In times of great challenge, bold decisions are necessary, but most importantly, they can be transformative. As the humanitarian sector faces a global funding crisis, the ReliefWeb team is embracing this moment not as a setback, but as an opportunity to find clarity, innovation and renewed purpose.

A vision for 2025 and beyond

For decades, ReliefWeb has been pivotal for humanitarian response, supporting coordination and situational awareness and disseminating critical information for decision-making. And thanks to our team’s efforts, ReliefWeb has continued to deliver immense value to the community it serves.

But now, we have found ourselves at a crossroads. Our leadership is calling for a Humanitarian Reset, rethinking the way we operate, deliver and adapt. For ReliefWeb, this means not just evolving but fundamentally reimagining our role in a rapidly changing humanitarian context.

So, we asked ourselves – if ReliefWeb didn’t exist, what kind of platform would we build to serve the purpose? We’d need something lean, fast and smart, capable of adapting to today’s tools and technologies.

And this is the vision driving our transformation today. We are embarking on a reset that streamlines our platform, consolidates our services, and enhances our impact.

Here’s how:

  1. We will sharpen our focus – Prioritizing decision-maker needs and aligning our content accordingly.

  2. We will automate our workflows – We will maximize efficiencies by automating as many internal processes as possible.

  3. We will strive for editorial excellence - We will aim to shift our editorial energy towards curation, quality assurance and strong partnerships.

Thinking big — and letting go

This transformation demands bold choices, from questioning long-held assumptions, such as geographical silos, to embracing a global “one-team” mindset, much needed now as financial constraints have drastically impacted our team size.

Even recent innovations like user-generated content are under review. No idea is off-limits as we pursue the most effective path forward.

This journey won’t be easy. Some decisions will be tough. We will not be able to operate in the same way we do now, and our 24/7 business model will have to change. But with challenges comes the chance to modernize the way we work while remaining faithful to our mission and setting a new benchmark for excellence in humanitarian information services.

Have an idea for how to improve ReliefWeb? Let us know at feedback@reliefweb.int.