Research

Our mission is to provide a research platform for researchers from various faculties of the University of Geneva and humanitarian organisations. The key objective is to encourage a critical assessment of humanitarian practice in order to improve humanitarian response. 

Our research is essentially multidisciplinary, reflecting the multifaceted nature of humanitarian action. Research activities continue to be developed in three main areas :

  • Multidisciplinary research programmes examining various aspects of the humanitarian enterprise
  • Research on particular humanitarian interventions with interested partners
  • Studies and analyses for humanitarian organisations responding to their specific needs

Our academic excellence is reflected by the numerous publications of original research by our staff and lecturers in leading peer-reviewed journals and volumes.

Ongoing Research Projects


The goal of this study is to identify, prioritise, and validate the most pressing research gaps within the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in humanitarian crises. 

The ESTIMATE project develops practical, reliable methods for estimating vaccination coverage in areas inaccessible due to insecurity or logistical challenges…

Fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS) face profound challenges in maintaining service delivery through resilient health systems. At the same time…

The Lancet Commission on Health, Conflict, and Forced Displacement was launched in late 2023 as a collaboration between the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health (CHH) and The Lancet.

In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the crucial role of community engagement in the successful delivery of public health interventions in humanitarian settings…

Systems thinking is a powerful approach and set of tools for improving health and well-being and strengthening health systems. However, the use of systems thinking…

Systems thinking is a powerful approach and set of tools for improving health and well-being and strengthening health systems. However, the use of systems thinking…

The Lancet Migration European Regional Hub, co-led by Lancet Migration and the Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, aims to make a positive impact on the lives of people who migrate…

The aim of this multi-institution and interdisciplinary research programme is to improve our understanding of the immediate, long-term, and wider impacts of attacks on healthcare on populations…