When learning meets emergency: The Geneva Learning Foundation’s approach to crisis response (2019)

**Interview with Reda Sadki, Founder of Geneva Learning Foundation | September 16, 2019** When a young doctor in Ghana transformed pregnancy care in four weeks using skills from an online course, he proved something revolutionary about learning during emergencies. Discover how the Geneva Learning Foundation is rewriting the rules of professional development in global health and humanitarian response. What happens when traditional training fails in life-threatening emergencies? Reda Sadki found out while managing learning systems for 17 million volunteers across 137 countries—and his answer is transforming how international organizations develop leadership capabilities. In this candid conversation with Zapnito CEO Charles Thiede, Sadki reveals: • Why most "communities of practice" fail and what works instead • How a broken learning management system sparked a revolutionary approach • The real story behind partners calling their work "magic" • Why execution matters more than prestigious credentials in humanitarian response • How digital transformation creates new economies of effort for global impact **Key Insights:** - Traditional training requires stopping work to learn—but emergencies do not wait - Communities of action deliver results where communities of practice fail - The gap between learning and implementation kills programs before they start - Real impact comes from connecting practitioners globally while enabling local solutions **About the Geneva Learning Foundation:** The foundation conducts research and development to find better ways to learn, foster leadership, and lead change in humanitarian development and global health work. They partner with major UN agencies, Red Cross/Red Crescent movement, and international NGOs while reaching practitioners directly in communities worldwide. **Timestamps:** Part I: Background, mission, and the scholar package approach Part II: Personal motivation, heroes, and organizational execution **Connect with Reda Sadki:** https://www.linkedin.com/in/redasadki/ *This interview offers rare insight into how innovative educators are tackling the leadership crisis in global health and humanitarian response. Perfect for development professionals, organizational leaders, and anyone interested in learning design for complex challenges.*