Qatar’s First Global Humanitarian and Development Finance Summit: Scaling up Impact for Localized Solutions

The proposed Global Humanitarian and Development Finance Summit in Qatar, will convene leading local and international experts, policymakers, and practitioners to advance dialogue and action on the future of humanitarian financing and digital transformation in fragile and crisis-affected settings. This three-day summit will feature high-level panels, presentations, and demonstrations, and will feature a particular emphasis on the strategic use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data technologies to enhance the efficiency, accountability, and reach of humanitarian and development efforts. The proposed summit will position itself as a policy-oriented platform and examine how innovative financing mechanisms (such as outcome-based financing, parametric insurance, and blended instruments) can be used not only to close funding gaps but also to drive measurable impact in sectors including healthcare, education, food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience. A central focus of the summit will be the role of technology (particularly AI) as enabling infrastructure for modern humanitarian response. Participants will explore the use of AI and digital platforms to support anticipatory action, crisis forecasting, needs assessment, and operational coordination.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)