Humanitarianism Under Attack

Rome Humanitarian Congress

10 October 2025, Auditorium Ara Pacis, Rome

The Humanitarian Congress is an annual event, organised by INTERSOS, with the aim of openly reflecting on the challenges of the present, the changes in the humanitarian system and the role of our organisation within it, always focusing on the reasons for our commitment: the people we assist and our ability to offer principled, adequate and meaningful responses to their needs.

This year’s event was held on the 10th of October in Rome, at the Ara Pacis (Auditorium), and involved experts, researchers and practitioners from the humanitarian world, who focused on dilemmas, difficulties and perspectives. The Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa was the Academic partner of the fourth edition of the Congress. Students were involved on issues related to the humanitarian system, in particular this year the focus of the students was on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, producing research papers that were presented during the Congress.

This years’ Rome Humanitarian Congress provided an opportunity to discuss growing array of systemic and operational challenges, that create a complex environment and hinder the ability of Humanitarian Organisations to deliver timely, effective, and principled assistance in response to the growing needs. Bringing together high-level leaders, experts and practitioners, the first session titled “Humanitarianism Beyond the Breaking Point – Forging a Path Forward” tried to address what the humanitarian system and organisations such as INTERSOS should do – in order to overcome the difficult challenges the system is facing, and reinvent itself to deliver principled assistance in the new realities. The afternoon session titled “Flip the coin: Myths and realities on addressing the ever increasing funding gap” focused on exploring ideas and suggested actions to unlock new ways of financing humanitarian response, identify pathways towards financial sustainability for the sector — which still relies heavily on institutional donors — and explore smarter financing mechanisms.

* The papers produced by students of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies result from independent research conducted by the authors and do not necessarily reflect INTERSOS’ views and positioning.