Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies
The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies is a Sri Lankan nonprofit-sector service organization that supports, connects, and represents humanitarian organizations.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) is a Sri Lankan nonprofit-sector organization established in April 1997 to serve organizations working in humanitarian assistance, peace, human rights, development, and related fields. Rather than operating as a consumer-facing commercial brand, CHA functions as a national service and coordination platform for its membership and for the wider humanitarian community in Sri Lanka. Its work is centered on strengthening the ability of humanitarian organizations to operate effectively across the country. The organization represents the resources and activities of the humanitarian sector, facilitates contact between national and international organizations, and supports the circulation of information, knowledge, and technical skills. Its stated objectives include advocacy for peace, human rights, diversity, fundamental rights, freedom, and development; the collection, processing, and dissemination of information; networking among organizations and their resources; and assistance with post-tsunami interventions. CHA developed a geographically distributed presence, with field offices in 12 districts in Sri Lanka's northern, southern, and eastern regions. This field structure enabled the organization to maintain links with communities and humanitarian actors outside Colombo and to support work in areas affected by conflict, displacement, disaster, and development needs. Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, CHA established information-management centres in all affected districts. These centres formed part of the organization's post-disaster support role, helping humanitarian stakeholders access and exchange information during the response and recovery period. The organization has also been associated with humanitarian coordination and sector-wide knowledge initiatives, including work connected with relief monitoring and support for the Sphere humanitarian standards in Sri Lanka. Its role therefore combines representation, networking, information management, advocacy, and operational support rather than the delivery of a single branded product. Reference material identifies a staff of 153 and names Jeevan Thiagarajah as executive director, although the date and current status of that staffing information are not specified. No reliable public information in the supplied material establishes a formal parent company, commercial owner, stock-market listing, or current website. CHA should consequently be understood as an independent Sri Lankan humanitarian-sector organization and service provider, with its identity grounded in institutional coordination and public-interest work rather than commercial sales.
History
The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies was founded in Sri Lanka in April 1997 to provide a collective platform for organizations involved in humanitarian work. Its creation reflected the need for a national institution able to represent humanitarian-sector resources, improve communication among organizations, and support coordinated action across a country affected by conflict, displacement, uneven development, and recurring emergencies. CHA's institutional role has extended beyond membership administration. Its objectives include advocating for peace, human rights, diversity, fundamental rights, freedom, and development; sharing knowledge and technical skills; collecting, processing, and disseminating information; and connecting national and international organizations with one another and with relevant resources. This gives the organization a bridging function between humanitarian agencies, local actors, communities, and external partners. Over time, CHA established field offices in 12 districts in the north, south, and east of Sri Lanka. The district network allowed the organization to maintain a presence in multiple regions and to support humanitarian actors working in locations with different political, social, and operational conditions. The field structure also reinforced CHA's role as a national service provider rather than a narrowly localized nonprofit initiative. A major phase in its history followed the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The disaster caused extensive damage across Sri Lanka and generated a large, complex international and domestic relief effort. CHA responded by establishing post-tsunami information-management centres in all affected districts. These centres supported the sharing and organization of information needed for relief and recovery work and formed part of the organization's broader objective of facilitating humanitarian interventions. CHA has also been linked with relief-monitoring and humanitarian standards work. Reference material notes its support for Sphere in Sri Lanka, indicating involvement in promoting recognized principles and standards for humanitarian response. Such activity is consistent with the organization's wider emphasis on knowledge, coordination, accountability, and sector capacity. The organization is described as having a staff of 153, including professionals with managerial and representational responsibilities. Jeevan Thiagarajah is identified in the reference material as executive director, although the date of that description is not given. Publicly supplied information does not establish a commercial parent, owner, listing, or current official website. CHA is therefore best characterized as a Sri Lankan nonprofit humanitarian service and coordination organization whose principal institutional assets are its membership relationships, field network, information capabilities, and sector expertise.
- 2004
Post-tsunami information-management response
[1]Following the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, CHA created information-management centres in all Sri Lankan districts affected by the disaster.
- 1997
Consortium established in Sri Lanka
[1]The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies was founded in April 1997 to serve humanitarian-sector members and support national coordination.
Products and positioning
A national, nonprofit humanitarian-sector service and coordination platform in Sri Lanka, positioned around organizational networking, information management, advocacy, and support for emergency and recovery interventions.
Sector coordination · 1997
Humanitarian-sector membership and representation
CHA represents the resources and work of humanitarian organizations in Sri Lanka and provides a collective platform for members. Its representative role includes connecting organizations, communicating sector concerns, and supporting collaboration among national and international actors.
Information services
Information management and knowledge sharing
The organization supports the gathering, processing, and dissemination of humanitarian information. This work is intended to improve the availability of knowledge and skills for agencies working in relief, recovery, human rights, peacebuilding, and development.
Disaster-response support · 2004
Post-tsunami information-management centres
After the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, CHA established information-management centres in all affected districts of Sri Lanka. The centres supported humanitarian organizations during post-disaster relief and recovery by improving access to locally relevant information.
Humanitarian support infrastructure
Field-office network
CHA's field offices in 12 districts across northern, southern, and eastern Sri Lanka provide a decentralized basis for engagement with humanitarian organizations and communities. The network helps extend sector support beyond the national capital.
Recent events
- 2004
Post-tsunami information centres supported affected districts[1]
Other
After the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, CHA established information-management centres in all affected districts to assist humanitarian interventions and information sharing.
- 1997
Consortium established to serve Sri Lanka's humanitarian sector[1]
Other
The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies was established in Sri Lanka in April 1997 as a membership-serving organization for the humanitarian and nonprofit sector.
CHA expanded district-level humanitarian support[1]
Other
The organization operated field offices in 12 districts across northern, southern, and eastern Sri Lanka, supporting humanitarian-sector activity beyond the national capital.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/consortium-of-humanitarian-agencies · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled