About​​

Climate change presents a fundamental threat to human health worldwide. Research shows that 3.6 billion people already live in areas highly susceptible to climate change today. Climate change not only contributes to increasing the scale, frequency and intensity of major natural hazards but also threatens health infrastructures, mental health and exposes populations to higher risks of contracting life-threatening diseases such as malaria, cholera or typhoid. This roundtable proposes to explore the health impacts of climate change, focusing on how research can help us face, address and better respond to some of these risks. It will highlight important RCRC research initiatives conducted in Cameroon, Chad and Nepal and discuss how research findings and evidence can help the RCRC Movement better support people affected by climate change to lead safe, healthy and dignified lives.

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This session presents the Social Science for Humanitarian Action Training Package, developed by the IFRC in collaboration with the RCCE Collective Service and adapted for the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) context across global, Africa, Americas, and Europe regions. The training equips humanitarian practitioners with social science methodologies to enhance evidence-driven decision-making in humanitarian and health emergency responses. 

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The Argentine Red Cross Humanitarian Camp has been assisting indigenous communities in the north of the country for 5 years by distributing secure water, providing first aid assistance, and promoting community development. Monitoring and evaluation are part of the strategy of the humanitarian operation. To this end, through the organization's Humanitarian Observatory, rounds of population surveys are implemented to analyze the evolution of social and community indicators, access to water, and food security. As a model case, the Camp experience is an example of the application of research to strengthen action in the field.  This workshop aims to reflect on how to do research for immediate action and what it implies to build applicable knowledge in urgent contexts. Questions about the impact of these results on decision-making and the formulation of research strategies for humanitarian intervention will be addressed.

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 Data collection plays a vital role in research within migration and humanitarian contexts, where precise data is key to shaping effective policies and interventions. This study, conducted by the Türk Kızıllay M&E Team, examines the significance of data reliability by comparing in-person and remote data collection techniques. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design for post-distribution assessments, the study collected household data at a specific point in time. The results show that both remote (telephone) and in-person surveys exhibit comparable reliability and explanatory power. This conclusion is further supported by the consistent significance levels observed across the results, even with variations in household characteristics between the two methods.

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This interactive session will explore the partnership between the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Northumbria University, focusing on how research supports volunteering development. It will examine the role of evidence in enhancing volunteer engagement, well-being and impact. The session will highlight collaborative efforts to promote evidence-based approaches, including the review of IFRC’s Volunteering Policy and ongoing initiatives to improve volunteer safety, security, and well-being. Participants will be invited to reflect on the value of intersectoral collaborations in strengthening volunteer programmes and shaping policy and practice.

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The full-scale war in Ukraine has underscored the vital role of volunteers in Red Cross and Red Crescent response efforts. In early 2024, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) launched a study to enhance volunteer motivation and engagement using the Motiro digital platform and method, based on Self-Determination Theory.

This research examines how proximity to the war zone impacts volunteer engagement, well-being, and retention. The analysis is based on Moti survey data (n=1,794), collected in August 2024, measuring motivation, psychological well-being, and engagement. Of the 1,045 URCS volunteers deployed near the frontlines, 418 (40%) participated in the study. We compare their motivation with URCS volunteers elsewhere in Ukraine, and incorporate insights from team discussions on challenges and solutions.

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This session will present the International Review of the Red Cross in terms of the journal’s thematic priorities, selection criteria and strategic ambitions, along with an overview of how to offer contributions.

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Early Warning Systems (EWS) are proven to save lives and reduce disaster impacts, yet one-third of the global population, mainly in least developed countries, still lacks access. Even where they exist, EWS often fail to reach those most at risk or prompt timely action. This session, hosted by the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC), will highlight research and innovations aimed at closing these gaps. GDPC has been building evidence and investing in solutions to make EWS more accessible, actionable, and inclusive — especially for “last mile” communities. We will feature findings from a multi-country research initiative across 15 countries and showcase innovative tools that National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies can use to improve their EWS. Join us to explore how research and innovation can bridge gaps in early warning and early action and discuss how this knowledge can be turned into impact for the most vulnerable.

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The aim of the talk is to give an overview of the Customary International Humanitarian Law Project, which is jointly led by the British Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The project aims to keep up-to-date the national and international practice which underpinned the rules of Customary International Humanitarian Law (IHL), identified by the ICRC in its seminal Study published in 2005. Since 2010, the Study and regular updates of practice have been available online on the ICRC’s Customary IHL Database. The members of the Customary IHL team will present an overview of the main principles of IHL, the ICRC Study, and their day-to-day work in updating the customary IHL database. The presentation will conclude by assessing the importance of the Study for the protection of victims in armed conflicts, as well as of the relevance of the database as a significant on-line resource.

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The Tharparkar region in Sindh, Pakistan, faces severe water scarcity, with over 80% of the population lacking access to safe drinking water. Women and girls spend up to 10 hours daily collecting water, which impacts their health, education, and well-being. In 2016, the Canadian Red Cross and Pakistan Red Crescent Society installed solar-powered water pumps in ten communities, reducing water collection time, improving health, and empowering women and girls, fostering education and gender equality. This workshop will present findings from solar water pump projects, followed by interactive breakout group discussions on successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Participants will explore project implementation strategies and discuss sustainable solutions for rural development. The session will conclude with a panel discussion and audience Q&A. Ideal for professionals in humanitarian development, water management, and gender empowerment, this workshop offers insights into innovative solutions for sustainable water access and community resilience.

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 This roundtable will explore the role of research in driving innovation, relevance, and sustainability in volunteering development, particularly in the context of Strategy 2030. Are we truly prepared to face the evolving humanitarian and social challenges of our time? Through diverse perspectives and case studies, this session will examine how evidence-based insights can inform policies, strengthen volunteer engagement, and inspire new approaches to volunteerism across National Societies. Speakers will discuss emerging trends, gaps in current practices, and how research can become a powerful tool to mobilize, retain, and support volunteers in a rapidly changing world.

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Sport has the potential to support children’s mental and physical wellbeing. However, when sport is not delivered in safe and supportive ways, it can cause harm – especially for children experiencing the stresses of displacement. Thus, the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) co-created a model for safe and supportive sport, together with sport coaches working with displaced young people in the Ukraine crisis response and with the MHPSS Hub. SC+ was pilot tested in Paris, Moldova, and Poland with an iterative design process of culturally and contextually relevant and adaptable guidance and training materials. Research results demonstrated that the model is feasible, acceptable, and appropriate for sport coaches, and aimed to test and evaluate a protocol to concurrently collect data from trainers, coaches, and youth in Moldova, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. This interactive session will discuss preliminary research findings, lessons learned from implementation, and data collection techniques in humanitarian settings.

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The development of new technologies represents an opportunity for the construction of prospective scenarios that allow the design of specific and localized humanitarian intervention strategies. Artificial Intelligence (AI) allows us to model probable scenario analyses based on validated sources of information to accurately map potential crisis hotspots, as well as to estimate their size and calculate the type of aid and assistance required. This approach can be applied to project how future conflicts will evolve as well as scenarios where our Movement already intervenes. The Humanitarian Observatory of the Argentine Red Cross is developing a Humanitarian Dashboard project based on AI as an anticipatory tool for humanitarian action in livelihoods, health, mental health, migration, climate change, among other agendas of the IFRC Strategy 2030. This innovative proposal invites us to reflect on how we incorporate AI into our research strategies, what challenges it poses, and what opportunities it offers us.

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This session showcases groundbreaking research driving the efficacy, safety, and quality of blood and milk donations, with a focus on maintaining donor health and improving the nutritional quality of donor milk. "Using research to support the iron health of blood donors" delves into strategies to maintain optimal iron levels in donors, ensuring their well-being and sustained donation capacity. "Evidence in action: strengthening blood supply & disaster response through research" highlights the application of research findings to bolster blood safety, streamline blood supply chains and improve disaster response mechanisms. "From research to recipient: reducing macronutrient variability in donor milk for preterm babies" focuses on minimizing nutritional inconsistencies in donor milk, aiming to improve health outcomes for vulnerable preterm infants. Together, these presentations highlight the transformative power of research in protecting our donors’ health and maximizing the lifesaving impact of blood and milk donations.

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Join the Global Migration Lab as we take a deep dive into our current research project which explores why and how women and children go missing during migration journeys and what can be done to strengthen protection and reduce the risk of family separation and of migrants going missing. Designed and implemented in partnership with the ICRC Missing Persons Centre, the project draws on the global footprint of Red Cross and Red Crescent operations to better understand the lived experience of migrants along the world’s most dangerous migration routes. The 19 participating National Societies include: Chad, The Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Tanzania (in Africa); Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama (in the Americas); and Belgium, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom (in Europe).

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The Hong Kong Community Resilience Index (HKCRI) is a contextualized composite index designed to be a long-term measurement tool that assesses the city's community resilience level. Expanding on the IFRC’s six characteristics of community resilience (IFRC, 2014), the HKCRI comprises eight dimensions: risk management, health, basic needs, economic opportunities, infrastructure and services, natural resource management, social cohesion and inclusion, and connectedness. In this first phase of our research, we utilized secondary data sources to derive our findings. Risk management emerged as the highest-scoring dimension, indicating a reasonable degree of resource allocation to disaster management. However, natural resource management scored the lowest, highlighting that further efforts should be targeted towards biodiversity conservation. This session will delve into the research methodology of our pilot study, present key initial findings, and discuss the methodological challenges encountered and future research directions.

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This session will introduce key findings and recommendations from a recent study on climate change impacts and humanitarian response strategies, using climate data and projections from Korea as a case study. The analysis identifies major climate risks—heatwaves, cold waves, floods, and wildfires—and highlights the growing need for proactive, long-term approaches in disaster management. The session will propose strategic directions for the Red Cross and Red Crescent network, focusing on two key pillars: foundational research and capacity-building, as well as comprehensive disaster management activities spanning prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. A phased roadmap for implementation will be presented, along with recommendations for strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing community-driven resilience, and establishing sustainable funding mechanisms. Participants will gain practical insights and actionable ideas to help shape climate-resilient humanitarian actions across diverse national contexts.

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This session will explore three critical themes in disaster relief research, drawing from Japan's extensive experience in managing natural disasters. First, the session will examine humanitarian technology innovations inspired by Japan's disaster responses, highlighting cutting-edge solutions that enhance efficiency and effectiveness in relief efforts. Second, the concept of "disaster-related deaths," a term not widely recognised globally, will be introduced, and Japan's unique approach to addressing this issue will be discussed. Finally, the session will examine the phenomenon of "conformity bias" and its impact on timely evacuation behaviours during disasters. By understanding how social pressures influence decision-making, we can develop strategies to encourage more effective and timely evacuations. This comprehensive session aims to provide valuable insights and foster discussions on improving disaster preparedness and response through innovative technologies, better understanding of disaster-related deaths, and addressing behavioural biases.

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As the largest provider of first aid education worldwide, RCRC National Societies are well placed to contribute to the evidence base that underpins scientific guidelines that they themselves should follow.  But for evidence to be created, rigorous research needs to be carried out and published.  This can be challenging for busy practitioners without academic training, funds and time.  The International Journal of First Aid Education provides a platform for first aid providers to share their stories and experiences of changes and improvements they have made to their programmes.  The GFARC supports RCRC NS in scaling up their First Aid programs and it serves as a global network for sharing knowledge and experiences. In this session, we will hear about the journey towards publishing from two small RCRC national societies, Timor Leste and Fiji. We will hear about how the IFRC First Aid, Resuscitation and Education Guidelines are developed and how evidence is used. And we will discuss the challenges and benefits of research for publication, even at a small scale, and the impact it can have.

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 This session will present INFLOW-AI, an AI project which is part of the Improved Anticipation of Flood on the White Nile (INFLOW) project, which aims to strengthen early warning systems and humanitarian response in flood-prone areas of South Sudan. In 2021, the worst flooding in living memory displaced nearly a million people—many already vulnerable due to conflict, including large numbers of women and children. Flooding has led to severe food insecurity, loss of livestock, and reduced access to healthcare. INFLOW-AI supports anticipatory action by predicting flood extent up to six dekads in advance, helping agencies better allocate resources and protect at-risk communities. The project is supported by the Climate Adaptation and Resilience research programme and is led by the RCRC Climate Centre, University of Reading, and IGAD Climate Predictions and Forecasting Centre.

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 Cultural and religious practices and beliefs have historically played a significant role in the management of disease outbreaks globally. In Kenya, vulnerability to Highly Infectious Diseases (HIDs) such as Ebola remains high, particularly due to porous borders with neighboring countries that have experienced repeated outbreaks. This webinar will share findings from a study exploring the role of cultural and religious healing practices in influencing community vulnerability to HIDs. Discover why many community members turn first to traditional and religious healers, and how this preference, combined with weak links to formal health systems, can increase the risk of disease spread. But within these insights lies an opportunity - one that could transform how we prevent and respond to future outbreaks.

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 Today, over 120 non-state armed groups (NSAGs) are parties to armed conflicts. Promoting respect for international humanitarian law, and engaging in concrete discussions on practical steps to implement IHL is a key pillar of the ICRC’s mandate and mission. Among the long-standing focus areas of the ICRC and the Movement are the protection of detainees, as well as of separated, missing, and dead people. Over the past few years, the ICRC has engaged in two research projects to identify relevant legal obligations binding NSAGs and examples of how NSAGs implement these obligations in practice. To achieve concrete results, different research methodologies had to be combined, and questions of confidentiality carefully navigated. Through the example of these two research projects and by giving particular attention to primary research conducted in three case study contexts (Colombia, Northern Ireland, Yemen), this session will explore the ways in which the ICRC contributes to an environment conducive to peace.

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The Arctic is changing rapidly—temperatures are rising, ice is melting, permafrost is thawing, while tourism, industry, and geopolitical interests increase. Characterized by vast distances, harsh weather, sparse populations, and limited resources, are we prepared for emergencies in the Arctic region? This session will explore how the participatory action research method, Photovoice, was utilized in the Arctic Council-supported project “Strengthening Healthcare Preparedness in the Arctic.” The project aims to identify challenges and opportunities for civil society to support healthcare preparedness in the region. Working with the northernmost and easternmost local branch of Norwegian Red Cross, Sør-Varanger Red Cross in Finnmark, participants in the project became co-researchers, collected and analysed data and prepared a Photo exhibition showcased at an international conference and locally for advocacy. We will share the process, findings and lessons learnt in this interactive session.

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The current humanitarian crisis in the Sahel presents unique challenges for Shelter/NFI actors, including protracted conflicts, extreme heat, climate change, deforestation, impoverished local markets, and logistical constraints during the wadi season. Standard emergency shelters—often relying on plastic tarpaulins and corrugated iron sheets—struggle to provide adequate protection from the harsh climate, minimize environmental impact, or align with refugees' socio-cultural norms and needs. To explore improved solutions, Aide Internationale de la Croix-Rouge luxembourgeoise (AICRL) launched a pilot research project in eastern Chad — currently experiencing a large influx of Sudanese refugees following the renewed Darfur conflict in April 2023 — to test a tailored, evolutive shelter prototype for the region. In this session, we will share key lessons from empirical research conducted by our shelter officers and field teams while fostering discussion not only on the need for but also the challenges of implementing contextually adapted emergency shelters, which are critical to protection, public health, and environmental sustainability.