Chatham House Prize 2025: A humanitarian lifeline in Sudan

Chatham House | 2026-03-19 | africa

ThinkTankWeekly provides a curated entry and summary only. Full text and PDF remain on the publisher's website.

English Summary

The 2025 Chatham House Prize has been awarded to Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) for their vital humanitarian work during the country's ongoing civil war between the SAF and RSF. Operating in areas often inaccessible to international organizations, these grassroots networks provide essential food, water, and medical supplies while maintaining critical infrastructure under significant risk. This recognition underscores the indispensable role of localized, impartial mutual aid groups in addressing one of the world's largest displacement and humanitarian crises.

中文摘要

2025年查塔姆研究所獎（Chatham House Prize）已頒予蘇丹的「緊急應對小組」（Emergency Response Rooms, ERRs），以表彰其在該國蘇丹武裝部隊（SAF）與快速支援部隊（RSF）內戰期間所做出的關鍵人道主義貢獻。這些草根網絡在國際組織往往難以進入的地區運作，在面臨重大風險的情況下提供必要的糧食、飲水及醫療物資，並維持關鍵基礎設施。此項殊榮凸顯了在地化且公正的互助團體在應對全球最嚴重的流離失所與人道危機之一時，發揮了不可或缺的作用。

Related Entries

1.

Wildfires and extreme heat show climate change is now Europe’s biggest security threat (Chatham House)

2026-09-02 | europe | 2026-W36 | Topics: Climate, Europe, NATO, Nuclear, Russia, Ukraine

The Chatham House report argues that climate change represents Europe's greatest systemic security threat, citing recent extreme heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires that have caused massive economic losses, infrastructure failures, and excess deaths. These environmental shocks disrupt critical services (like energy supply) and increase vulnerability to non-conventional threats, forcing military resources to divert personnel away from traditional defense roles. To counter this, the report mandates a comprehensive security approach: treating climate adaptation as core national security spending, accelerating decarbonization to address root causes, and building robust societal resilience through coordinated civil preparedness.

Read at Chatham House
2.

Zambia’s election: President Hichilema must preserve his country’s democratic reputation (Chatham House)

2026-09-02 | africa | 2026-W36 | Topics: Europe

The Chatham House analysis argues that for Zambia to sustain its economic reforms and attract vital foreign investment, President Hichilema must prioritize preserving democratic institutions during the upcoming election. While macroeconomic stabilization has restored international confidence, political legitimacy hinges on a credible electoral process, as voters are yet to feel the benefits of abstract financial rehabilitation. Consequently, international allies are advised to act as 'critical friends,' ensuring that their support for economic stability is consistently coupled with demands for institutional integrity and democratic restraint. This balanced approach is vital to prevent authoritarian drift from undermining Zambia's foundational political capital.

Read at Chatham House
3.

Iraq Initiative Conference 2026 (Chatham House)

2026-09-02 | middle_east | 2026-W36 | Topics: Middle East, Trade

Iraq faces an existential test of state sovereignty and reform as it navigates intense regional instability. Key pressures include armed attacks from Iran-aligned groups, renewed questions about the state's monopoly on force due to external strikes, and severe economic strain stemming from oil market disruptions. The core challenge is managing escalating geopolitical competition between Washington and Tehran while simultaneously advancing institutional reforms necessary for economic diversification. International support must therefore focus not only on security stabilization but also on supporting Baghdad’s efforts to build a resilient, independent course away from volatile energy dependence.

Read at Chatham House
4.

Can negotiations between Venezuela’s government and opposition succeed? (Chatham House)

2026-09-02 | americas | 2026-W36 | Topics: Middle East, Trade, United States

The Chatham House analysis finds that recent negotiations between Venezuela's government and opposition are highly unlikely to succeed, citing a pattern of vague discussions and lack of concrete commitments. Key evidence includes the failure of multiple meetings to establish timelines or progress on critical issues like the release of political prisoners. The report suggests that external actors, particularly the US, may be prioritizing maintaining an illusion of stability (the 'Venezuela model') over forcing genuine democratic change. Consequently, policy efforts must recognize that success hinges entirely on Washington's willingness to apply strong, enforced leverage and detailed commitments, rather than merely facilitating another round of ill-defined dialogue.

Read at Chatham House
5.

The summer of '26: A turning point for the climate crisis? (Chatham House)

2026-09-02 | energy | 2026-W36 | Topics: Europe

The Chatham House analysis examines the severity of the climate crisis, using the extreme weather events of Summer 2026—such as widespread European droughts and fires—as evidence of an urgent turning point. The core discussion centers on whether current global commitments are sufficient to reverse the climate spiral, particularly given geopolitical hurdles like US fossil fuel policies. Policymakers must weigh the practical application of mitigation (emissions reduction) against necessary adaptation strategies in real-world scenarios. Ultimately, the brief implies that a successful strategy requires immediate, coordinated action across technology and policy sectors to find a viable path forward.

Read at Chatham House