The call is coming from within the house…
No, it’s not a horror movie, it’s the humanitarian system, and ICVA is the one making the call.
As a network of more than 170 NGOs working at the frontlines and behind the scenes, ICVA has long pushed for a humanitarian reset that isn’t just cosmetic or driven by headquarters logic.
If we’re serious about making the system fit for purpose, then the reform agenda must stop treating NGO and local actor recommendations as simply “on par with” those from UN agencies. They aren’t just additional voices or “implementing partners” – they are the ones holding the system up.
From climate shocks to protracted crises, local, national and some international NGOs are already leading, innovating, and adapting.
The humanitarian ecosystem must stop pretending it’s enough to consult them or include them in the footnotes. Their recommendations should weigh more – not less – in how we fund, govern, and deliver aid.
At ICVA, we’re not just calling for reform from the sidelines. We are part of the house.
And we’re saying: It’s time to stop rearranging the furniture and start rebuilding the foundations.
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ICVA members interested in the humanitarian reset discussions are encouraged to contact Jeremy Wellard, Head of Humanitarian Coordination and join our Humanitarian Reset Working Group.
