ICVA Annual Conference 2020

Protecting principled humanitarian action: An honest conversion on risk

(UTC)

Organiser

Categories

Conference, Meeting

Language

English, French, Arabic

Subject

ICVA
Financing

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 ICVA held it’s first-ever Virtual Annual Conference on principled humanitarian action and risk

Introduction

The ICVA 2020 Annual Conference took the form of three webinar sessions organised in collaboration with PHAP. The conference  showed that we, as a sector, are agile. We continue delivering to our mandate while complying with the duty of care for our staff. COVID-19 was inescapable throughout the discussions of the Annual Conference, touching on the ability of locally based humanitarian actors, including youth, to respond and on lobbying for exceptional measures from donors for quick decision-making, flexibility and a real risk sharing attitude.

However, as other disrupters and challenges discussed throughout the three sessions, it has not put principled humanitarian action on hold. As follow-up to the conference and what was considered as important topics to further explore, ICVA has put together a Learning Stream on Risk Management in Practice so that NGOs can better navigate and understand risk.

Resources
Meeting materials
13 May 2020
ICVA 2020 Annual Conference Report
Subject/ ICVA / Financing /
Meeting materials
13 March 2020
ICVA 2020 Annual Conference Agenda
Subject/ ICVA / Financing /
Meeting materials
13 March 2020
ICVA 2020 Annual Conference Concept note
Subject/ ICVA /
Meeting materials
13 March 2020
ICVA 2020 Annual Conference Speaker Bios
Subject/ ICVA /

Recordings of the three sessions

Session 1

Principles at Risk

A setting the stage on protection of Humanitarian Principles.

Speakers:

  • Mr. Yves Daccord, Director General, International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC)
  • Ms. Gloria Modong Morris, Executive Director, Titi Foundation, and Deputy Chair, NGO Forum South Sudan
  • Ms. Inger Ashing, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children International
  • Mr. Philippe Besson, Head Multilateral Division, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Swiss Humanitarian Aid
Session 1 recording

Session 2

What risks?

An honest conversation on risk – perspectives shared on what are the risks faced by NGOs.

Moderator:

  • Dr. James Munn, Director, Geneva & Humanitarian Policy, Norwegian Refugee Council and Board member

Speakers:

  • Mr. Jeremy Rempel, Head of Humanitarian Finance and Coordinator for Less Paper More Aid, ICVA
  • Ms. Hibak Kalfan, Executive Director, NEAR Network
  • Mr. Jean-François Riffaud, Executive Director, Action Against Hunger France
  • Mr. Khaleel Desai, Head of Governance, Islamic Relief Worldwide
Session 2 recording

Session 3

Whats next?

This session looked  at how NGOs and other partners are mobilising collaborative and collective action to promote principled humanitarian action and better manage risk and how NGOs and partners can get involved.

Moderator:

  • Ms. Mirela Shuteriqi, Director of Policy, ICVA

Speakers:

  • Ms. Anna de Courcy Wheeler, Advisor, Article 36 and International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW) on the Political declaration to ensure the protection of civilians from humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
  • Mr. Marten Menger, Desk Officer, German Federal Foreign Office, Division for Humanitarian Assistance – Policy, International Organisations, Multilateral Coordination on the “Humanitarian Call for Action”
  • Ms. Diane Goodman, Senior Coordinator for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment, UNHCR on the prevention and response to sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment focusing on the priorities of the High Commissioner for Refugees, as Champion on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment
  • Ms. Roxanne Tajbakhsh, Global Focal point for the Migration Working Group, UN Major Group for Children and Youth on the collective advocacy on youth and migration issues
Session 3 recording