Humanitarian Leadership Stories

In challenging times and despite rising needs, the humanitarian system continues to save and transform lives. Strong leadership by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinators plays a crucial part in this.  

Humanitarian leaders must act quickly and impartially while keeping a focus on the big picture, the external environment, the future and organizational change. In particular, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinators must have leadership skills that enable them to build trust, support national needs and priorities, and bring the UN system and humanitarian partners together to deliver better results for the people we serve. 

At the invitation of the Emergency Relief Coordinator, and as part of efforts to promote effective leadership, Humanitarian Coordinators have shared their humanitarian leadership stories and thoughts on what it takes to be a humanitarian leader.

In partnership with UNTV, the Humanitarian Leadership Strengthening Section with OCHA has developed this into this series of short videos. 

The features will be used in training materials for future humanitarian leaders, and eventually outreach through public domain and select channels to attract talent and generate thinking and awareness about the importance of good leadership. 

To learn more about humanitarian leadership, please follow the Humanitarian Coordinators on Twitter here 

To read up on the roles and responsibilities of UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinators in leading and coordinating inter-agency humanitarian action in support of the host Government and local actors, as well as on the skills, competencies and qualities of an effective humanitarian leader please see here. 

If you are interested in pursuing a career in humanitarian leadership, please see this page dedicated to the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Talent Pipeline. 

For more on the Humanitarian Leadership Strengthening Section, please see here.