Humanitarian Leadership Academy

09/06/2026

Every humanitarian using artificial intelligence ( ) faces ethical decisions, often without formal guidance.

🔹While 95% of humanitarians have used AI tools to support their work, only 23% say that their organisation has an AI policy (HLA and Data Friendly Space research, January 2026).

🔹As organisational approaches are emerging, practitioners have to use judgement on AI use, often under pressure and in high-stakes contexts. Ethical AI use is not a technical concern: it is a humanitarian one.

This guide created in partnership with Data Friendly Space introduces key ethical principles to consider when using AI tools - coming soon in French and Spanish. Download the guide in PDF format and more from our Resources Hub:
🔗 www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/resources/ethical-ai-use-and-decision-making-in-humanitarian-work-a-microlearning-guide-and-course/

💡 Ready to deepen your learning? Take the accompanying 30-minute scenario-based online learning module, created with humanitarians for humanitarians. Share your learning milestone and certificate when you've completed the course!
🔗 https://kayaconnect.org/enrol/index.php?id=13245

09/06/2026

📢 New Kaya course: INEE Minimum Standards

This free 90-minute online course provides an introduction to the INEE Minimum Standards and related tools and resources.

✅ Build a practical understanding of the and how they can support quality, inclusive

✅ Explore how policies, power, and decision-making shape access to education for crisis-affected children and young people.

✅ Examine what constitutes quality education in emergencies, and how MS can support teaching and learning improvements.

✍️ Access the course: https://kayaconnect.org/enrol/index.php?id=11982

Check out the : https://inee.org/minimum-standards

08/06/2026

✨𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗡✨... who we all once were. We reflect on children – their right to live and thrive in a world and time where crisis persists. We recognise that 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 which is why the HLA as part of Save the Children UK, is accelerating the movement for locally led humanitarian action by supporting humanitarian leaders and amplifying humanitarian voices.

We recognise the children we once were and the opportunity to become the grown-ups we are now...

🫶🏽Here are some colleagues of the HLA who make our work of supporting local leaders and amplifying humanitarian voices possible through our coaching and mentoring offer, through Kaya and through collaborating with you for impact.

We’re inspired to keep going for children all over the world and the children inside each one of us.

HumanitarianLeadershipAcademy

28/05/2026

🔊 Launch of new humanitarian AI Kaya microlearning module!

The HLA and Data Friendly Space (DFS) are excited to announce the launch of a new on ethical AI use and decision-making in humanitarian work, developed with and for humanitarian practitioners.

The interactive, scenario-based module is available on the HLA's digital learning platform , alongside a short PDF companion guide. These resources have been developed in response to the clear demand for AI literacy opportunities signalled in our global joint research into how humanitarians are using AI.

✅ Free, flexible microlearning offering 30-40 minutes of learning: take the course in one go or in short blocks
✅ Discuss and reflect on your learning with colleagues
✅ Inspire others and share your Kaya certificate and reflections online using

Read the news article:
👉 https://www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/news/launch-of-microlearning-on-ethical-ai-in-humanitarian-work-co-created-with-global-practitioners/

Take the course on Kaya:
👉 https://kayaconnect.org/course/view.php?id=13245

28/05/2026

💬 Opinion | "We need to have our own proper AI contextualised for Africa"

❓ How can education and training play a key role in unlocking AI literacy and opportunities for local humanitarian leaders in ?

Ulrich Assouah, Managing Director of IFP-Humanitarian Studies Studies based in Douala, makes the case that the future of humanitarian AI must be ethical, inclusive, and context sensitive. He argues that AI training is the cornerstone of accessibility to local actors, especially those in low resource settings who are often excluded from technological and transformation discussions.

Read the interview:
➡️ www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/resources/we-need-to-have-our-own-proper-ai-contextualised-for-africa-a-humanitarian-perspective-from-cameroon/

How can education and training be key to unlocking AI literacy and opportunities for local humanitarian leaders in Cameroon?In this interview, we hear from Ulrich Assouah, Managing Director of IFP Humanitarian Studies, based in Douala, Cameroon. With a background in humanitarian leadership developme...

20/05/2026

💬 Opinion | “AI must be built with national systems and local realities in mind”

How can be used to scale and speed up anticipatory action efforts in disaster-prone regions? Meet Shudarshan Hamal, a Programme Manager at NAXA in Kathmandu, where he supports disaster risk reduction, anticipatory action, and climate resilience initiatives.

has long been recognised as a high-risk area for climate-induced humanitarian emergencies. Shudarshan explains how AI is being used in NAXA and also incorporated into its DASTAA platform as part of a broader process - alongside data quality, stakeholder alignment, AI literacy, and institutional coordination - to strengthen anticipatory action efforts in project implementation areas in Nepal, Bangladesh and Malawi.

Read full interview with Shudarshan:
🔗 https://www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/resources/ai-must-be-built-with-national-systems-and-local-realities-in-mind-a-humanitarian-perspective-from-nepal/

13/05/2026

☑ IA y human-in-the-loop en el sector humanitario

¿Te resultan confusos los términos de IA y no sabes cómo aplicarlos en el trabajo humanitario? Esta guía práctica, informada con la experiencia de Data Friendly Space, ofrece una introducción accesible al human-in-the-loop.

We're pleased to share that our microlearning guide 'AI and human-in-the-loop in the humanitarian sector' is now available in Spanish alongside English.

https://www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/resources/ai-and-human-in-the-loop-in-the-humanitarian-sector-an-introductory-guide-from-the-hla-and-data-friendly-space/

06/05/2026

💬 Opinion | "Maybe only AI literacy can solve so many problems for local organisations working with communities."

Humanitarian communications specialist Nour Arab from was one of 1,729 respondents to our January 2026 humanitarian pulse survey with Data Friendly Space (DFS). In the full interview she shares how she is using AI in her work, including her part in a community initiative recognised by MedCities as an example of best practice - and makes the case for why AI literacy is the real lever of change for local humanitarian organisations.

🔗 Link to the full interview with Nour:
https://www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/resources/ai-literacy-for-those-who-are-on-the-ground-is-key-a-humanitarian-perspective-from-lebanon/

05/05/2026

❓ What is "human-in-the-loop" when it comes to the use of AI in humanitarian work?

➡️ Swipe to discover more!

This new guide with expertise from Data Friendly Space (DFS) provides a beginner-friendly introduction to "human-in-the-loop". It has been created to help humanitarians build human oversight into AI-supported work – and to support a culture of responsible AI use across teams and organisations.

Download the guide in PDF format from our Resources Hub:
https://www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/resources/ai-and-human-in-the-loop-in-the-humanitarian-sector-an-introductory-guide-from-the-hla-and-data-friendly-space/

Coming soon in Spanish and French!

01/05/2026

🗨️ HLA Community content and resource round-up with a particular focus on local leadership

✅ Leadership Development Programme –
We're pleased to invite Syrian leaders to take part in a Leadership Development Initiative delivered in partnership with Leadership Circle and @=Save the Children International Syria office. Apply by 5 May. Register in English or Arabic:
https://lnkd.in/eq7z57BC

💻 Webinar | Going local: How communities, open data and tech shape data-driven impact
26 May 2026 | 11:00 - 12:30 UTC | Zoom Webinars
We invite you to join us, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team and Public Tech Studio for a deep dive into how communities are utilising open data and tech - re-shaping delivery of humanitarian response as the funding landscape shifts.
https://lnkd.in/efQSwffp

🔍 Opinion pieces:

Long read | How are humanitarians using in 2026? The case for governance and local leadership
The HLA’s Ka Man Parkinson reflects on findings from the second phase of humanitarian AI research conducted together with Data Friendly Space.
https://lnkd.in/e_KyckDm

“Don’t just build for us – build with us” – a perspective from Afghanistan
Abdullah Azimi outlines his vision for AI to strengthen community feedback systems and localised tools.
https://lnkd.in/ex2Ne6nH

🎧 Podcasts

language podcast: The road is not easy…but it is possible
How can local leaders overcome systemic barriers to drive meaningful humanitarian change?
Speakers: Faisal Mislit (HLA) and Ali Al Mokdad (independent)
https://lnkd.in/eDJfzJtT

➕ English language companion article: What local humanitarian leaders really need to thrive
https://lnkd.in/ehzurB66

Attention, algorithms and AI: How humanitarian organisations are rethinking communications in 2026
How are humanitarian organisations adapting their communications approaches in the face of rapid and profound change?
Speakers: Amanda Hinkel-Mauceri (Humentum), Gülsüm Özkaya (İHH İnsani Yardım Vakfı) and Ka Man Parkinson (HLA).
https://lnkd.in/e39K83n5