What Now?

A 6-week identity transition programme for humanitarians grounded in scientific research and lived experience.

The contract ends, the cuts come through, the funding disappears, and you find yourself suddenly asking yourself: What Now?

For many humanitarians, leaving a role is not just a career change. The work has shaped identity, purpose, community, values, and a sense of usefulness. When that role disappears - whether by choice or otherwise - this disruption can reach far beyond employment and leave you wondering who you are without it and what you are still interested in and capable of doing.

The programme

What Now? is a small-group transition programme helping humanitarians navigate the psychological and practical challenge of moving into their next chapter.

This 6-week programme combines applied transition psychology, narrative approaches, peer reflection, and 1:1 coaching sessions in between course to explore: 

  • Who am I beyond my role? Reconnecting with values, strengths, identity, and purpose beyond a job title.

  • What am I carrying forward? Understanding the impact of burnout, moral injury, uncertainty, and difficult experiences while recognizing what remains valuable.

  • What comes next? Translating humanitarian experience into new possibilities and beginning to build a meaningful next chapter.

Format: There will be three 90-minute small-group sessions every other week focusing on how to use science to understand and navigate this transition, combined with 60 minute individual coaching sessions to work through the content from the 90-minute session. Cohorts are intentionally capped at 12 participants.

How is this programme different from others?

This programme is the first of its kind to bring together two experts from different fields - applied psychology and humanitarian coaching - to help prepare humanitarians to navigate life outside the sector. This programme builds on a pilot programme with military veterans transitioning out of the military, and combines it with the unique humanitarian experiences that often go unspoken.