URD Group
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersPlaisians, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
URD Group firmographics
Firmographics- 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
URD Group industry classification
Industry- 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 primary industry
- Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs (BPADAFAL)
Keywords
Where URD Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plaisians
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
URD Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Consulting and Evaluation Services: Project-based consulting engagements providing evaluation, strategic support, and organizational capacity building to humanitarian organizations and donors
- Training Programs: In-person and online training courses on humanitarian topics, evaluation methods, environment, and accountability
- Publications and Knowledge Products: Sale of books, reports, and research publications through partners like L'Harmattan, and free distribution of online resources
- 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
URD Group product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use URD Group
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
URD Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
URD Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Réseau Environnement Humanitaire (REH)coreThe 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)corePartnership 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 ECHOcoreLong-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 ConsortiumcoreConsortium 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 UnitminorInternational network connection with UNEP/OCHA joint unit engaged on environmental issues in humanitarian action.
- WFP (World Food Programme)coreOngoing 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 PublishingminorPublishing partner for books including 'Stabilisation au Sahel' and other humanitarian studies.
- CICR (International Committee of the Red Cross)coreCollaboration on adaptive management training and localization support for ICRC teams.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
URD Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging 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
URD Group social profiles
Digital presenceURD Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
URD Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
URD Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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URD Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about URD Group
What does URD Group do?
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.
Is URD Group a public or private company?
URD Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was URD Group founded?
URD Group was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is URD Group based?
URD Group is headquartered in Plaisians, France, in the Europe region.
How does URD Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Consulting and Evaluation Services are the primary driver. The others are training Programs, publications and Knowledge Products and network Coordination.
Who are URD Group's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR), HERE Geneva (Humanitarian Evidence for Research and Evaluation) and CartONG. Direct peers are Humanitarian Outcomes, Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi), IMPACT Initiatives, ICVA (International Council of Voluntary Agencies) and ALNAP (Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action). Overseas Development Institute (ODI) is listed as a broad incumbent. International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) is listed as a regional player.
Does URD Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for URD Group.
What industry is URD Group in?
URD Group's product category is Humanitarian Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADABAN, Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs, with a secondary code of BPADAEAK, Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming. Its NAICS code is 8139 and its SIC code is 8300.