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OPLG International Celebrates One Year and Announces New Partnership

Geneva, Switzerland, 17 April 2026

The first two weeks of April have marked a transformative period for OPLG International, characterized by institutional growth and the formalization of new operational synergies.

The First General Assembly

On 9 April, OPLG International conducted its inaugural General Assembly, marking one year since our founding. The assembly brought together our 20 members to review a year of growth. Key outcomes included:

Presentation and approval of the annual report and financial statements.
Adoption of the upcoming year’s strategic program and budget.
The formal confirmation of the OPLG Board Members.

Strengthening the HDP Nexus: Partnership with GRI

Following the momentum of the General Assembly, OPLG International is proud to announce the signing of a partnership agreement on 13 April with Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI).

GRI is a humanitarian organization renowned for its grassroots expertise in Uganda. Their work is instrumental in providing access to justice, education, health services, and economic empowerment to displaced populations and host communities.

A Strategic Union

This partnership recognizes the profound mutual benefit of connecting OPLG’s global knowledge platform with GRI’s robust field presence. By aligning our resources, we aim to bridge the gap between policy and practice, ultimately strengthening the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus in the regions that need it most.

Photo: OPLG International Founder and President, Masayo Kondo Rosier, signs the NGO's first partnership agreement with Global Refugee Initiatives, Founder and Board Member Mary Akugizibwe, in the presence of OPLG International Board Member Joëlle Cervantes.

Advancing the Humanitarian–Development–Peace Collaboration at HNPW 2026

Geneva, Switzerland, 5 March 2026

OPLG International convenes global experts to discuss security, humanitarian access, and protection engagement in complex operational environments.

During the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW) 2026, OPLG International hosted a remote session on Security, Humanitarian Access, and Protection Engagement, bringing together practitioners from across the humanitarian, development, and peace communities.

The discussion featured six guest speakers who shared perspectives from diverse operational contexts, including Botswana, South Africa, Somalia, Panama, Ukraine, and the wider Southern and Eastern Africa region. Representing national disaster management authorities, NGOs, African Union and UN organizations, speakers reflected on the realities of working in complex and rapidly evolving environments.

The conversation focused on the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, highlighting why stronger collaboration across sectors is essential at both national and regional levels. Participants emphasized the need for better operational coordination, long-term partnerships with national and regional actors, and shared situational awareness to support more coherent responses.

The session also served as an opportunity for OPLG International to introduce Pathways for Response and Integrated Skills Management (PRISM), a new knowledge architecture and learning design system. Participants were also invited to learn more about the upcoming Security, Humanitarian Access and Protection Engagement (SHAPE) training course, scheduled to take place later this month.

OPLG supports OCHA's Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa

Gaborone, Botswana, 14 to 19 December 2025

Thanks to the generosity of donors, OPLG could support another training course of the OCHA Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The week-long course, held from 14 to 19 December 2025, brought together the most senior civil-military group ever working in complex humanitarian, peace and security, and development settings. The event was hosted and fully sponsored by the Botswana Defence Forces, underscoring their commitment to strengthening humanitarian coordination and civil-military cooperation.

The OPLG expert worked with the management team on improving access negotiations, strengthening civil-military engagement, and enhancing integrated planning and coordination, contributing to more effective and principled humanitarian action in complex environment.

OPLG supports OCHA Civil-Military Coordination Course

Reichenau an der Rax, Austria, October 2025

At the invitation of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Civil-Military Coordination Service, an OPLG team is contributing to the learning journey of 21 experts representing 19 nationalities.

The week-long course, held from 12 to 17 October 2025, brings together professionals engaged in complex humanitarian, peace & security, and development environments. The event is hosted by the Austrian Ministry of Defense and co-sponsored by the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, demonstrating Austria’s continued commitment to strengthening international humanitarian coordination and response capacities.

The OPLG team is providing expert input aligned with the course objectives, focusing on:

Promoting and upholding humanitarian principles;
Advancing good practices in humanitarian access negotiations;
Strengthening civil-military engagement; and
Enhancing integrated planning and coordination across sectors.

Through this collaboration, OPLG contributes to a shared goal of fostering effective, principled, and coordinated humanitarian action in complex operational contexts.

Shaping the Future of Collaborative Learning: Where Humanitarian, Development, Peace & Security Meet

Reichenau an der Rax, Austria, October 2025

In the creative margins of the UN-CMCoord Course, members of the Operational Planning & Logistics Group (OPLG) are co-designing a bold new learning experience — one that brings together the worlds of humanitarian action, development, peace & security.

Planned for launch in the first quarter of 2026, this innovative initiative will be learner-centered, experiential, and digitally connected — designed by practitioners, for practitioners. It will draw on the real-world expertise of a diverse community: government actors, UN agencies, NGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, donors, and military personnel — all working in complex humanitarian, develpment and peace settings.

Using visualization, reflection, and cross-sector collaboration, the experience will blend cutting-edge methodology to foster shared learning and practical solutions.

More than a course, this is a living ecosystem of learning, powered by the OPLG network — where knowledge is co-created, perspectives converge, and a new generation of humanitarian practitioners is inspired to learn, connect, and lead.

Greetings from Reichenau an der Rax!

Reichenau an der Rax, April 2025

OPLG International plays a crucial role in supporting the United Nations' efforts to strengthen civil-military coordination (CMCoord) through targeted training initiatives. By contributing their expertise in capability development, three members of OPLG International enhanced the advanced delivery of the humanitarian training programme. Their voluntary involvement ensures that participants understand how to plan, manage effectively, and support operations in complex humanitarian contexts where humanitarian, development, and peace and security (HDP) actors must work together. OPLG's input is especially valuable in scenario-based group work, where discussions focus on enhancing coordination skills in high-pressure environments.

OPLG members promoted the core values of the organization: solidarity, empathy, respect, vision, and excellence.

Behind the scenes: branding talks with the originals.

Geneva, 17 April 2025

OPLG International, an international non-profit association established under Swiss law, brings together a diverse group of founders united by a shared vision of global solidarity and resilience.

In their early discussions on branding, the founders emphasized the organization’s core values—solidarity, empathy, respect, vision and excellence—as guiding principles.

Their collective efforts laid the foundation for a brand identity that reflects OPLG’s mission: to improve lives, strengthen preparedness and response, and build lasting solutions in the face of urgent global challenges.

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