The sharing of experiences and ideas is the cornerstone of the learning process between humanitarian actors. To this end, Groupe URD organises and takes part in a great number of debates and other events.

The Autumn School on Humanitarian Aid

Each year, to give actors from the humanitarian and development sectors an opportunity to share their experiences and ideas, Groupe URD organises ‘The Autumn School on Humanitarian Aid’ at its headquarters. This event brings together actors of different kinds (NGOs, UN agencies, donor agencies, institutions, etc. ) to discuss fundamental and current issues affecting the aid sector. The minutes of these events are then made available to participants and other humanitarian actors.

Too often, one-day international conferences do not allow complex issues to be dealt with in any depth. Groupe URD therefore organises an annual conference, the Autumn School on Humanitarian Aid, which lasts two and a half days. On the first day, there is an initial exploration of the theme via a series of presentations. On the second day, participants take part in workshops to analyse different aspects of the theme. And the final morning is generally an opportunity to look ahead and make proposals for the future. The event is organised in such a way as to facilitate the active participation of all those present, thus encouraging debate and reflection.

This event takes place every year in the second half of September. The provisional programme, a presentation of the theme and registration forms can be found online roughly two months before.

- 2009: Mainstreaming the environment in humanitarian action - taking up the challenge
- 2008: European Consensus on humanitarian aid: putting principles into practice
- 2007: Security and protection: mission impossible?
- 2006: Humanitarian space in danger
- 2005: Accreditation: a threat or an opportunity for humanitarian agencies?
- 2004: Linking relief and development – what's new ?
- 2003: Humanitarian aid after 9/11

Conferences co-organised by Groupe URD

For five years, Groupe URD has organised a conference in May in collaboration with the "Gestion de l’Humanitaire" Masters at the Paris XII university
- 2007 : "Etats, ONG, Solidarités : jeux de pouvoir et jeux d’argent"
- 2006 : "La planète dans tous ses états : du phénomène naturel à la catastrophe humanitaire"
- 2005 : "L’eau qui tue, l’eau qui sauve : premiers bilans de l’aide post-Tsunami"
- 2004 : "Haïti : autopsie d’une gestion de crise"
- 2003 : "10 ans d’humanitaire européen : bilan, enjeux et perspectives"


In order to meet actors, to contribute to debates, to communicate its findings and to stay informed, Groupe URD regularly participates in conferences and seminars in France and abroad. The association has taken part in every ALNAP conference since 1999 and was honoured to host its biannual meeting in Spring 2007, which marked the network’s tenth anniversary.