Kai Hopkins

Kai joined Elrha in 2024 as Elrha’s Head of Research Initiatives, overseeing our Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises portfolio - delivering impactful innovation and research across multiple health domains, including mental health, nutrition, and sexual health. He is currently our Head of Humanitarian Learning and Improvement, using rapid research to inform real-time learning in humanitarian crises while also reimagining how humanitarian assistance is delivered through innovation.

Kai has led major humanitarian programmes in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and other crisis settings, including in the Middle East, working with local partners to deliver both immediate life-saving assistance, and longer-term recovery programming. He has also worked as a humanitarian researcher and as an independent consultant, advising governments, UN agencies, and INGOs on accountability, localisation, and preparedness.

Kai’s career has been focused on humanitarian delivery and performance, and in his current role he is leveraging the power of research and innovation to drive iterative improvement across the sector.