Megatrends and the future of humanitarian action

This article assesses the implications of six megatrends for humanitarian action in the
future, including changes in demography, technology and science, economics, political
power, climate, and patterns of conflict. The interaction of these trends suggests a
particularly complex landscape for future humanitarian response. For example,
conflict in the future is more likely to take place in cities that are growing as a result of
economic and environmental factors. Social media are contributing to both political
change and humanitarian response, while changes in global political and economic
power are likely to influence the way in which the international humanitarian system
is financed and supported.