Leading Edge Programme

The Leading Edge Programme is an informal collaborative platform where humanitarian experts meet to jointly identify and implement sustainable solutions to cross-cutting challenges in humanitarian response.

Every year, members of the Leading Edge Programme’s participating networks and partnerships meet in Geneva for the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW), the largest event of its kind which in 2018 brought together 1,500 experts in crisis preparedness and response.
The next HNPW will take place from 4-8 February 2019. Click for more information about HNPW 2019.
The Secretariat
The Leading Edge Programme Secretariat is hosted by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva. The Secretariat has the following functions:
- Identify synergies and areas for collaboration among networks and partnerships
- Organize the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week, the annual event of the Leading Edge Programme
- Promote collaboration through the on-line platform
Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week
The Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week is the annual event of the Leading Edge Programme. This week-long event brings together experts in crisis preparedness and response from a diversity of organizations (including Member States, UN agencies, NGOs, civil protection, the private sector or academia) and countries in a common space where discussions focus on identifying solutions to humanitarian challenges.

HNPW brings together well-established networks, such as INSARAG or UNDAC, and newly-created networks, some of them as a result of the World Humanitarian Summit, such as the Disabilities in Humanitarian Action or the Connecting Business initiative. For a full list of networks and partnerships that participated in HNPW 2018, please click.
The next HNPW will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 4 - 8 February 2019.
For more information about previous events please visit the corresponding websites: and .
This is a public website hosted by the UN OCHA to facilitate information exchange in disaster preparedness and response.
The information on this page is provided by individuals and organizations and does not reflect the views of OCHA or the United Nations.