AVPN Global Conference 2026 Advocates for Stronger Collaborative Philanthropy in Asia
The AVPN Global Conference 2026 brought over 2,000 social investors, philanthropists and policymakers to Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 25–27 August, under the theme “A Blueprint for Action in Asia.” Across three days and 100+ sessions on leadership, philanthropy and impact investing, the conference pushed one thread: moving capital and collaboration from ambition to concrete, scalable action across the region.
Within that agenda, A-PAD joined a focused conversation on how the humanitarian sector must evolve to meet increasingly frequent and interconnected crises. Firzan Hashim, Chief Operating Officer of A-PAD International and Country Director of A-PAD SL, spoke on the panel “Coordinating in Crisis: Disaster Response in a Complex World,” held on the Asia Blueprint Stage on 26 August, alongside Brett Savill of the Institute for Economics and Peace, Laila Abdullatif of Emirates Nature WWF, and Nena Stoiljkovic of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The discussion centred on a shift the sector urgently needs: moving from disaster response as a series of isolated events to resilience as a continuous cycle. Mr. Hashim pointed to A-PAD’s own model as proof of concept − partnerships and search-and-rescue training built in peacetime with National Fire Agency in Taiwan, R.O.C were put to direct use when Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka last November. Furthermore, when it came to relief interventions, local networks led the response while international partners such as Airlink helped move water filters in from the UK, US, and Singapore, showing how locally led action and international support can work in tandem.
A-PAD X AVPN: The Disaster Management Initiative
A-PAD is also glad to announce the launch of the Disaster Management Initiative at the AVPN Global Conference 2026, a collaboration with AVPN’s ImpactCollab platform. The initiative tackles three recurring blockers in disaster giving: no visibility into ground-level needs, no trusted local partners to fund, and donors wanting more than a one-off gift.
It pairs ImpactCollab’s 700+ philanthropic and corporate members with A-PAD’s on-the-ground coordination and network of over 1,300 partner institutions across six countries. Funders can support a live response, establish a branded fund, or contribute specialised expertise in logistics, technology, or insurance.
A-PAD serves as the Field Coordinator: screening local implementers, establishing on-ground credibility, and providing donors with full transparency, reporting, and advisory support. For AVPN’s membership, the initiative pairs verified local trust and reach with the infrastructure to deploy capital quickly and transparently into disaster risk reduction, turning philanthropic intent into measurable resilience across Asia-Pacific.
Learn more about A-PAD X AVPN initiative: https://www.impactcollab.io/disaster-management
