Our 2023 Annual Report is now published!

In 2023, IMPACT conducted nearly 600,000 interviews and published over 1,500 information products to inform decision-making processes to prioritize aid where it is most needed. Our annual report is now available in both printable PDF and digital formats, highlights this extensive work across the 34 countries where we operate.  This newsletter will dive into how we continuously adapt and respond to challenges and constraints identified in the previous years and highlighted in the 2023 annual report.

In 2023, Syria experienced a growing funding gap and worsening humanitarian conditions, exacerbated by a series of devastating earthquakes that claimed over 4,500 lives. As 2024 began and planned budget cuts took effect, the impact became clear. Communities that had relied on critical humanitarian aid now faced partial or complete loss of this support, with others at imminent risk of being cut off. In this context, effective use of impartial, independent, and comprehensive evidence and analysis is key in ensuring aid programming meets the needs of vulnerable communities. For a detailed exploration of these challenges, read the full brief.  

The example of Syria underscores the critical role of data-driven action in humanitarian crises. As IMPACT’s CEO Luca Pupulin notes, “Through our growing ability to provide actionable evidence where it is most needed, including in hard-to-reach areas, we play an increasingly important role in supporting international solidarity mechanisms to prioritize the most vulnerable.”  

“[..] Concerted action to address climate change remains insufficient. Predictably, these challenges have disproportionately impacted the most vulnerable – those directly affected by crises and living in so-called ‘fragile’ contexts, as well as those living on the margins of societies, including slums and migrant communities.” Luca Pupulin, IMPACT’s CEO, Annual report 2023   

Recognizing the need to address the growing vulnerabilities of crisis-affected populations, including those displaced by conflict and climate change, IMPACT through its initiative REACH, launched the EVIDEM consortium in partnership with IMMAP, 3IS, and ACAPS. The consortium aimed to put community priorities at the centre of humanitarian programming. An effort that is particularly significant in Colombia, which hosts approximately 2.9 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees, while serving as a transit point for many more. In La Guajira, a department with a long-standing humanitarian presence, IMPACT conducted an Area-Based Assessment (ABA) which revealed key gaps: unsustainable programming with no exit strategies, limited community engagement, and inequitable aid distribution. Based on these findings, and to strengthen the humanitarian response and coordination, REACH published a brief with key recommendations for humanitarian actors. IMPACT also conducted an ABA in Ciénaga department, more find out more here. 

In Afghanistan, flooding is not just an occasional inconvenience—it’s a recurring crisis that disrupts lives, devastates crops, and threatens food security. To improve response efforts, REACH conducted an  comprehensive assessment, using various primary and secondary sources to identify flood-prone areas and understand the impact of floods. Findings highlight a clear need for early warning systems and targeted assistance in the vulnerable regions identified. These insights aim to enhance broader strategies for flood monitoring and proactive response through anticipatory action, find our more here. 

More IMPACT News:  

Event | IMPACT at the Understanding Risk meeting in Himeji, Japan 

At the end of June, IMPACT Initiatives participated in The Understanding Risk meeting in Himeji, Japan. This conference brought together different actors to better understand risks from natural hazards and enable more effective action. Adding to this discussion, we shared insights on our work on disaster risk management in fragile contexts, particularly focusing on our experience in localizing risk data. Find our key takeaways of the event here.  

Event | IMPACT at the Global Shelter Cluster Coordination Workshop 

IMPACT participated in the GSC’s Coordination Workshop and its Annual Meeting in late June. During the event, IMPACT co-led two breakout discussions: one on evidence needs beyond emergencies, which was part of a session on recovery and durable solutions, and another on improving the targeting of affected populations. Find out more here. 

#Somalia – Associate Research Manager
#Afghanistan – Deputy Country Coordinator
#SouthSudan – Country Representative
#DRC – Coordinateur.rice / Représentant.e pays
#Benin – Manager SIG Pays Cotiers
#Ethiopia – Research Manager
#Haiti – Coordinateur.rice / Représentant.e pays
#Iraq – Projects and Funding Officer 

About IMPACT

IMPACT Initiatives is a think-and-do-tank based in Geneva. IMPACT aims to shape practices and influence policies in humanitarian and development settings, in order to positively impact the lives of people and their communities. IMPACT is a Geneva-based is the largest independent data provider in contexts of crisis. We aim to support a range of stakeholders to make better, more informed decisions in humanitarian, stabilisation, and development settings. We believe that a key pathway to better planning and decision-making is direct engagement with local communities and their leaders.  

IMPACT takes an initiative-based approach to structuring our programming. Each initiative – REACH, PANDA and AGORA – has a specific aim, operational model, and portfolio of solutions. Discover more on our website.

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