Humanitarian Action course. This course is designed for future leaders, project managers, and humanitarian organizations to leverage their leadership skills. Participants will learn the basics of value-oriented and reflective leadership in humanitarian context with practical tools and methods based on real-life case studies.  The course will be held in-person on March 19 and April 4 in Bochum, Germany. An overview of the course: Basic foundation about the meaning of leadership and personal approach. Leadership principles application in challenging situations. Individual leadership action plan development for the organization. Key leadership skills (authenticity, inspiration, networking, decisiveness, and resilience). Resilience strategies and self-leadership implementation.  The course will be presented in German.

Four years into Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, over 4.3 million Ukrainians live under temporary protection across Europe. More than 64,000 Ukrainians currently reside in Denmark, mainly women and children who have fled the war, but also an established group of Ukrainians who arrived before 2022. Their diaspora engagement in response to the war is extensive, diversified, and sustained over time, yet the future remains uncertain. What visions do they have for when the war ends?     This joint DIIS-DRC seminar discusses some of the urgent questions that arise as the war goes on: how do Ukrainian diaspora actors in Denmark mobilize in response to it? What are the likely return and mobility scenarios, and what are the implications for future reconstruction and development of Ukraine? Presenting new research on Ukrainian diaspora engagement and displacement, the seminar brings together researchers, members of the Ukrainian diaspora in Denmark and NGO representatives. Join us for an afternoon of knowledge-sharing and debate on diaspora engagement and Denmark’s role in Ukraine and the country’s long-term recovery. Programme:  Introduction - Adrien Bory, Global Diaspora Advisor, DRC    Launch of DIIS Policy Briefs: Forced displacement from Ukraine: The potential role of migration in Ukraine’s future reconstruction (Ninna Nyberg Sørensen) Resilient action in wartime: Diaspora engagement by Ukrainians in Denmark (Nauja Kleist) Presentation by Olga Tokariuk: A blessing turned into a curse? Temporary protection and the future of Ukrainian refugees in Europe A roundtable discussion with: Andrii Kuzmyn - General Director, Bevar Ukraine Julia Zaitseva -  Ukrainian historian and Migration Scholar Mads Ted Drud-Jensen - Senior Consultant, DRC Integration Moderator: Ida Marie Savio Vammen - Senior Researcher, DIIS The event closes with Q&A, networking, and refreshments. The seminar will be held in English. Participation is free of charge, but registration is required via our registration form.  

The Diaspora Summit is a series of hybrid workshops. First a two-day Diaspora Summit (March 17–18), organized online by globally connected and nationwide diaspora organizations.  Then between 16.-18 April an in-person conference and workshop with additional roundtables held with representatives from BMZ, BMI, AA, IntB., KfW, and others.  Why a Diaspora Summit? The engagement of diaspora actors has received increasing attention in recent years, particularly with regard to “remittances.” However, the voluntary commitment of diaspora communities has been active for many years and extends across multiple areas—from strengthening networks in Germany to implementing projects in their countries of origin. This engagement contributes significantly to improving living conditions in the countries of origin and to sustainable development. Programme Program on April 16, 2026Pre-evening networking sessions & icebreakers Program on April 17, 202611:30 – 12:00 | Arrival, networking, and exchange12:00 – 13:00 | Opening session: BMZ in dialogue with the diaspora14:30 – 17:00 | Diaspora in dialogue: Orientation, talk show, and marketplace of opportunities17:00 – 22:00 | Dinner / Music / Get-together Program on April 18, 202610:00 – 11:00 | Check-in and arrival11:00 – 12:30 | Workshops12:30 – 14:00 | Break / Networking14:00 – 14:30 | Summary of the previous day and presentation of workshop results by different groups14:30 – 15:30 | Interactive session: In-depth dialogue and joint development of ideas for the future15:30 – 17:00 | Feedback and closing session17:00 – 18:00 | Diaspora networking Please NOTE that the working language will be GERMAN   Interested to participate? Register Sign-up here if you want to be considered as a participant at the Diaspora Summit 2026 The Diaspora Summit is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The humanitarian system is in deep upheaval: once rooted in a common ethical framework, it now faces fragmented political responsibility, politicization, donor withdrawal, shrinking access, and erosion of humanitarian law. As humanitarian actors abandon those they claimed to help, credibility and legitimacy erode—undermining humanity itself and the system’s original purpose.  In light of these pressing challenges, the Humanitarian Congress Berlin 2026 – now set for April and from 2026 onward held every spring – will provide a space to confront these dynamics through critical openness, structural self-reflection, and shared accountability. To advance this effort and expand the congress community, we are delighted to welcome Oxfam Germany and The New Humanitarian as new long-term partners alongside Médecins Sans Frontières, Médecins du Monde, and the German Red Cross.  Under the theme “Humanitarianism(s) in Transition – Between Ideals, Power and Agency”, we will explore how humanitarian action, in its many forms and approaches, can be renewed, reimagined, and strengthened. The Humanitarian Congress Berlin invites experts, practitioners, and critical voices to move beyond routine dialogue and work together on the future of humanitarian action hat truly serves those most impacted. Save the date: 21 – 22 April 2026  

The Sphere Handbook presents a principled approach to quality and accountability in humanitarian response. This basic training course provides an introduction to the Sphere Handbook with the basic principles of humanitarian aid – the Humanitarian Charter together with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and the Protection Principles – and the technical standards in the four sectors WASH, food security and nutrition, shelter and settlement, and health. The training focuses on the practical application of the manual in concrete humanitarian situations. To this end, numerous small group exercises are conducted. You will learn:  The Humanitarian Charter as the cornerstone of the Sphere Handbook The Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and the Protection Principles The four technical chapters of the Handbook How to use the Sphere Handbook correctly