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
HDPI - MAKING A DIFFERENCE
ANALYZING - INNOVATING - SERVING
HDPI MISSION AND GOALS
HDPI AT A GLANCE
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.
- 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.
Established in 2016 as a US registered not-for-profit organization 501c(3) EIN: 81-5014976
Global Alert
Did you know?
Bombs were falling. Gunfire was everywhere. Then, as the American money dried up, hundreds of soup kitchens closed in a matter of days.
Like many other children Abdo starved to death in the weeks after foreign assistance was frozen. Soup kitchens in Sudan, including the one near Abdo’s house, had been the only lifelines for tens of thousands of people besieged by fighting.
Communal kitchens, run by neighbourhood-based mutual aid groups, called emergency response rooms, were assisting hundreds of thousands of people in Sudan’s embattled capital, Khartoum, providing regular meals as well as social and emotional support amid a deepening famine.
The stark consequences of the slashing of U.S. aid are evident in few places as clearly as in Sudan, where a brutal civil war has set off a staggering humanitarian catastrophe and left 25 million people — more than half of the country’s population — acutely hungry.
Drawn from articles by Rawh Nasir and Declan Walsh
Declan visited five soup kitchens across Khartoum to document the effects of American aid cuts.
The New Humanitarian, April, 2025
Affiliates
What is the result of bringing together a network of persons with a lifetime of experience?
A multidisciplinary caldron of thought, action and mutual support, building on a wide range of specializations in the humanitarian field.
Present Iniatives by HDPI Affiliates
- Working Group on Child Protection
- Working Group on Ethical Decision Making
- Working Group on Changing Mindsets
- Emergency Preparedness
- Seminar on Trauma in Migration
- Climate STARR
- Tailored Fundraising
- Global Alerts
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/
Toward a Values-Based Foreign Policy: Developing an Ethical Checklist - by Ambassador Peter Mulrean (ret.) and William J. Hawk
January 4, 2023 - Just Security
Additional information can be found on the Publications page
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
May 14-16 2025
Registration is open now
APPLICATION:
https://app.registrationguru.net/#!/portal?eventId=d8cfdae7-8fd9-4a88-aac4-4384cbd12999
How do we live in unprecedented times? Who do we choose to be?
Join an exploration lab/roundtable and training May 14-16 at Eastern Mennonite University.
- 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.
No easy answers. No spiritual bypass. No toxic hope or despair.
Name-your-own-fee pricing: $99 (students or low income); $149, $199, or $249 (your choice); $499 + $25 (Professional education + 18 CEUs).
Bring YOUR voice to this interactive gathering! Register by May 1 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
CALL FOR ACTION
"Where are the voices of the children?" Cornelius Williams
Working group on child protection
"Why not give the job to someone who sits in a wheelchair?" Nils Kastberg
Working group on Changing Mindsets for persons who live with mental conditions and syndroms
"What is it like to live with the trauma of migration?" Saulo Padilla
Working group on the awareness of trauma in migration
Exploring the 8 key questions for ethical reasoning William Hawk
Working group on ethical reasoning
Working group on child protection
Affiliates
Martin Barber
Specializes in maintaining peace and security and protecting civilians in conflict
Read More »
Krishna Belbase
Specializes in results based monitoring and evaluation. Also, food and nutrition, security, and social protection.
Read More »
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 States Peace
Corps, Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEE). and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Globa
Partnership for Education.
Mark Connolly
In the past decade, he has focussed on applying public health principles to reduce homicide and violence among young people, reducing risks, and increasing protection for children in migrations. For the past four years, he has amassed extensive experience in emergency preparedness and humanitarian response.
Read More »
Marie de la Soudière
Specializes in family tracing and reunification, psycho-social reintegration of boys and girls formerly associated with armed forces and groups.
Read More »
Diego Otegui Ph.D.
Specializes in the design and implementation of emergency management and humanitarian educational programs.
Read More »
Stephen Hanmer D’Elía
Specializes in child protection, forced migration, mental health & psychosocial support.
Read More »
William J. Hawk
Specializes in practical ethics featuring an evidence-based ethical reasoning strategy
Read More »
Robert Jenkins
Robert Jenkins, Chief, Education and Associate
Director, Programme Division, UNICEF
Headquarters. He brings over 20 years of experience in
international development and humanitarian
programming in Africa, Asia and the Middle
East.
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 focus on Child Rights and Child Development, Results-based Management, Social Policy, Adolescent Participation and Development.
Read More »
Nils-Arne Kastberg
Specializes in advocacy for persons living with mental conditions and syndromes with a focus on human rights and humanitarian action.
Read More »
Leo Kenny
Thirty years of international development experience with UNAIDS, UNICEF, international development agencies and NGOs, including in countries with large humanitarian responses.
Read More »
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 leadership skills and strategic management experience combined with a deep understanding of UNICEF’s work in both emergency and development contexts. Her foundation expertise is in child protection.
Read More »
Alejandro Linayo
He is a Systems Engineer, with MSc Organizational Studies, PhD in Education/Social Sciences and also Doctoral Studies (PhD-C) in Human Sciences.
Read More »
Daniel Maxwell
Daniel Maxwell is the Henry J. Leir Professor in Food Security at the Friedman School of Nutrition, and Research Director at the Feinstein International Center at Tufts University.
Read More »
Thomas Mueller
Specializes in child rights advocacy and campaigning, child protection and technology
Read More »
Peter Mulrean
Peter Mulrean spent much of his diplomatic career working to make foreign policy and foreign assistance mutually reinforcing.
Read More »
David L. Myers
David L. Myers has more than 40 years of leadership experience within faith-based, humanitarian, government, and philanthropic organizations.
Read More »
Roger Pearson
Roger holds a master’s degree on Medical Demography from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of London.
Read More »
Angela Raven Roberts
Specializes in reunification of unaccompanied children, gender based violence, creation of safe spaces.
Read More »
Everett Ressler
HDPi Executive Director, specializes in child protection and care and protection of unaccompanied children.
Read More »
Carlo Scaramella
Carlo Scaramella is an international expert specializing in hunger and food security, climate change, peacebuilding, and humanitarian and development issues.
Read More »
Frederick Spielberg
Fred Spielberg has over 30 years of experience in disaster and conflict settings, working with UN agencies, NGOs and philanthropic foundations
Read More »
AR. Subbiah
Mr. Subbiah has operational responsibility for Regional integrated Multi-hazard Early warning System( RIMES ) for Africa and Asia Pacific region.
Read More »
Carolyn Williams
Carolyn works internationally as a consultant focused on peacebuilding, social
justice, political and humanitarian affairs, partnerships and resource mobilization.
Cornelius Williams
Cornelius Williams is a highly respected expert with over 35 years of experience in global child protection programming and child rights advocacy.
Read More »
John Williamson
Specializes in technical support for programming and policy to strengthen family care for children, preventing separation promoting family reunification.
Read More »
Carolyn E. Yoder
Specializing in addressing trauma to interrupt cycles of violence, and eco angst.
Read More »“Lessons from Jimmy Carter’s Success”
Presentation by James Brasher, Carter Center strategist and HDPI Affiliate
Make a difference - join us
- Translate climate angst into courageous commitment!
- Address trauma and resilience needs in the migration/resettlement experience.
- Change mindsets to improve the rights and well-being of people living with mental syndromes and conditions.
- Enhance child protection and transitional processes in conflict situations
- Introduce an ethics-based framework for decision-making
Contact us
HDPI Address: 1394 Two Penny Drive
Rockingham, VA 22802 USA
hdpi@hdpi.org
HDPI is a not-for-profit 501c3
EIN: 81-5014976
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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
