Inter-Agency Standing Committee

Humanitarian Leadership Snapshot

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Overview

This month at a glance

Geographic spread, cohort composition, and the latest leadership movements.
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Source: OCHA Humanitarian Leadership Section.

Overview

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Leadership on the move

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OCHA · HLS1
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Monthly highlight

The HC leadership profile

A four-quadrant framework for the role.
This month
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Values

Emphasises core humanitarian values (integrity, humility, inclusion, and humanity) that guide decision-making and behaviour. These values ensure that HCs act with a strong moral compass, respect diversity, listen and learn from others, and prioritise the dignity and well-being of affected populations. They form the ethical foundation for effective leadership in complex and high-stakes humanitarian contexts.

Competencies

Outlines essential competencies required for leading operations, including strategic vision, operational and contextual fluency, political acumen, humanitarian diplomacy, coordination of teamwork, innovation, and driving systems change. These competencies equip HCs to guide the humanitarian community toward collective goals, influence high-level stakeholders, foster inclusive partnerships, and adapt systems and strategies.

Attributes

Effective HCs demonstrate key personal attributes, including adaptability, courage, emotional intelligence, resilience, and social intelligence. These qualities enable them to navigate uncertainty, respond empathetically, remain composed under pressure, and foster trust and collaboration across diverse teams. Attributes complement technical skills by shaping how leaders engage with people, make decisions, and uphold humanitarian principles.

Commitments

Humanitarian leadership is grounded in commitments to localisation, collaborative leadership, accountability, and inclusivity. HCs are expected to shift power and resources to local responders, engage and empower affected populations, uphold transparency and collective responsibility, and ensure responses address the diverse needs of women, girls, and marginalised groups.

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Data visualisation

Leadership characteristics

Composition of the cohort by role, grade, agency of origin, and gender.

Country of origin by grade

Fig. 3.1
Source: OCHA HLS

Grade and gender

Fig. 3.2
Source: OCHA HLS

Leadership roles (%)

Fig. 3.3
Source: OCHA HLS

Agency of origin

Fig. 3.4
Source: OCHA HLS
Observations
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OCHA · HLS3
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Long-term trends

Long-term trends · 1992 → present

Composition of humanitarian leadership over three decades.

Gender — share of cohort

Fig. 4.1
Source: OCHA HLS

Region — share of cohort

Fig. 4.2
Source: OCHA HLS
Observations
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OCHA · HLS4
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Directory

List of leaders

Sortable, searchable directory of the current cohort.
# Country Duty station Name Position
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Contacts

Contact directory

Names, positions, and direct lines for the current cohort.
Country Name Position Email Phone Special assistant Executive assistant
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References

Resources

Standing references for HCs, the IASC, and the wider humanitarian community.
Maintained by OCHA Brand & Design Unit · Humanitarian Leadership Section · hls@un.org 7