#  Harvard Humanitarian Initiative 

 



##  Research and Education for Communities in Humanitarian Crisis 

 [ About Us arrow\_circle\_right ](/who-we-are) 

 

       ![woman standing above a tent camp](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/about-landing4.jpg?itok=bGEPwU77) 

 

 



 

 



 

The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) is a university-wide academic and research center in humanitarian crisis and leadership. Our mission is to create new knowledge and advance evidence-based leadership in disasters and humanitarian crisis. Our work focuses on two main areas: the Humanitarian Academy at Harvard and Research & Translation.



 

 



 [ Find out More arrow\_circle\_right ](/who-we-are) 

 

 

 

 

##  Latest Updates 

 



  [### The State of Humanitarian Aid: 2026

 ](/news/2026/01/state-humanitarian-aid-2026) January 28, 2026 

 As we enter 2026, we are reflecting on the radical changes that have occurred over the past year and the future of the sector. Over the next several years, the global humanitarian sector is likely to experience a period of sustained disruption—one that is... 

 

  [Michael VanRooyen, MD, MPH](/people/michael-vanrooyen)

 

   [### Harvard Humanitarian Initiative Celebrates Two Decades of Advancing Humanitarian Aid

 ](/news/2025/10/harvard-humanitarian-initiative-celebrates-two-decades-advancing-humanitarian-aid) October 31, 2025 

 Q: How did HHI come to be? A: I was directing a humanitarian center at Johns Hopkins and my Harvard colleague Jennifer Leaning had started a humanitarian crises and human rights program in 1999 at the Harvard FXB Center for Health & Human Rights. In 2004... 

 

 

  

 

 [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/hhi-news) 

 

 

 

##  Humanitarian Academy at Harvard 

HHI produces a variety of online and in-person trainings designed to prepare students, practitioners and emerging leaders to succeed in the humanitarian field.

 

 [ Find out more arrow\_circle\_right ](/humanitarian-academy) 

 



  [### Professional Education

 ](/professional-education)Programs to train emerging leaders, executives, and practitioners on best practices to maximize impact in their humanitarian work.



 

   ![Professional Education](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/prof_edu_thumb.jpg?itok=ewrh-TzP) 

 

 

 

  [### Online Education

 ](/online-education)Free online courses that focus on the fundamentals of humanitarian response.



 

   ![Online Education](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/online_edu_thumb.jpg?itok=GvC9iKEY) 

 

 

 

  [### Harvard Students

 ](/harvard-education)Activities and offerings to prepare Harvard Graduate and Undergraduate students to enter humanitarian careers.



 

   ![Harvard Students](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/harvard_student_thumb.jpg?itok=bQ16kXxy) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

##  Humanitarian Research at Harvard 

Since 2005, HHI has served as the humanitarian research hub at Harvard University bringing together world-renowned faculty, scholars, and experts from all Harvard Schools and Teaching Hospitals. Our research strategy aims to address the core drivers of humanitarian emergencies, investigate effective humanitarian responses and contribute to the translation of research into policy and operational changes.

 

 [ Find out more arrow\_circle\_right ](/HumanitarianResearchAtHarvard) 

 



  [### Humanitarian Strategies

 ](/humanitarian-strategies)Investigates how to advance the humanitarian field, focusing on the critical areas of negotiation, leadership, education, and evaluation.



 

   ![man viewing river from hill](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/hum-strategies-card1.png?itok=6r14BhGw) 

 

 

 

  [### Risk, Resilience, and Response

 ](/risk-resilience-and-response)Examines the impact of complex humanitarian emergencies and aims to find ways to improve resilience and response.



 

   ![vendors at an outdoor market](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/ghhp70_thumb.jpg?itok=NeO1Ah5C) 

 

 

 

  [### Technology and Innovation

 ](/technology-and-innovation)Explores the impact of emerging technologies on the humanitarian field, focusing on both ethical and technical considerations.



 

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##  Featured Course 

 



  [### Humanitarian Response Intensive Course

 ](https://hhi.harvard.edu/humanitarian-response-intensive-course)Two week intensive course and simulation exercise that trains participants in the tools they will need to deploy to a complex humanitarian emergency response.



 

   ![HRIC hero](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/HRIC%20Cover%20Photo_0.jpg?itok=3ZNq_fc_) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

###  Field Perspectives Video Series 

In the face of crisis, one female humanitarian in Yemen coordinate logistics for international humanitarian organizations. This is the story of how logistician Farah Altarifi entered a male dominated part of the humanitarian sector.