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Research and policy

Aligned with our overarching mission to lead and instigate meaningful change of the humanitarian system, CHL conducts collaborative research that not only informs but also influences real-world leadership in humanitarian contexts.

Research projects

Resilient Regions (Victoria)

Together with Deakin University we’re working on a new Australian Government-funded disaster and resilience project examining collaboration between East Gippsland businesses and communities.

Under the flagship Disaster Ready Fund, Australian Business Volunteers will facilitate a series of community-led workshops and meetings, and deliver pro-bono disaster resilience projects with corporate partners and skilled volunteers to boost the capacity of small business and local organisations.

Deakin and CHL researchers will use insights from these sessions to build an evidence-base on the relationships between the business sector, skilled volunteering and community resilience.

Read more in this announcement from Australian Government Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt, or view the short launch video by clicking on the screenshot below.

Future of Aid 2040:

CHL has partnered with IARAN to update – and expand upon – the Future of Aid: INGOs in 2030 study, conducted in 2016 by IARAN. It will contain a new set of scenarios and a detailed analysis of how organisations can lead themselves on a journey of transformation.  

The primary objective of the Future of Aid 2040 study is to provide all humanitarian actors navigating the humanitarian ecosystem with outlooks for 2040 to support their strategic decision-making and pursuit of systems transformation.  

What has been done so far?

Since November 2024, the Future of Aid 2040 project has conducted over 50 webinars and surveys aimed at building a collective understanding of the narratives shaping humanitarian aid and its trajectories. More than 800 people have participated in the project.

A preliminary report, Unpacking the aid system: laying the groundwork for transformation, was released in July 2025. Through the lens of Causal Layered Analysis (CLA), this report reveals hidden systemic drivers, prevailing worldviews, and deeply held narratives sustaining the current status quo, offering an essential diagnosis to shape a new Future of Aid.

Who is involved?

The Future of Aid 2040 study is overseen by an Executive Committee and a wider Steering Committee. View the make-up of both committees on the Future of Aid 2040 website.

 Conference presentations 2024/25

  • Watton, E. & North-Samardzic, A. (2025) ‘The role of reflexive learning for developing a leadership mind-set’ 15th Developing Leadership Capacity Conference, 8th-9th July, Lancaster University Management School.
  • Kelly, M., Elmaki, M., & Downing, P. (2025) ‘Mutual aid, localisation, and crisis leadership in Sudan: a network analysis’, SUNBELT, 23-28 June, Paris

Research citations – 2024/25

2023