Opinion: The humanitarian sector needs a tech revolution, not a bailout

The USAID funding freeze is devastating. But beyond the immediate crisis, it exposes deeper flaws in the humanitarian sector — flaws we can no longer ignore. The question is: Will we let this crisis break the system, or will we rebuild it into something more resilient and sustainable?

For years, the sector has debated the need for transparency, efficiency, and localization. Yet, despite reports, summits, and calls to action, real change has been elusive. Consistent funding allowed organizations to function without critically rethinking their models, often settling for small-scale pilots with little chance of widespread adoption. With that safety net gone, there's an opportunity to turn pilots into the new standard.

Some organizations will scale down, some will close. But others — out of necessity — will reimagine humanitarian work, with technology at the center of this transformation.