Panel details

Panel organiser(s) will be presenting	In-Person & Online
Number of paper presentations	6
Location	Istanbul

Abstract

This roundtable will explore the shifting landscape of leadership in the humanitarian field, with a focus on the growing role of Southern actors in shaping practices, norms, and systems. Drawing on cases from such countries like Türkiye, the Philippines, South Korea, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, the session will examine how these actors assert themselves through knowledge production, representation, and operational leadership in humanitarian contexts.

The discussion will address key questions: Are Southern actors challenging traditional North-centric humanitarian models, or are they adapting to existing structures? What alternative approaches are emerging from the South, and how do they reshape the understanding of leadership, legitimacy, and accountability in humanitarian action?
The session aims to generate concrete insights for practitioners and policymakers interested in supporting more balanced power relations within the global humanitarian system. At the same time, it will encourage a critical reflection on the broader systemic shifts underway, offering an opportunity to rethink whose voices, knowledge, and leadership shape the future of humanitarian action.

Paper presentations