Harvard Humanitarian Initiative

What Harvard Humanitarian Initiative does

Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) is a university-wide academic and research center at Harvard University, founded in 2005 by Jennifer Leaning and Michael VanRooyen and housed within the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. HHI operates two principal pillars: the Humanitarian Academy at Harvard (education and training) and Humanitarian Research at Harvard (interdisciplinary research programs spanning humanitarian strategies, risk/resilience/response, and technology/innovation). It serves humanitarian practitioners, international NGOs, UN agencies, governments, Harvard students, and scholars at risk, with operating presence in 17+ countries across East Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

HHI's technology stack includes KoBoToolbox (an open-source field data collection suite co-founded by HHI's Phuong Pham and adopted as a humanitarian sector standard), Humanitarian Geoanalytics (geospatial micro-planning and resource allocation), the Signal Program (ethical use of information technologies in humanitarian emergencies, including the Signal Code for data protection), DataPop Alliance (Big Data for vulnerable populations), and newer simulation and conversational AI tools including the Visual Response Simulator (ViRS) for disease outbreak modeling and a Tactical Medical Chatbot for low-resource settings. Research programs span gender/rights/resilience, children in crisis, infectious diseases and epidemics, diabetes in humanitarian crises, emergency health systems, peace and human rights data, resilient communities, and local engagement for outbreak response.

HHI operates as a largely grant-funded academic research center with an annual budget of nearly $20 million (2025), drawing on donor gifts (including a transformational endowment from Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine), competitive grants (e.g., USAID OFDA), and fee-based professional education. It generates reach through free online courses on HarvardX/edX (serving 200,000+ learners), fee-based in-person professional programs such as the two-week Humanitarian Response Intensive Course with field simulation (directly training 4,000+ professionals), and direct partnership-based research collaboration with NGOs, UN agencies, and Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals.

Name

Harvard Humanitarian Initiative

Legal name

Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (a program of The President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Website

https://hhi.harvard.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Harvard Humanitarian Initiative is a Harvard University academic and research center conducting interdisciplinary humanitarian research, professional and online education, and field technology (KoBoToolbox, Geoanalytics, Signal Program) for NGOs, UN agencies, and humanitarian practitioners globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Research and Education

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Humanitarian research
• Professional education
• Crisis response training
• Humanitarian policy
• Academic research center

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant-funded research and education: HHI operates as a largely grant-funded academic research center. It receives funding from donors and grants to support research programs, education initiatives, and operational activities. A transformational endowment gift from Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine supports the humanitarian studies program and the HHI director professorship. Annual budget is approximately $20 million.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HHI is a university-wide academic and research center at Harvard University that conducts interdisciplinary humanitarian research and delivers professional and online education through its Humanitarian Academy at Harvard. The organization provides research collaboration and technical assistance to international NGOs, UN agencies, and governments on humanitarian response, while developing proprietary field technologies such as KoBoToolbox, Humanitarian Geoanalytics, and the Signal Program for ethical information technology use.

Product overview

The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) is a university-wide academic and research center in humanitarian crisis and leadership, comprising two main pillars: the Humanitarian Academy at Harvard (education and training) and Humanitarian Research at Harvard. The organization operates as a platform offering professional education courses (Humanitarian Response Intensive Course, workshops on monitoring/evaluation, geospatial technologies, urban emergencies), online education programs (Dynamic Leadership series, negotiation programs including AI-enhanced training, Building a Better Response in multiple languages, HarvardX courses), and research programs (Peace and Human Rights Data, Resilient Communities, Emergency Health Systems, Signal Program, KoBoToolbox, Geoanalytics, Gender/Rights/Resilience, Children in Crisis, Infectious Diseases, Diabetes in Humanitarian Crises, LEARN). Notable technology products include KoBoToolbox (field data collection suite), Signal Program (ethical technology use), and Humanitarian Geoanalytics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Humanitarian Academy at Harvard: The educational arm of HHI and the first Humanitarian Academy of its kind, launched in 2011, providing professional education for humanitarian leaders globally.

Products and services

• KoBoToolbox A suite of open-source tools for field data collection for use in challenging environments, available globally to humanitarian practitioners for needs assessments and data collection in crisis settings.
• Humanitarian Response Intensive Course (HRIC) Two-week intensive course and simulation exercise that trains participants in the tools they will need to deploy to a complex humanitarian emergency response, including a three-day field simulation in forest settings where participants role-play as different humanitarian NGOs engaging with local actors, military, and non-state actors in a complex disaster and conflict scenario.
• Monitoring and Evaluation for Humanitarian Programs Workshop Workshop providing overview of basic principles and methodologies for program monitoring and evaluation with emphasis on practical application for humanitarian researchers and practitioners.
• Humanitarian Geospatial Technologies Workshop Workshop providing basic skills and knowledge required to use geospatial technologies in humanitarian operations.
• Urban Humanitarian Emergencies Course Course examining unique challenges and features of humanitarian crises affecting urban areas through lecture, discussion, and table-top simulation.
• Dynamic Leadership for Humanitarian Leaders Online course preparing humanitarian professionals at all levels to lead within their domains, identifying personal strengths and opportunities for growth.
• Dynamic Leadership for Health Leaders Online course providing in-depth exploration of dynamic leadership for health leaders, distinguished by ability to respond effectively to crises and adapt to ongoing changes in healthcare. CME credit available for medical doctors.
• Mastering Complex and High-Stakes Negotiations with AI Senior executive program developing judgment and confidence required to negotiate under real-world institutional pressure across humanitarian action, public policy, and global governance, featuring AI integration for practicing complex negotiations.
• Building a Better Response Free online course designed to strengthen capacity of practitioners and improve humanitarian coordination and response. Available in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.
• Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster (HarvardX) Free online HarvardX/edX course teaching principles guiding humanitarian response to modern emergencies.
• Humanitarian Needs Assessment Training Free online course training users on conducting humanitarian needs assessments, hosted via the KoBoToolbox training platform.
• Humanitarian Studies Concentration Graduate-level concentration at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health designed to prepare Harvard students to enter the humanitarian field.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200,000 people served through online learning programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• American Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to the American Red Cross. Dr. Michael VanRooyen has served on American Red Cross teams responding to Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.
• CAREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI works closely with CARE on technical assistance and programmatic collaboration across humanitarian settings.
• Catholic Relief ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to Catholic Relief Services.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to the CDC in areas of humanitarian health and emergency response.
• Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian ResponsesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI collaborates with this Oxford-CUHK collaborating centre on disaster and medical humanitarian response research and training.
• Emergency (Italy)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to Emergency, an Italian medical humanitarian organization.
• EpiCentre (MSF)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to EpiCentre, the epidemiology center of Médecins Sans Frontières.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to ICRC in international humanitarian law and humanitarian response.
• International Medical CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI works closely with International Medical Corps on a large trauma training program in Ukraine, providing physician educators, technical training in trauma, chemical-biological weapon response, and systems preparedness.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to IOM on migration and displacement issues in humanitarian settings.
• International Rescue CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to the International Rescue Committee.
• Medicines Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without BorderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI collaborates with MSF on humanitarian operations in complex areas such as Sudan, Syria, Gaza, Ukraine, and others. HHI awarded MSF the 2026 Elisabeth B. Weintz Humanitarian Award.
• OxfamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to Oxfam on humanitarian programs globally.
• Partners in HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to Partners in Health.
• Save the ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI works with Save the Children on technical assistance and programmatic collaboration in humanitarian settings.
• Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to SIDA.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI partners with UNICEF on data collection surveys and child health programming in crisis-affected regions, including measurement of protective practices and health-seeking behavior.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to UNHCR.
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI collaborates with UN OCHA on humanitarian coordination and response efforts.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI works with WHO on global health emergency response, pandemic preparedness, and health systems strengthening. HHI awarded WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros the 2025 Elisabeth B. Weintz Humanitarian Award.
• World VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI serves as a resource for technical, research, and training assistance to World Vision.
• Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of International Health and Humanitarian ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI is affiliated with Brigham and Women's Hospital's Emergency Medicine Department and collaborates closely on emergency medicine, trauma care, and global health programs. Many HHI faculty are physicians at BWH.
• Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Global HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI collaborates with MGH Center for Global Health on emergency medicine, global health initiatives, and disaster response.
• Boston Children's HospitalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI collaborates with Boston Children's Hospital on child health and pediatric humanitarian programming.
• FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at HarvardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI maintains a close historical and ongoing relationship with the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard. HHI originated from the humanitarian crises and human rights program established at the FXB Center in 1999 by Jennifer Leaning.
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Global Health and PopulationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI is based within the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The HHI Director holds the Lavine Family Professor of Humanitarian Studies at this school.
• Harvard Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI faculty hold appointments at Harvard Medical School and collaborate on humanitarian medicine, emergency care, and global health research.
• Harvard Kennedy School Hauser Center for Nonprofit OrganizationssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI collaborates with the Hauser Center at Harvard Kennedy School on nonprofit management, humanitarian leadership, and policy research.
• Harvard Business School Social Enterprise InitiativesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI collaborates with Harvard Business School's Social Enterprise Initiative on humanitarian leadership and social enterprise aspects of humanitarian work.
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI collaborates with BIDMC's Emergency Medicine Department on humanitarian emergency medicine research and education.
• Harvard Scholars at Risk ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI is honored to collaborate with the Harvard Scholars at Risk (SAR) Program to host scholars whose research focuses in areas relevant to HHI's strategic priorities. HHI provides hosted scholars with learning experiences, professional development, network building, and mentor guidance.
• MIT Humanitarian Supply Chain LabsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHHI collaborates with the MIT Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab (founded by Jarrod Goentzel) on supply chain management research for resource-constrained humanitarian settings. HHI lists MIT's Goentzel as an Affiliated Expert.
• DataPop AlliancesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationHHI collaborates with DataPop Alliance, which works to ensure that Big Data serves the interests of people across the globe, especially poor and vulnerable populations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): A leading global affairs think tank conducting research and policy advice on international development and humanitarian issues. Comparable to HHI in research and policy translation mission, though broader in scope and UK-based rather than embedded in a single university.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): The world's largest humanitarian organization, focused on international humanitarian law and direct assistance in conflict. Comparable to HHI in humanitarian mission and overlaps with HHI as both partner and subject of research; vastly larger scale and operational rather than academic.

Direct peers

• Feinstein International Center (Tufts University): A research and teaching center at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University focused on humanitarian crises, food security, and pastoralist livelihoods. Comparable to HHI as a US university-based humanitarian research center delivering field-driven evidence and policy analysis.
• Humanitarian Outcomes: An independent research organization that produces evidence-based analysis on humanitarian operations, security, and access. Comparable to HHI as a research-focused entity producing operational evidence for NGOs, UN agencies, and donors.
• Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health: A university-based academic center at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health focused on humanitarian health research, policy, and training. Directly comparable to HHI in mission, structure, and target audience; HHI's founding director previously led a humanitarian center at Johns Hopkins.
• ALNAP (Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action): A sector-wide network hosted by ODI that focuses on humanitarian performance, learning, and evaluation. Comparable to HHI's evaluation and implementation science work and its convening function across humanitarian practitioners.

Emerging players

• Centre for Humanitarian Data (UN OCHA): A UN OCHA-hosted data platform focused on humanitarian data management, visualization, and exchange. Comparable to HHI's KoBoToolbox, Geoanalytics, and Signal Program investments in humanitarian data infrastructure, though operating as a UN-hosted initiative rather than an academic center.
• Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security: A Georgetown University research center working at the intersection of global health, security, and policy. Comparable to HHI in its university-based interdisciplinary convening of public health, security, and policy research for crisis response.
• Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health - Program on Forced Migration and Health: A Columbia University academic program conducting research and training on the health of displaced and conflict-affected populations. Comparable to HHI's research and training programs on health systems in humanitarian settings and on displaced populations.

Others

• Refugees International: An advocacy and research organization that influences policy and humanitarian response for displaced populations. Comparable to HHI as a sector influencer and research-driven voice on humanitarian policy, though primarily advocacy-focused rather than academic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HarvardHumanitarian
• Facebookfacebook.com/harvardhumanitarian
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harvard-humanitarian-initiative
• Instagraminstagram.com/harvardhumanitarian
• Xx.com/hhi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Harvard Humanitarian Initiative