Elias Sagmeister
Elias Sagmeister is an independent consultant and non-resident fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi). Over the past decade, he has dedicated his career to fostering accountability and learning in the humanitarian sector. As Director at Ground Truth Solutions (GTS), he helped shape global debates on accountability and consistently focused on ensuring that people affected by crises have a voice in the decisions that impact them.
He worked with organisations at all levels of the humanitarian system, from small NGOs and national NGO-networks to large UN agencies. He intends to use his experience from co-leading a specialised accountability organisation to help advance HQAI’s strategy and impact.
Elias is an economic psychologist by training with a PhD in evaluation. His expertise in evaluation methods, social science research, and humanitarian accountability aligns closely with HQAI’s mission. With a deep commitment to strengthening quality assurance in humanitarian action, he is eager to contribute to this mission.
I am a member of the General Assembly since 2025.
I'm excited to contribute to HQAI's mission and collaborate with an organization that has been a pioneer in quality assurance for the humanitarian sector. Our sector needs independent verification to maintain the trust of both the communities we serve and our donors. I am particularly inspired by HQAI's proven impact in enabling humanitarian organizations to operate more effectively.
HQAI transforms critical yet abstract concepts, such as accountability to affected populations, into clear and measurable standards. Additionally, by providing subsidies and enabling group certification, HQAI empowers smaller organizations, helping to level the humanitarian playing field.