One important element of any future humanitarian system is the narrative that drives the work. Gone are the days of saviors parachuting from above. Today, humanitarians are more likely to come from their own communities than from overseas. But the language, culture, and power structures of the humanitarian system have not changed as much as many believe they must.

This conversation aims to shed light on and dig deeply into these issues utilizing the framework of “decolonizing development” to help drive the discussion. Join us as we explore what it takes to decolonize humanitarian aid with those who are leading the work in the U.S. and globally.

• Edgar Villanueva, Senior Vice President of Programs and Advocacy, Schott Foundation
• Cheryl L. Dorsey, President, Echoing Green
• Kennedy Odede, Founder and CEO, Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO)
• Shaheen Kassim‑Lakha, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

October 7, 2020 - 10am ET / 4pm CET

One global technology trend disrupting the humanitarian aid sector is so-called “fintech” or financial technology. Fintech in the humanitarian context is driven by the convergence of a number of major technological advancements: ubiquitous internet connectivity, cheap and powerful smartphones and other devices, cloud computing, mobile money platforms (including virtual currencies), and biometric identification. This convergence has made it possible to design humanitarian interventions in ways that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. Already a massive shift in humanitarian aid has begun: we have seen the percentage of humanitarian assistance provided in the form of cash or voucher assistance grow by 135%, from approximately $2 billion USD in 2015 to $4.7 billion USD in 2018.

What does this shift to humanitarian cash transfers mean for humanitarian action? How much further does this trend have to go, and what are the implications for the structure and effectiveness of the humanitarian system? And -- thinking ahead -- in what other ways might rapidly advancing fintech change the way humanitarian work is done?

We invite you to join a discussion on the fintech revolution powering the future of humanitarian innovation. This is meant to be a conversational discussion that brings together both technology insights and policy questions, and will cover your reflections on the current situation, your work in this area, and actionable steps to take.

• Michael Faye, President and Co-founder, GiveDirectly
• Alex Diaz, Head of Crisis Response & Humanitarian Aid, Google.org
• Iyinoluwa 'E' Aboyeji, Founder, Flutterwave
• Allie Burns, CEO, Village Capital
• Rashmi Pillai, Executive Director, Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Uganda
• Moderator: Catherine Cheney, Senior Reporter, Devex
• Moderator: Raj Kumar, President & Editor-in-Chief, Devex

October 20, 2020 - 10 a.m. ET / 4 p.m. CET

Last year saw the highest number of people displaced by conflict since World War II. One source causing millions of citizens to flee their homes, is gang violence, a major international humanitarian issue that spurs internal displacement and refugee migration, and is both fueled by and further increases poverty.

Join us for a discussion on violence — especially as perpetrated by criminal gangs and the systemic issues that perpetuate their existence — in Central America and beyond. Experts will share how trauma-informed localized solutions can help break the cycle of violence in these communities, and ultimately see them thrive.

• Celina de Sola, Co-Founder and Vice President of Programs Glasswing International
• Roberto Lovato, Journalist and Author