HDPI, Inc. - humanitarian development partnerships
A global network of experienced persons championing efforts
to meet today's humanitarian challenges.
Threat to life and human suffering is multiplying in the uncertain political climates around the world. This is the time to increase engagement.
CARE - ENGAGE - EMPOWER - ACT - ANALYZING - INNOVATING - SERVING
HDPI AT A GLANCE
- A network of about 50 affiliates currently
with experience from UN agencies, foundations, academia, media and NGOs. - Guided by values reflected in the humanitarian principles, and international law with concern for the common good and basic rights of all.
- No political or sectarian affiliation
- We are funded by private contributions, grants and overheads from services.
HDPI MISSION AND GOALS
HDPI’s goals are to enhance efforts to meet humanitarian needs and address critical issues at the international, national and local levels
HDPI works to achieve this goal by supporting the efforts of affiliates in their many humanitarian endeavors, by supporting collaborative efforts to innovate problem-solving actions, and to provide specialized services such as training, consulting, evaluations and studies.
We are a global network of persons experienced in the humanitarian field.
Affiliates
What is the result of bringing together a network of persons each with a lifetime of experience in humanitarian work?
It creates a multidisciplinary caldron of thought, action and mutual support, which builds on a wide range of specializations in the humanitarian field.
David Bassiouni
Dr David S. Bassiouni, Chairman and CEO of the New York-based Global Development Firm, The Bassiouni Group, since 2010, was former…
Daniel Beers
Dr. Daniel Beers is an Associate Professor of Justice Studies at James Madison University. His research and teaching focus on migr…
Krishna Belbase
Specializes in results based monitoring and evaluation. Also, food and nutrition, security, and social protection.
Carol Bellamy
Ms Bellamy was previously a member of the New York State Senate, President of the New York City Council, Director of the United St…
Mark Bowden
His areas of expertise include humanitarian policy, humanitarian diplomacy and
negotiations, aid coordination, protection of civi…
Mark Connolly
In the past decade, he has focussed on applying public health principles to reduce homicide and violence among young people, reduc…
Marie de la Soudière
Specializes in family tracing and reunification, psycho-social reintegration of boys and girls formerly associated with armed forc…
Diego Otegui Ph.D.
Specializes in the design and implementation of emergency management and humanitarian educational programs.
Moira Fratta
Senior advisor in emergency preparedness and response, with extensive experience shaping strategies and strengthening systems acro…
Bruce Grant
Bruce Grant is an international child protection adviser and consultant with over 30 years of experience in systems strengthening,…
Stephen Hanmer D’Elía
Specializes in child protection, forced migration, mental health & psychosocial support.
William J. Hawk
Specializes in practical ethics featuring an evidence-based ethical reasoning strategy
Robert Jenkins
Robert Jenkins, Chief, Education and Associate
Director, Programme Division, UNICEF
Headquarters. He brings over 20 years of exp…
Mukesh Kapila, CBE
Mukesh Kapila, CBE is Professor Emeritus of Global Health and Humanitarian Affairs,
University of Manchester; and Senior Adviser…
Victor P. Karunan, Ph.D.
Victor has over 35 years of professional experience in over 40 countries in both the Global North and Global South, with special f…
Nils-Arne Kastberg
Specializes in advocacy for persons living with mental conditions and syndromes with a focus on human rights and humanitarian acti…
Leo Kenny
Thirty years of international development experience with UNAIDS, UNICEF, international development agencies and NGOs, including…
Adele Khodr
Ms. Adele has been working with UNICEF since 1990. With close to 30 years of service in UNICEF, Adele brings strong and dynamic le…
Iain Levin
Iain Levine has more than 40 years experience in human rights and humanitarian work across the UN, NGOs and the…
Alejandro Linayo
He is a Systems Engineer, with MSc Organizational Studies, PhD in Education/Social Sciences and also Doctoral Studies (PhD-C) in H…
Daniel Maxwell
Daniel Maxwell is the Henry J. Leir Professor in Food Security at the Friedman School of Nutrition, and Research Director at the F…
Peter McDermott
An internationally recognized expert in Global Health and Child Protection, Care and Development. With over 30 years of experience…
Sonica Minhas
Sonica is a medical doctor and currently a researcher at the University of Oxford. Her research interests lie in child protection…
Thomas Mueller
Specializes in child rights advocacy and campaigning, child protection and technology
Peter Mulrean
Peter Mulrean spent much of his diplomatic career working to make foreign policy and foreign assistance mutually reinforcing.
David L. Myers
David L. Myers has more than 40 years of leadership experience within faith-based, humanitarian, government, and philanthropic org…
Roger Pearson
Roger holds a master’s degree on Medical Demography from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Bachelor of Scie…
Jean Luc Poncelet
Jean-Luc Poncelet, a physician and specialist in public health and disaster management, has 35 years of experience in building nat…
Angela Raven Roberts
Specializes in reunification of unaccompanied children, gender based violence, creation of safe spaces.
Everett Ressler
HDPi Executive Director, specializes in child protection and care and protection of unaccompanied children.
Carlo Scaramella
Carlo Scaramella is an international expert specializing in hunger and food security, climate change, peacebuilding, and humanitar…
Antony Spalton
38 years of senior level experience in the management of humanitarian and development work – policy and practice.
Frederick Spielberg
Fred Spielberg has over 30 years of experience in disaster and conflict settings, working with UN agencies, NGOs and philanthropic…
AR. Subbiah
Mr. Subbiah has operational responsibility for Regional integrated Multi-hazard Early warning System( RIMES ) for Africa and Asia…
Carolyn Williams
Carolyn works internationally as a consultant focused on peacebuilding, social
justice, political and humanitarian affairs, partn…
Cornelius Williams
Cornelius Williams is a highly respected expert with over 35 years of experience in global child protection programming and child…
Timothy Williams
Timothy P. Williams, MSW, MSc, PhD
Specializes in child rights, protection, and education
John Williamson
Specializes in technical support for programming and policy to strengthen family care for children, preventing separation promotin…
Dialogues with global thought leaders
HDPI FORUM - Addressing Critical Issues
List of speakers and issues
- 2026
- 2025
Current Humanitarian Iniatives
CHILD PROTECTION AND CARE
HDPI Child Protection and Care Reference Group
(CPRG)
SPECIAL INITIATIVE
Reimagining a better future for children
The Reimagining Initiative aims to drive dialogue and action that advances the transformation of child protection and care systems, strengthening public responsibility, institutional coherence, and community engagement to better protect children and support families, particularly in contexts of fiscal constraint, system stress, and humanitarian crisis.
PREPAREDNESS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE
(PWG)
Preparedness
The Preparedness Working Group (PWG) is an initiative born in 2025 from the common interest of its members, recognizing that preparedness is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce disaster losses, especially if paired with other risk-informed initiatives. It is designed to explore the different aspects of preparedness in the current global context.
ETHICAL REASONING
Ethical Reasoning
The Ethical Considerations Team offers a special type of technical support - introducing a strategy for using ethical considerations to improve decision-making.
BEING HUMAN
Being Human
Raising public awareness of our common humanity. We identify situations around the world where people are facing acute threats to life, well-being and the efforts being made to address them.
HDPI SUPPORT IN EMERGENCIES
Emergency Response
Linking HDPI and Affiliates to crisis needs in development
Child Protection and Care
Special Initiative
HDPI Child Protection and Care Reference Group
(CPRG)
Reimagining a better future for children
The Reimagining Initiative aims to drive dialogue and action that advances the transformation of child protection and care systems, strengthening public responsibility, institutional coherence, and community engagement to better protect children and support families, particularly in contexts of fiscal constraint, system stress, and humanitarian crisis.
RECENT ARTICLES
“Gaza – How on earth did that happen?”, by Martin Barber - United Against Inhumanity, 2025
https://www.against-inhumanity.org/2025/03/20/gaza-how-on-earth-did-that-happen-by-martin-barber/
“Syria after Assad: How should the UN and its member states respond?” by Martin Barber - United Against Inhumanity, 2025
https://www.against-inhumanity.org/2025/03/17/syria-after-assad-how-should-the-un-and-its-member-states-respond-by-martin-barber
E-course
CHANGING MINDSETS
A couse which provides a sensitive understanding of living and working with persons who have mental conditions and syndroms. From stuttering to Crebral Palsey, presenter Nils Kastberg creates an awareness and respect for these issues. The course has 8 video lectures with supporting resources and quizes.
Photo is of Malaki, a Special Olympics winner.
The course is online and is offered in English, Spanish, and Swahili. Registration is open and attendance is on an individual basis.
to register: phyllis@hdpi.org
WORKSHOP
Climate STARR Training and Resources Workshop
Supported by HDPI
How do we live in unprecedented times?
Who do we choose to be?
Join an exploration lab/roundtable and training
- A space for connection, grief, fears, questions,
- contemplation, dreams, and awe.
- Principles and practices to help others and lead amidst climate and other crises we face.
- Deepen your capacity for courageous living and meaningful service in a world on fire.
- Nourishment for mind, body, heart, and spirit.
www.climatestarr.org Questions? Contact Carolyn Yoder carolyn.yoder@gmail.com
SEMINAR
Tailored fundraising
for sucessful institution building
Presenters - Carolyn Williams, James Brasher
For information contact: phyllis@hdpi.org
HDPI Supported Consultancies
Release and reintegration of children abducted by Boko Haram
Saudamini Siegrist
UNICEF Consultant
RECENT Consultancies
- UKRAINE EMERGENCY - Supporting Lumos Foundation efforts to mobilize global actions on child care reform
- Collaboration with Special Olympics to provide training in refugee situations for persons living with and working with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- UNICEF NIGERIA - Supporting national efforts to reintegrate women and children previously taken in the Boko Haram conflict
- UNICEF Soloman Islands - Evaluating the national preschool education program.
Examples of Past Consultancies
- UNICEF Eritrea - National water policy
- Child Fund – Child accountability
- UNICEF Sri Lanka – Restorative justice
- UNICEF East Asia/Butan – report writing
- UNHCR Guinea Bissau – Statelessness
- UNICEF Mozambique – Child protection
- UNICEF USA – Psychosocial/COVID
- UNICEF MENARO - Preparedness
Examples of Past Consultancies
- UNICEF Eritrea - National water policy
- Child Fund – Child accountability
- UNICEF Sri Lanka – Restorative justice
- UNICEF East Asia/Butan – report writing
- UNHCR Guinea Bissau – Statelessness
- UNICEF Mozambique – Child protection
- UNICEF USA – Psychosocial/COVID
- UNICEF MENARO - Preparedness
Make a difference - join us
HDPI Address: 1394 Two Penny Drive
Rockingham, VA 22802 USA
HDPI is a not-for-profit 501c3
EIN: 81-5014976
Operational Staff
- Everett Ressler, Executive Director
-
Jooyeon Kim, Director of Finance
-
Kevin Yoder, CPA
Board of Directors
- Vernon Jantzi
- Nils Kastberg
- Carolyn Williams
- Everett Ressler
- Peter Otieno
- Carlo Scaramella
HDPI Collaborations
