Groupe URD

Founded in 1993, Groupe URD is an independent think tank that specialises in analysing practices and developing policies for the humanitarian sector. Their multi-disciplinary expertise, based on continual field visits to crisis and post-crisis contexts, provides them with insight into the functioning of the sector as a whole.  Groupe URD’s role is to accompany aid actors to improve the quality of their programmes: operational NGOs, UN agencies, Red Cross Movement bodies, state institutions, donors, researchers, think tanks and students.

Groupe URD has set up a number of observatories to allow more in-depth analysis of certain contexts. Observatories are open for a given period and have specific staff. To date, Groupe URD has opened 4 Observatories. In Afghanistan: from 2005 to mid-2008; In Chad: from 2009 to mid-2012; In Haiti: from January 2012 to March 2015; In Mali: from March 2018 until March 2021, in connection with the KEY programme. Since May 2018, they have a permanent presence in Chad and the Lake Chad region via the Resilac project.

The Humanitarian Environment Network is a francophone network facilitated by Groupe URD and coordinated by a Steering Committee made up of Action contre la faim, Humanité et inclusion, Solidarités international, Médecins du monde, Groupe URD, the French Red Cross and Care France. Created in April 2012, the Humanitarian Environment Network aims to promote the integration of the environment among member organisations and more widely throughout the humanitarian sector. An important collective work resulted in a Statement of Commitment on Climate in December 2020, presented at the 5th National Humanitarian Conference. Through this text, 11 NGOs committed to reduce their emissions by 50% by 2030, through a number of measures.

Cover photo © Yannis H/Unsplash.