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2921. Global Humanitarian Assistance (GHA) report 2025

Author:
Mike Pearson, Fran Girling-Morris, and Suzanna Nelson-Pollard
Publication Date:
06-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
The Global Humanitarian Assistance (GHA) report is the world-leading annual assessment of the state of international humanitarian financing. Produced by Development Initiatives for 25 years and now by the ALNAP Network, the GHA report provides a critical body of evidence to inform the sector about its financial size, how its finances are distributed, and what key trends require our focus if we want to protect and improve the funding response to crisis. Global humanitarian assistance is defined as the total international financial resources available for humanitarian action and comprises public funding from government donors alongside private funding from sources such as philanthropy and individual giving. The GHA Report 2025 sets out the scale and nature of disruption affecting humanitarian funding, providing a critical tool for navigating an unprecedented moment of political and economic change. Humanitarian action faces a “crisis of legitimacy, morale and funding”. Escalating geopolitical tensions, economic stagnation and rising debt mean the humanitarian responsibilities that once received wide support are being abandoned, as many countries prioritise security and competition over multilateralism and shared norms. Meanwhile, low- and middle-income countries seek equitable partnerships, rejecting outdated paternalistic models of aid, and crises fuelled by conflict, climate emergencies and economic instability continue unabated. Against this backdrop, the humanitarian sector has entered a period of high turmoil, with calls for a humanitarian reset and related reforms to respond to this moment with a new vision and approach.
Topic:
Finance, Donors, Philanthropy, and Humanitarian Assistance
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2922. Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies into Common Operating Picture and Course of Action Development

Author:
C. Anthony Pfaff and Christopher John Hickey
Publication Date:
07-2025
Content Type:
Book
Institution:
The Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College
Abstract:
Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies into Common Operating Picture and Course of Action Development explores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to revolutionize military planning processes by enhancing situational awareness and expediting course of action development within the Joint planning process. The study delves into technical, organizational, and resource considerations that are critical for AI integration. In addition, the study highlights the importance of clean, structured data in training AI systems, addresses challenges in data collection across varying formats and classifications, and emphasizes the need for AI-friendly infrastructure. By automating processes like common operational picture generation and leveraging AI for course of action analysis, military planners can achieve greater efficiency and decision-making speed. Furthermore, this publication underscores the challenges of ethical implementation, resource sustainability, and organizational adaptation, including upskilling personnel and integrating commercial vendors. Case studies, such as the Maven Smart System and STORMBREAKER, demonstrate AI’s ability to enhance data fusion, improve battlefield awareness, and streamline operational planning. This research provides a robust framework for overcoming barriers to AI adoption, enabling the US military to harness AI technologies for enhanced planning, decision making, and operational success.
Topic:
Security, Defense Policy, Science and Technology, Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning
Political Geography:
Global Focus and United States of America

2923. More Than a Numbers Game: Comparing US and Chinese Landpower in the Pacific Requires Context

Author:
Brennan Deveraux and Joshua Arostegui
Publication Date:
07-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
China Maritime Studies Institute, U.S. Naval War College
Abstract:
This monograph establishes a contextual baseline that serves as the framework for future comparisons of the US Army and the People’s Liberation Army Army. It examines differences in five key components of land warfare: the two nations’ landpower definitions, uses of land forces to build relationships, underlying warfare concepts, associated modernization efforts, and varying approaches to simulating land warfare in the region. In examining these components, the authors identify warfare intangibles that highlight analytical findings in a way that promotes future research. The existing scholarship comparing the two forces is often limited in scope, focusing on funding or comparing capabilities such as the number of specific weapons systems. This monograph differs from existing scholarship by providing a broad, in-depth comparison of critical landpower components. The analysis challenges long-held assumptions about US Army superiority and sets a foundation for future research. The authors rely heavily on primary sources and ample secondary documents translated directly from Chinese vernacular sources. This study’s conclusions challenge conventional thinking surrounding the People’s Liberation Army and will assist US military and policy practitioners in assessing the relative strengths and advantages the US military can grow or exploit.
Topic:
Armed Forces, Modernization, Simulation, People's Liberation Army (PLA), and Warfare
Political Geography:
China, Asia, United States of America, and Indo-Pacific

2924. Weaponizing Risk: Recalibrating Western Deterrence

Author:
Antulio J. Echevarria II
Publication Date:
07-2025
Content Type:
Book
Institution:
The Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College
Abstract:
This monograph discusses how NATO might better leverage risk to strengthen the alliance’s extended deterrence. Such leverage would prove especially useful because Kyiv is unlikely to be permitted to join NATO and the United States may reduce its presence in Europe. Western analysts have not given Russian deterrence enough credit for the alliance’s deterrence failure on February 24, 2022. The alliance did not act fecklessly, nor did it self-deter. Rather, NATO’s deterrence measures were calibrated more for hybrid/gray-zone attacks of the sort it saw in 2014, not for the large-scale combat operations the alliance witnessed in 2022, which involved a nuclear-armed adversary with stronger interests in Ukraine than NATO had. To be sure, the alliance’s leaders acted responsibly in managing the risk of escalation. But in so doing, they also facilitated Russian deterrence efforts, which succeeded in keeping Washington and Brussels from intervening in the war. The alliance thus demonstrated its need for a strategy that would increase the risks and costs of war for Russia without unduly raising NATO’s. In short, the alliance needs a proxy strategy of “waging war without going to war,” whereby NATO can provide its full political, economic, and military support to Ukraine without running the risk of putting alliance troops in harm’s way.
Topic:
Security, Defense Policy, NATO, Risk, Deterrence, and Proxy War
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and United States of America

2925. Cognitive Defense: 2024 Homeland Defense Symposium

Author:
George M. Schwartz
Publication Date:
06-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College
Abstract:
The US Army War College hosted the inaugural annual Homeland Defense Symposium from February 6 to 8, 2024, at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. The conference, entitled “Reestablishing the Sanctuary,” featured plenary presentations on defending critical infrastructure, contested deployment, and cognitive defense by experts from military, academic, and government organizations. As highlighted in the conference theme, attendees recognized the homeland does not provide the sanctuary it once did, and our society is already under attack. Using disinformation and social media means, our adversaries are engaged in cognitive warfare in the homeland, seeking to shape the attitudes and behaviors of citizens by negatively influencing and disrupting their cognitive processes, thus weakening our society’s political will and degrading national resilience. Using contemporary examples to show how disinformation and malinformation undermine trust in government institutions, the authors of these conference papers provide insights and offer solutions for the cognitive defense of the homeland. These papers from the first Homeland Defense Symposium inform policymakers and practitioners on what to expect as we compete internationally and how to prepare for a possible large-scale conflict.
Topic:
Defense Policy, Homeland Security, Resilience, Cognitive Warfare, and Cognitive Defense
Political Geography:
North America and United States of America

2926. Academic Year 2025–26 Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment

Author:
US Army War College
Publication Date:
07-2025
Content Type:
Book
Institution:
The Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College
Abstract:
Maintaining strategic advantage demands professional discourse from across the force. The Academic Year 2025–26 Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment provides a framework for those aspiring to tackle the Department of Defense’s most pressing challenges. This year’s authors highlight trending challenges and identify potential tension points across 15 sections organized into four enduring themes. This survey of regional, domestic, and institutional challenges represents the collective expertise of the US Army War College. The narrative is supplemented by a tailored list of 100 command-sponsored questions from 43 different Army and Joint organizations from across the Department of Defense. Combined, the distinct yet complementary narrative and question list offer unique insights into the vital matters impacting defense organizations and provide aspiring researchers with a necessary starting point.
Topic:
NATO, Arms Control and Proliferation, Natural Resources, Budget, Deterrence, Artificial Intelligence, Xi Jinping, Strategic Competition, Defense Spending, People's Liberation Army (PLA), and Strategic Security
Political Geography:
Russia, China, Europe, Eurasia, Ukraine, Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Indo-Pacific

2927. Adapting the OECD criteria for the evaluation of humanitarian action

Author:
ALNAP
Publication Date:
09-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
This guide updates the ALNAP guide Evaluating humanitarian action using the OECD DAC criteria, first published in 2006 to help evaluation professionals better understand and apply evaluation criteria in humanitarian settings (ALNAP, 2006). While this edition retains the same seven evaluation criteria, we have updated, expanded and clarified the definitions to reflect changes in evaluation practice, shifts in the humanitarian system and feedback from evaluation practitioners. The updates also incorporate revisions made by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD DAC) in 2019 (OECD, 2019, 2021). This guide provides practical and accessible support on how to use and interpret the OECD evaluation criteria in EHA. It complements the OECD guidance on using evaluation criteria, in recognition of the multitude of ways of ‘doing’ evaluations. Primarily, it is intended for evaluators of humanitarian action and those involved in commissioning, designing and managing EHA. It is also a key resource for training courses on EHA. And it is a reference for humanitarian evaluation users, from practitioners to policy-makers.
Topic:
Development, OECD, and Humanitarian Assistance
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2928. Explain: Artificial intelligence in the humanitarian sector

Author:
Linda Raftree and Quito Tsui
Publication Date:
05-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
Hyped for its potential, generative AI promises faster analysis and better feedback in humanitarian response. But evidence of real impact is still thin. This Explain briefing explores what AI can - and can’t - do for the sector, unpacking risks like bias, privacy, and over-reliance, and outlines what humanitarians need to know before adopting it.
Topic:
Privacy, Artificial Intelligence, Bias, and Humanitarian Assistance
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2929. Decentralization, Assets and Privacy in the Twenty-First Digital Century

Author:
Andreas Veneris
Publication Date:
07-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Abstract:
This paper examines the evolving landscape of digital privacy, decentralization and digital assets in the twenty-first century. It explores the transformative impact of those technologies — driven by the exponential growth of semiconductors — in the past decades on the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and blockchain today. The analysis highlights how these advancements challenge traditional regulatory frameworks and reshape social, economic and governance structures both domestically and internationally. It emphasizes the rise of centralized digital oligarchies and the implications of decentralized finance and central bank digital currencies on financial stability, privacy and monetary sovereignty. The brief also provides a geopolitical perspective on privacy, security and digital assets by emphasizing the strategic role of cryptography. It concludes with policy recommendations for Canada and reflects on the need for a “Digital Bretton Woods” to ensure financial stability and social welfare in the digital age.
Topic:
Privacy, Decentralization, Assets, and Digital Technologies
Political Geography:
Canada, North America, and Global Focus

2930. AI and Language Data Flaring in Africa: Addressing the Low-Resource Challenge

Author:
Ife Adebara
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Abstract:
African languages are under-represented in artificial intelligence (AI) systems due to limited language data, excluding millions from digital participation in their native languages. Factors such as multilingual complexity, foreign-language-dominant policies, weak institutional backing and lack of digital infrastructure contribute to the low-resource classification of African languages. “Language data flaring” — paralleling gas flaring — captures the systemic neglect and poor management of African language data leading to data undercollection, poor storage and limited use in AI. Addressing the gap requires policies that integrate African languages into national digital agendas, support documentation, fund projects and foster inclusive, collaborative AI development. Community-led documentation, open-source tools and growing recognition of linguistic diversity in AI offer promising paths forward.
Topic:
Science and Technology, Language, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Collection
Political Geography:
Africa