Estonian Refugee Council’s humanitarian conference to focus on the future of the sector, reforms, and the funding crisis

03/11/2025
People sitting on a stage
Estonian Refugee Council's humanitarian conference in Fotografiska in 2024. Photo: Arno Mikkor

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On 6 November, the Estonian Refugee Council will host an international humanitarian conference at Fotografiska Tallinn, focusing on key issues shaping the sector: institutional reforms, the funding crisis, the digital transformation, and access to areas affected by crises.

Now in its third year, the conference brings together experts from international organisations across the world to discuss the development and future of humanitarian action.

According to Eero Janson, Director of the Estonian Refugee Council, the humanitarian field has reached a turning point – resources are shrinking, crises are deepening, and the global political landscape is becoming increasingly complex. 

“In the current situation, it is no longer possible to continue as before. The need for cuts is substantial, and there is growing discussion about a so-called ‘reset’ of the humanitarian sector. To achieve this, we must seek innovative solutions, make smart use of new technological opportunities, and work together more strategically and openly so that aid truly reaches the most vulnerable,” said Janson.
He emphasised the importance of bringing together experts and practitioners to exchange experiences and jointly explore ways forward in a changing environment.

The opening address will be delivered by Tammam Aloudat, CEO of The New Humanitarian, one of the leading international publications in the humanitarian field. The conference will feature three panel discussions:

  • Ctrl+Alt+Del. Rebooting the Humanitarian Action
    This panel will discuss how to operate amid the funding crisis and geopolitical instability, and what choices must be made when resources are limited.
  • Hack to the Future. Navigating Digital Humanitarianism
    This discussion will focus on how digital technologies are transforming humanitarian assistance, the barriers to cooperation and data exchange, and whether open-source solutions could play a greater role.
  • Access Denied? Navigating Aid Delivery in Hard-to-Access Areas
    This panel will explore strategies for reaching people in crisis zones where access is severely restricted.

Panel participants include experts from major international organisations, among them the Inter-Agency Standing Committee IASC), the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), The New Humanitarian, the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Gaza Soup Kitchen.
Full details of the speakers and programme are available on the Estonian Refugee Council’s website.

For the first time, this year’s conference will include an open-mic closing session, Failing Forward, where participants are invited to share 7–10-minute stories of failure and the lessons learned from them.

The conference will be held in English.

The event is supported by ESTDEV – the Estonian Centre for International Development.

two people discussing

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