Aims and Objectives
The aim of IHSA is to strengthen and advance a global network of universities, specialised research centres, inter-governmental and non governmental organisations in order to enhance a better alignment between knowledge, policy and practice in resolving humanitarian crises.

To achieve this aim, IHSA shall support activities to:

1. secure and develop institutional and personal contacts between humanitarian scholars policymakers and practitioners throughout the world;
2. convene meetings and regularly scheduled world conferences;
3. encourage the international dissemination and exchange of information on developments in the humanitarian field;
4. facilitate and promote international research in the humanitarian field;
5. prepare and disseminate publications on topics relevant to work field of the IHSA.

Commitment
Humanitarian studies critically examines the ways in which humanitarian crises originate and evolve, how they affect people, institutions and societies, and the responses they trigger. This field is not simply about being an instrumental partner to humanitarian actors in addressing the policy and practice issues of today. Humanitarian studies is about critically engaging with forces and factors that create positive change in order to imagine and achieve a different future for the world.

In 2016, at the World Humanitarian Summit in Instanbul, IHSA together with the attending scholars drafted the Commitments from the Humanitarian Scholars (also available in Spanish).

Conference 
A major IHSA activity is facilitating the International Conference of Humanitarian Studies every two years. More information about the latest conference can be found on the conference website.

Vision
More information about our goals and objectives can be found in our Vision Paper which was drafted in May 2017.