URD Group

What URD Group does

Groupe URD (Association Groupe Urgence Réhabilitation Développement), founded in 1993 and headquartered in Plaisians, Drôme Provençale, France, is an independent non-profit think-tank (Association Loi 1901, SIREN 424079622) specializing in the analysis of humanitarian practices and the development of policies for crisis response and post-crisis recovery. The organization serves bilateral and multilateral donors (DG ECHO, FAO, WFP, Danida), international NGOs (CICR/ICRC), and national/local humanitarian actors, with active project presence across the Sahel, Central Africa, Horn of Africa, MENA, Indian Ocean, South and Southeast Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, and parts of Europe and North America.

Its portfolio centers on four interconnected activity lines: project-based consulting and evaluation (e.g., final evaluations of FAO anticipatory-action programs, WFP Sahel country-program reviews, real-time evaluations for Danida, INSPIRE consortium policy support for DG ECHO); training delivered in person and via an e-learning platform on topics including accountability, evaluation, and environmental integration; publications and methodologies (COMPAS Qualité & Redevabilité, the 2024 Core Humanitarian Standard revision, the Adaptive/Agile Management Guide, the Manuel de la Participation, and the Humanitaires en mouvement review); and network facilitation, most notably the Humanitarian Environment Network (REH) convening 150+ individuals across approximately 20 organizations since 2012. Operational software includes Sigmah, a project-management tool for humanitarian organizations.

Revenue is generated through project-based contracts and institutional grants from donors and partner organizations, supplemented by training fees and royalties from co-published books with L'Harmattan and Karthala; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (Conseil d'Administration), with Jeanne Taisson as Director of Publication and a named research-leadership cadre including Aline Hubert and Camille Burlet who animate the REH network. Flagship multi-year programs — APIC (learning and innovation in crisis response, active since 2016), RESILAC (Lake Chad Basin inclusive recovery, launched 2018), PASFASS (women's empowerment in Chad), and the ADAPT climate-adaptation initiative — anchor the portfolio and recur through successive phases.

Name

URD Group

Legal name

Association Groupe Urgence Réhabilitation Développement

Website

https://urd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Consulting Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADABAN

Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYBPADAEAK

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYBPADAFAL

Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Peacekeeping, Conflict Resolution & Security Cooperation

Keywords

• Humanitarian consulting services
• Crisis response evaluation
• Quality accountability methodology
• Humanitarian training programs
• Post-crisis policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Plaisians

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Evaluation Services: Project-based consulting engagements providing evaluation, strategic support, and organizational capacity building to humanitarian organizations and donors
2. Training Programs: In-person and online training courses on humanitarian topics, evaluation methods, environment, and accountability
3. Publications and Knowledge Products: Sale of books, reports, and research publications through partners like L'Harmattan, and free distribution of online resources
4. Network Coordination: Facilitation and coordination of the Humanitarian Environment Network (REH), bringing together 20+ organizations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Groupe URD is an independent think-tank that conducts evaluations, strategic advisory, applied research, and training for humanitarian and development actors. It develops and disseminates proprietary quality and accountability methodologies (COMPAS, CHS tools, adaptive management guide), manages multi-year field projects (APIC, RESILAC, PASFASS, Nex'Eau, ADAPT), and coordinates humanitarian networks such as REH. Services are delivered to NGOs, UN agencies, and bilateral/multilateral donors through project-based contracts.

Product overview

URD Group operates as a specialized think-tank offering research, methodologies, training, and networks for the humanitarian sector. Its portfolio includes quality management tools (COMPAS Qualité & Redevabilité), project management software (Sigmah), an e-learning platform, and the Humanitaires en mouvement review publication. The organization manages multiple thematic projects including APIC (learning and innovation for crisis response), RESILAC (Lake Chad recovery), PASFASS (women's empowerment in Chad), and Nex'Eau (water services resilience). It also facilitates the Réseau Environnement Humanitaire (REH) network and develops various methodological guides and tools for humanitarian practitioners. Training offerings cover evaluation, quality management, adaptive management, and environmental integration in humanitarian action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 48% absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2019-2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Réseau Environnement Humanitaire (REH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012The Humanitarian Environment Network was initiated by Groupe URD in April 2012. It aims to advance environmental integration among member organizations and throughout the humanitarian sector. The network brings together over 150 individuals and approximately 20 organizations including Action contre la faim, ACTED, CARE France, Croix-Rouge française, Gret, Médecins du Monde, and others. The network develops tools, shares research findings, and advocates for environmental mainstreaming.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for evaluation of anticipatory action projects and social protection systems. Provided external support to FAO's monitoring and evaluation department for final evaluation of a three-year pilot project in Bangladesh, Lao PDR, Pakistan, Philippines, and Vietnam.
• DG ECHOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for humanitarian policy development and evaluation. Groupe URD, through the INSPIRE consortium, provides support for DG ECHO policy development. Also conducted environmental footprint analysis of humanitarian assistance for DG ECHO.
• INSPIRE ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium providing support for humanitarian policy development. Groupe URD participates in this consortium which was selected again in 2016 to support DG ECHO policy development.
• UNEP/OCHA Joint UnitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network connection with UNEP/OCHA joint unit engaged on environmental issues in humanitarian action.
• WFP (World Food Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing evaluation partnerships with WFP for programs in Sahel region including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Senegal. Multiple evaluation contracts for country programs and thematic studies.
• L'Harmattan PublishingminorOthersPublishing partner for books including 'Stabilisation au Sahel' and other humanitarian studies.
• CICR (International Committee of the Red Cross)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on adaptive management training and localization support for ICRC teams.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR): Formerly at Tufts, HPCR produced independent research on humanitarian policy, international humanitarian law, and conflict. Comparable to URD as a niche research entity producing policy-relevant humanitarian analysis for institutional audiences, though smaller and US-based.
• HERE Geneva (Humanitarian Evidence for Research and Evaluation): An evaluation and research-oriented initiative supporting humanitarian practice. Overlaps with URD's evaluation and quality role within the humanitarian MEL ecosystem, particularly around evidence synthesis for institutional donors.
• CartONG: French non-profit supporting humanitarian and development organizations with information management, GIS, and data tools. Comparable as a sibling French humanitarian-sector non-profit with overlapping project partnerships (including a confirmed RESILAC collaboration) and similar NGO/donor client base.

Direct peers

• Humanitarian Outcomes: Independent research and advisory firm focused on operational humanitarian action, conducting evaluations, studies, and policy support for humanitarian actors. Directly comparable niche specialist delivering MEL, strategy, and policy analysis to humanitarian donors and agencies.
• Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi): Berlin-based independent think-tank delivering research, evaluation, and strategy work for humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding organizations. Closely comparable as a mid-sized, independent European policy think-tank competing for similar donor-funded evaluation and strategy contracts.
• IMPACT Initiatives: Specializes in needs assessments, monitoring, and evaluation for humanitarian and development contexts. Directly comparable as an MEL service provider operating in the same crises (Sahel, MENA, South Asia) for the same institutional donors that URD serves.
• ICVA (International Council of Voluntary Agencies): A global network of humanitarian NGOs advocating on policy issues and convening members. Overlaps with URD via network coordination (REH), policy advocacy, and quality/accountability representation functions within the humanitarian ecosystem.
• ALNAP (Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action): Hosted by ODI, ALNAP is a sector-wide network focused on humanitarian performance, evaluation, and accountability. Direct functional overlap with URD on quality, accountability, CHS-related learning, and MEL — overlapping on networks, training, and publications serving humanitarian practitioners.

Broad incumbents

• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): ODI is a UK-based global affairs think-tank that conducts research, advisory, and policy work for humanitarian and development donors. Comparable to URD as a policy and evaluation think-tank serving bilateral/multilateral donors, though ODI is significantly larger with broader development coverage.

Regional players

• International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO): Provides safety and operational support services to humanitarian NGOs in conflict-affected countries. Overlaps with URD on operational research and field-oriented services for humanitarian implementers, though INSO focuses specifically on safety rather than quality/MEL.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/groupeurd
• Facebookfacebook.com/groupe.urd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-urd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about URD Group