Groupe URD - Groupe Urgence Réhabilitation Développement

Groupe URD, a think tank for humanitarian action

Founded in 1993, Groupe URD is an independent think tank that specialises in analysing practices and developing policies for the humanitarian sector. Our multi-disciplinary expertise, based on continual field visits to crisis and post-crisis contexts, provides us with insight into the functioning of the sector as a whole. We believe in sharing knowledge and collective learning, and we help aid actors to improve the quality of their programmes.

In crisis and post-crisis contexts

Our staff travel all over the world to conduct evaluations and studies, and to run training courses. Geographic Observatories are sometimes set up to analyse certain contexts in more detail.

Complementary activities

We work with a wide variety of organisations: operational NGOs, United Nations agencies, Red Cross Movement bodies, state institutions, donors, researchers, think tanks and training structures.

Our activities feed into each other and stimulate collective learning in the humanitarian sector:

STRATEGIC SUPPORT – Providing insight

We provide organisations with support in terms of strategic reflection and planning, policy development, and we provide advice and expertise on major crisis management issues. This usually involves a participatory process with management and operational staff, in the field and at headquarters, in order to understand the issues at stake. Field visits are carried out in sensitive contexts, often in connection with current affairs.

STUDIES AND RESEARCH – Knowledge for action

We conduct thematic and cross-cutting studies as well as operational research. These aim to improve understanding of the issues that professionals face in the sector, notably the dynamics of crisis and post-crisis contexts, in order to help decision-making and allow practices to be adapted.

EVALUATION – Evolving through evaluation

We conduct different kinds of evaluations (real-time evaluations, end of project analysis, etc.) which can be about specific programmes, themes or geographical areas. An evaluation is an opportunity to take stock of what has worked and what has not worked, and why.

TOOLS AND METHODS – Transforming practices

We contribute to the development of tools and methods (Quality assurance, tools for measuring resilience, risk management, etc.). Some we develop on our own initiative and then make available to the public; others we produce following specific requests (for example, the production of tools/guides with the possibility of accompanying teams via workshops, training, etc.).

ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT – Accompanying change

We provide ad hoc organisational support when an organisation or a specific department wants to improve how it functions. This is often a general process involving both the headquarters and the field teams. This can lead, for example, to the establishment of a quality approach, with support for its implementation via training, workshops, etc.

TRAINING -    Investing in the future

Training is one of the pillars of Groupe URD’s learning cycle and, as such, our thematic reference points provide training in connection with their other activities. Indeed, evaluations and organisational support projects can include a training component as these different activities are seen as being intimately linked. Our training courses are aimed at professionals from the aid sector and can take different forms depending on needs and expectations.