February 4, 2026
Fairfax, Virginia, USA; London, United Kingdom - As technology is evolving rapidly and humanitarian needs are growing, ensuring the responsible and effective implementation of technological solutions is crucial.
In 2025, NetHope launched the NetHope AI Lighthouse, an initiative designed to help nonprofits explore, evaluate, and adopt artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly within their contexts. Through practical tools, proven frameworks, learning resources, and ethical guidance, the AI Lighthouse supports organizations as they navigate both the promise and the risks of AI.
At a time when collaboration is more critical than ever, NetHope and the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH), are expanding their partnership to lead the next phase of the AI Lighthouse. UKHIH is hosted by Elrha. Combining NetHope’s deep digital expertise, convening power, and global network with UKHIH’s strong track record in research, learning, and ethical facilitation, the partnership is well-positioned to help organizations respond to the fast-paced adoption of AI and the challenges and opportunities it brings.
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with UKHIH with this crucial work. Now more than ever, nonprofits who provide critical services to many millions of people and communities must be supported in their use of technology, so they can bring its power to the communities they already work in,” says Daniela Weber, Director of NetHope’s Center of the Digital Nonprofit. “Through collaboration and partnerships, we can lift the AI Lighthouse to the next level, helping nonprofits to embrace AI safely and responsibly, and ultimately, helping more people embrace a bright future.”
According to Mark Beagen, Interim Director of UKHIH, “the AI Lighthouse gives us space to explore what the sector truly needs at a moment of profound technological change. This phase is intentionally open, focused on generating evidence, practical resources, and shared learning before any decisions about the future are made. It’s a chance to ensure that any long‑term collaboration is grounded in real insight rather than assumptions."
This next phase of the AI Lighthouse is centered upon four key projects, building on the partnership’s existing foundation. This phase will strengthen and evolve the existing Lighthouse to reflect sector needs, while supporting organizations that are already putting AI into practice.
This includes targeted grant support via the NetHope-UKHIH AI Scale Up Grant and NetHope-UKHIH AI Case Studies Grant for NetHope Member organizations to scale promising AI initiatives, capture real-world lessons and case studies from implementation, and share practical insights that others can apply.
This important work will generate an expanded picture of how AI is currently being used across the humanitarian sector, focusing on its value, risks, and where critical gaps still exist. Through stakeholder engagement, the partnership will ensure the AI Lighthouse can continue to grow as a trusted and practical resource, while aligning with and complementing existing initiatives to avoid duplication and maximize impact.
Finally, the directory of AI-enabled humanitarian projects will be refreshed and expanded to ensure it remains a relevant and practical reference for the sector.
These critical activities will contribute to actionable evidence, shared learning, and practical guidance to help nonprofits navigate AI adoption responsibly and effectively.
This expanded partnership builds on ongoing collaboration between NetHope and UKHIH, including the development of a series of AI case studies supported by UKHIH that highlight the variety of ways nonprofits are using AI to advance their missions. To date, these case studies have provided practical insights, lessons learned, and examples of best practice to inform the wider humanitarian and development sector.
As the nonprofit and humanitarian sectors navigate a period of rapid AI acceleration and the need for speed and scale, this partnership marks an important step forward.
NetHope is a catalyst for collective impact that advances humanitarian, conservation, and international development efforts worldwide. For more than 20 years, we’ve enabled international nongovernmental organizations and leading technology partners to address the world’s most pressing challenges and advance global good through collaboration, collective action, and smarter use of digital technology. Over 60 nonprofit Members and 50 technology partners collaborate to leverage digital solutions for exponential impact. Collectively, NetHope Members deliver more than 60% of all annual international, non-governmental aid, serving over 1.67 billion people in 190 countries. For more information: www.nethope.org.
The UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH) is a humanitarian initiative funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). As a UK-based humanitarian initiative, hosted by Elrha, UKHIH leverages expertise from the UK and across the globe to improve international humanitarian action, connecting the people equipped to bring about systemic changes that will strengthen and support humanitarian response. For more information: information@ukhih.org
NetHope: communications@nethope.org
UKHIH: lucy.lawrenson@ukhih.org
