Dr. Jeannie Annan is the Senior Vice President and Chief Research and Innovation Officer at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), one of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations. The IRC responds to the worst humanitarian crises, helping people whose lives have been shattered by conflict, disaster, and persecution to survive, recover, and rebuild their futures. Operating in over 40 countries and in 28 U.S. cities, the IRC combines lifesaving support with long-term development strategies, impacting millions of lives each year.
Dr. Annan co-founded the Airbel Impact Lab, which serves as the IRC’s research and innovation arm. The Lab brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers, designers, behavioral scientists, and analysts who work hand-in-hand with frontline staff, technical experts, and partners to create high-impact, scalable solutions.
Airbel focuses on a range of critical areas, including health, education, gender equity, livelihoods, and climate resilience, and operates in more than 30 crisis-affected countries around the globe. As a core part of the IRC, Airbel’s innovative work is seamlessly integrated with the organization’s humanitarian operations, ensuring that research and new solutions directly address the needs of those on the frontlines of crises.
Dr. Annan’s own research has broken new ground in designing and testing interventions to address economic, behavioral, and mental health challenges, with a particular focus on preventing violence and supporting women and children affected by conflict and displacement. Her career began with on-the-ground leadership in education and psychosocial programming in Kosovo, northern Uganda, and South Sudan, providing her with deep insights into the realities of humanitarian work.
In addition to her leadership at the IRC, Dr. Annan is an Associate at the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts at the University of Chicago and a research affiliate at Innovations for Poverty Action. Her academic achievements include a PhD in Counseling Psychology and prestigious fellowships at Yale, NYU, and Harvard, where she has advanced her focus on forced displacement and violence prevention.
Today, we’ll explore how the IRC and Airbel Impact Lab are reshaping humanitarian response through research and innovation, Jeannie’s groundbreaking work in designing scalable interventions, and the critical importance of applying evidence-based solutions in crisis settings. This conversation will inspire and challenge you to think about how innovation can drive meaningful change in even the most complex environments.
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