The Humanitarian Forum

What The Humanitarian Forum does

The Humanitarian Forum, operating as the World Humanitarian Action Forum (WHAF), is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1130399) founded in 2017 and headquartered in London at 6 Whitehorse Mews, 37 Westminster Bridge Road. WHAF functions as a global convening and research platform that brings together more than 65 humanitarian and development organizations — including INGOs (Oxfam, Save the Children, ActionAid, Mercy Corps), UN agencies (OCHA), Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, Islamic Relief entities, local and national NGOs, academics, donors, and media — to address fragmentation in the aid sector and advance localization, decolonization, and reform of humanitarian financing. Its core activities are structured biennial summits (WHAF 2017, 2019, 2023), the Aid Re-imagined Initiative launched in November 2020 in partnership with NEAR, ALNAP, Islamic Relief Worldwide, A4EP, and The New Humanitarian, the Syria Civil Society Consultations program implemented with the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS) from November 2025 through April 2026, and the Zakat Insights newsletter and co-learning series exploring Islamic humanitarian finance. WHAF also delivers training workshops on crisis media management, diaspora solidarity, and disaster response.

WHAF does not operate as a technology company; its "platform" is relational rather than software-based, with activities delivered through in-person forums, virtual sessions on Zoom, and on-the-ground visits in Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon. Its research output includes the Aid Re-imagined study, Zakat consultation reports, and thematic reports on dignity in humanity and humanitarian reform, distributed via the whaf.org.uk website (bilingual English/Arabic), email newsletters, and social media channels (Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn).

WHAF is funded through charitable grants, sponsorships, and collaborative partnerships rather than fees — it does not charge for forum participation, summits, consultations, or training. Founder and Chairman Dr Hany El Banna OBE, who previously co-founded Islamic Relief Worldwide, anchors the organization's leadership; he received the 2023 Daniel Phelan Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Charity Awards. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees, operates with 1-10 staff, and has no parent company, subsidiaries, or disclosed funding rounds.

Name

The Humanitarian Forum

Legal name

World Humanitarian Action Forum

Website

https://whaf.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Humanitarian Forum (WHAF) is a UK-registered charity that convenes 65+ humanitarian and development organizations through biennial summits, the Aid Re-imagined Initiative, Syria civil society consultations, and Zakat-focused research to advance aid-sector reform and localization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and International Development Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAEAK

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming

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

SECONDARYHLAJAKAD

International & Local Implementing NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYBPAGAAAL

Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management & Needs Assessment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

SECONDARYHLAJAKAE

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

Keywords

• Humanitarian dialogue forums
• Aid sector reform
• Zakat humanitarian finance
• Civil society consultations
• Humanitarian capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable Funding and Grants: WHAF operates as a registered UK charity (Charity Number 1130399) funded through partnerships, sponsorships, and collaborative arrangements with humanitarian organizations. The organization does not charge for participation in its forums and summits.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Humanitarian Forum (WHAF) is a UK-registered charity that convenes humanitarian and development organisations through biennial summits, regional consultations, research programs, and training workshops. Its core offerings include the WHAF Summits (2017, 2019, 2020, 2023), the Aid Re-imagined Initiative for sector reform, Zakat Insights newsletters and co-learning series on Islamic humanitarian finance, Syria civil society consultations and capacity strengthening, and training on diaspora solidarity, crisis media management, and humanitarian capacity building. Participation is free of charge, with activities funded through charitable partnerships and grants.

Product overview

The Humanitarian Forum (also known as the World Humanitarian Action Forum or WHAF) is a global initiative that operates as a coordination and dialogue platform for humanitarian and development organisations. Rather than a software product company, it offers a suite of programs including the Aid Re-imagined Initiative for sector reform, Zakat Insights publications for Islamic charitable giving, Syria civil society consultations, training workshops, and periodic summits. These offerings work together to foster collaboration, research, and advocacy within the humanitarian sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aid Re-imagined Initiative An initiative addressing issues within the aid sector to make it fit for purpose, consisting of summits and research studies on the future of humanitarianism. Co-organized with NEAR, ALNAP, Islamic Relief Worldwide, A4EP, and The New Humanitarian.
• Zakat Insights Newsletter and Co-Learning Series A monthly newsletter and co-learning series exploring zakat, justice, accountability, faith, community building, and sustainable giving through newsletters, reports, and sessions with practitioners, scholars, and institutional leaders.
• Syria Civil Society Consultations and Capacity Strengthening Consultations and capacity strengthening activities with civil society actors across Syria to strengthen dialogue, support recovery pathways, and develop locally grounded recommendations.
• WHAF Training Programs Training workshops covering topics such as diaspora solidarity, crisis media management, disaster and crisis management, and humanitarian capacity building.
• WHAF Summits (WHAF 2017, WHAF 2019, WHAF 2020, WHAF 2023) Biennial forums bringing together over 480 delegates from local NGOs, INGOs, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, networks, philanthropists and academics to discuss key humanitarian issues with themes such as 'Dignity in Humanity'.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 480 delegates from 50+ countries participated in WHAF 2019
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025CHS partners with WHAF on the 'Enhancing the Role of Civil Society in Syria' project, implementing structured consultation sessions across Syria in two phases (November 2025 and February-April 2026).
• Islamic Relief CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025WHAF partnered with Islamic Relief Canada as part of the Inspire program, joining young people and volunteers on field visits to several projects in Syria between 12-20 September 2025.
• Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2020NEAR is a key co-organizer of the Aid Re-imagined Summit Series 2020-21, working with WHAF to address the question of what issues need to be addressed within the aid sector to make it fit for purpose.
• ALNAPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2020ALNAP (Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance) collaborates with WHAF on the Aid Re-imagined initiative, contributing research and learning perspectives to the summit series.
• Islamic Relief WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2020Islamic Relief Worldwide is a key partner in the Aid Re-imagined Summit Series, bringing expertise in Islamic humanitarian finance and global South perspectives to the collaboration.
• Alliance for Empowering Partnership (A4EP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2020A4EP, representing local and national NGOs, partners with WHAF on the Aid Re-imagined initiative to ensure local voices are centered in humanitarian reform discussions.
• The New HumanitariancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2020The New Humanitarian, a leading humanitarian news organization, collaborates with WHAF on the Aid Re-imagined Summit Series, contributing media and communications expertise.
• Al Jazeera Media InstitutesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 October 2019Partnered with WHAF 2019 to deliver crisis media management training as part of the forum's media training program alongside TRT World.
• TRT WorldsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 October 2019Partnered with WHAF 2019 to deliver media training including crisis media management sessions and documentary screenings such as 'Women of War'.
• OCHAsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019Listed among collaborative partners for WHAF 2019, contributing to the forum's multi-stakeholder engagement approach.
• Mercy CorpssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019Collaborating organization for WHAF 2019, participating in the forum's activities and networking sessions.
• Islamic Relief USAsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019WHAF 2019 partner organization, contributing to the forum's network of humanitarian actors.
• Muslim AidsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019WHAF 2019 partner organization supporting forum activities.
• ActionAidsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019WHAF 2019 collaborating organization representing international development perspective.
• Save the ChildrensupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019WHAF 2019 partner bringing expertise in child-focused humanitarian programming.
• OxfamsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019WHAF 2019 collaborating organization contributing to forum discussions.
• British Red CrosssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019WHAF 2019 partner organization, bringing Red Cross movement perspectives.
• TearfundsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019WHAF 2019 partner organization contributing to forum activities.
• Christian AidsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2019WHAF 2019 partner organization bringing faith-based humanitarian perspective.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ALNAP (Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance): ALNAP is a sector-wide network focused on humanitarian learning, accountability and performance — directly comparable to WHAF as a multi-stakeholder convening and research body, and an explicit WHAF partner on the Aid Re-imagined Initiative.
• Start Network: Start Network is a global network of humanitarian NGOs working on crisis response, anticipatory action and localized aid — comparable as a multi-stakeholder convening platform driving humanitarian innovation and reform.
• Sphere Association: Sphere drives quality and accountability in humanitarian response through the Sphere Standards and a global network — comparable as a coordination and standards-setting body in the humanitarian sector.
• International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA): ICVA is a global network of humanitarian NGOs focused on advocacy, coordination and policy influence in humanitarian action — comparable as a convening platform serving INGO and NGO members on humanitarian reform issues.
• NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response): NEAR is a network of local and national NGOs from the Global South driving localization of humanitarian aid — directly comparable to WHAF's focus on elevating local actor voice in humanitarian reform, and a co-organizer of WHAF's Aid Re-imagined Summit Series.
• Center for Humanitarian Studies (CHS): CHS conducts research, training and policy engagement on humanitarian action and conflict — directly comparable to WHAF's research and convening function, and an active WHAF partner on the Syria civil society consultations program.
• Alliance for Empowering Partnership (A4EP): A4EP is a coalition advancing locally-led humanitarian and development action — comparable to WHAF as a network focused on local-actor empowerment and a core Aid Re-imagined partner.
• CHS Alliance (Core Humanitarian Standard): CHS Alliance is a global alliance of humanitarian organizations focused on accountability, quality and people-centered humanitarian action — comparable as a membership/coordination body influencing humanitarian standards and organizational practice.

Broad incumbents

• InterAction: InterAction is the largest US-based alliance of international NGOs engaged in humanitarian and development work — comparable as a much larger NGO convening and advocacy platform serving overlapping INGO and humanitarian actor constituencies.
• Bond (UK network for NGOs working in international development): Bond is the UK membership body for NGOs working in international development and humanitarian action — comparable as a UK-based convener for the same INGO/NGO constituency WHAF serves, with a broader policy and advocacy remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WHA_Forum
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WorldHumanitarianActionForum
• Facebookfacebook.com/WorldHumanitarianActionForum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-world-humanitarian-action-forum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Humanitarian Forum