Oscar Llorente – Humanitarian/Development practitioner
With over 20 years of experience in international development and humanitarian response, Oscar Llorente has been at the forefront of global efforts to support vulnerable communities affected by conflict (e.g., Mali, Somalia), displacement (e.g., Western Sahara, Colombia), and natural disasters (e.g., Honduras, Algeria, Ethiopia), as well as outbreaks (e.g., Ebola – Guinea Conakry). As a seasoned leader in program management, Oscar has designed and implemented large-scale humanitarian interventions across different sectors, ensuring critical assistance reaches those in need while consolidating recovery efforts for the communities across some of the world’s most challenging contexts.
Currently serving as the Somali Cash Consortium (SCC) Program Director at Concern Worldwide, Oscar leads one of the largest cash assistance programs in Somalia, coordinating emergency cash transfers for hundreds of thousands of displaced families affected by drought, conflict, and economic shocks. Under his leadership, the program has expanded its reach through digital payment solutions, ensuring aid is delivered rapidly and transparently while strengthening financial inclusion for vulnerable populations.
Currently serving as the Somali Cash Consortium (SCC) Program Director at Concern Worldwide, Oscar leads one of the largest cash assistance programs in Somalia, coordinating emergency cash transfers for hundreds of thousands of displaced families affected by drought, conflict, and economic shocks. Under his leadership, the program has expanded its reach through digital payment solutions, ensuring aid is delivered rapidly and transparently while strengthening financial inclusion for vulnerable populations.
In addition to his work in humanitarian assistance, Oscar is also running long-term social transfer programs for populations in need. Social transfers involve the provision of regular, predictable financial support to vulnerable individuals or households, aimed at improving their living standards and reducing poverty. These programs are designed to provide a safety net for those facing chronic hardship, enabling them to meet their basic needs and contribute to economic stability and development in their communities.
Driven by a passionate approach to humanitarian/development sector and a special care of the Red Cross mandate, Oscar recognizes the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies in optimizing humanitarian responses and its potential to change complete humanitarian/development landscape. He actively integrates AI tools into its daily activity as professional, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring that data-driven decision-making leads to more effective interventions.
His extensive experience includes leadership roles with UNDP, Spanish Red Cross, and AECID, managing humanitarian response efforts and recovery projects in East, West and North Africa and Latin America. A strong advocate for collaborative partnerships and evidence-based programming, Oscar is committed to bridging the gap between traditional humanitarian action and cutting-edge technology.
Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, Oscar holds a Master of Science in Infrastructures in Emergencies from Loughborough University and various specialized certifications in emergency sanitation, water supply, and disaster management.
As the humanitarian sector navigates increasingly complex global challenges, Oscar Llorente continues to drive forward-thinking solutions that merge technology and humanitarianism—ensuring aid reaches those who need it most with precision, speed, and sustainability. Despite the increasing uncertainty in the international context we are navigating, it is crucial for us to have an oversight on the evolution our sector will experience and what it will look like in the years to come for the organizations and the workers. If the sector still exists.