The humanitarian sector is at a crossroads. Dramatic cuts in foreign aid funding pose an existential threat to a system already struggling to keep up with ever-expanding emergencies, increasingly driven by the global climate crisis. Today, humanitarian practitioners face a stark choice between constriction and reinvention—one, already familiar, road leads toward doing less with less; the other, to a destination not yet fully known.

Response Innovation Lab has been taking the road less traveled for the past ten years and invites you to join us in Istanbul—a true city of crossroads—for RILx25, as we continue our journey of exploration and uncover more hidden powers of local innovation ecosystems. Together, we can chart a course toward a future where resilience is not just a response, but a strategy—where innovation is not the exception, but the norm.

RILx25 will explore the dual themes of:

  • Humanitarian Systems Transformation: how will localization and innovation change response programming and coordination for the better?

  • Climate Adaptation in Fragile Settings: how do we combine advanced technology, frugal solutions and innovative financing to create meaningful impact for vulnerable populations and ecosystems?

RILx is the Response Innovation Lab network’s annual gathering and one of the few global events dedicated to exploring local humanitarian innovation systems and ecosystem-building through guided conversations.

This year, RILx will take a highly interactive approach, curating a gathering focused on the intersection of innovation and ecosystem building. We will bring together humanitarian agencies, community innovators, public institutions, business leaders, impact donors, philanthropists, and investors to exchange insights on how we work, who we work with, and how we scale what works—for a more resilient future for all. We also aim to amplify voices from communities and highlight the demands emerging from the field. By the end of RILx25, we seek to translate today’s foresight into the actions of now and tomorrow, calling for concrete efforts and commitments from every actor involved.