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Focus areas
ICVA’s Humanitarian Financing Working Group is a forum for ICVA members to discuss humanitarian financing developments, exchange information, understand NGOs views and concerns, and identify opportunities for collective advocacy.
ICVA hosts a number of working groups related to its focus areas (forced migration, financing and coordination) as laid out in ICVA’s Strategy. This is the proposed terms for reference for the ICVA humanitarian financing working group.
Below are notes from the Humanitarian Financing Working Group meetings.
Notes are available for ICVA members only.
Since joining ICVA Jeremy, based in the US, has focused on the harmonisation and simplification of donor conditions for humanitarian financing.
Jeremy has worked with NGOs over the past twenty years in roles linked to accountability, capacity assessment, and audit. Prior to joining ICVA, he spent eleven years with World Vision International where he led the operations audit group and helped to develop capacity assessment processes for national offices.
Jeremy holds a degree in Diplomacy from Occidental College, and a master’s in Public Policy from the University of California Los Angeles.
Manon joined ICVA in 2022 as Humanitarian Finance Policy Officer, her work focuses on Quality Funding and Partnerships in addition to other humanitarian finance topics.
Over the past seven years, she has worked with several NGOs in the humanitarian sector in advocacy, policy analysis and research. Prior to joining ICVA, she worked with MSF International as well as country-level NGOs such as Lebanon Support and INSAN in Lebanon.
Manon holds a bachelor’s degree in War Studies and a master’s in International Peace and Security from King’s College London University.
Habiba is a seasoned communications specialist with a demonstrable track record in designing , developing and delivering communications strategies to facilitate sustainable change. With over 23 years experience in Journalism, PR and Corporate Communications, she worked as foreign correspondent for the News Agency of Nigeria where she headed the London bureau from 2012 to 2015. She also served as the Switzerland Correspondent from 2016 to 2020.
She has two Masters’ degree in Finance and International Economic Law from the University of London – Birbeck College and Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. She also has a first degree in English/Mass Communications from Bayero University Kano.
Habiba has also undertaken voluntary assignments with NGOs supporting better conditions for IDPs in Nigeria. She joined ICVA as a Events and Communications Officer with a focus on Grand Bargain.
Less paper more aid is an initiative carried out by NGOs to reduce the burden of donor conditions on aid agencies and thereby improve the efficiency of humanitarian action.
The Grand Bargain, launched during the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, is a unique agreement between some of the largest donors and humanitarian organisations who have committed to get more means into the hands of people in need and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the humanitarian action.
As of February 2021, the signatories of the Grand Bargain endorsed a framework on the future of the Grand Bargain – known as the Grand Bargain 2.0.
The Grand Bargain 2.0 reframes the overall objective to achieving “Better humanitarian outcomes for affected populations through enhanced efficiency, effectiveness, and greater accountability” .
In September 2021 ICVA took over the NGO seat in the Grand Bargain Facilitation Group, in addition to a new specific local representation seat taken by NEAR.
To find out more about the Grand Bargain have a look at the following resources.
Following the ‘Grand Bargain explained’ paper published in March 2017, ICVA has drafted the ‘Grand Bargain 2.0 explained’ briefing paper to support humanitarian actors, particularly NGOs, to better understand and engage in this new phase of the Grand Bargain 2.0 from 2021 – 2023.
Special thanks to The Amity Foundation for their diligent efforts in translating this essential document into Chinese.
Click on this briefing paper to access all information – and more – shared throughout this topic.
Check out more information discussed throughout this topic.
The purpose of the survey was to measure the interest of the Signatories to continue their engagement and invest their internal resources in case of the continuation of the process. This exercise also provided quantitative data on the key elements of the Grand Bargain structure that bring most added value in achieving efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian aid.
ICVA is currently co-chair of the IASC results group 5 on humanitarian financing.
This group is focused on two strategic priorities:
More information about the Results Group 5 can be found on the IASC website
IASC Results group 5 on humanitarian financing and results group 6 on Humanitarian, development and nexus, joint key messages on quality funding.
This study contributes to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) humanitarian financing priorities of improving “aid effectiveness through more effective humanitarian- development funding flows and mechanisms”. It has two goals: to document the extent to which predictable, multi-year flexible financing is available at the programme level; and to understand the extent to which funding matches Collective Outcomes or the financial requirements of interoperable humanitarian and development plans.
Humanitarians inherently work in places of high fragility, conflict, or instability. These characteristics both define where humanitarian action is needed and impact the ability of humanitarian actors to accomplish their mission of reducing human suffering.
The humanitarian imperative requires humanitarian organisations to accept a culture of risk in order to operate effectively in such environments. While a hight level of risk acceptance is embedded in the culture of humanitarian work, corresponding use of risk management tools is not yet embedded in the culture of many humanitarian NGOs. It is critical for NGOs to understand how to better identify and manage risk to improve their ability to respond effectively in humanitarian crises.
To work toward this objective, ICVA’s e-learning stream on “Risk” (2019-2021) facilitates dialogue among humanitarian stakeholders on how to improve application of risk management approaches and tools. The series includes a number of briefing papers and webinars focused on a range of topics: risk and organisational culture, risk appetite and tolerance, security risk management, and staff well-being, among others.
The theme of ICVA’s Annual Conference 2020 was “Protecting principled humanitarian action: An honest conversion on risk” . Check out the recording and conference report.
This briefing paper examines the current risk landscape in humanitarian aid.
Security Risk Management
Assessing Decision-Making Processes in Local and International Humanitarian NGOs
Risk awareness is something that is embedded in the culture of humanitarian work but risk management is not. Therefore, it is critical for NGOs to understand how to identify and manage risk. This learning stream provides a platform for the NGO community to share their current practice, discuss, and learn from one another in order to better understand how to manage risks when working in the humanitarian sector and apply it in their day-to-day work.
This series includes webinars on the following topics:
ICVA has partnered with DisasterReady to make free online learning resources available for humanitarian aid and development professionals to better understand how to apply risk management best practices in their daily work. Partnerships are a key component for improving the efficiency and impact of humanitarian action. Many international aid organizations rely on national partners and actors to implement programs and deliver assistance to people and communities affected by crisis, especially in areas with limited humanitarian access.
What you will learn:
1. Risk Management in Practice Course
2. Risk Management and Funding Partnerships Course
Click on the below link to access the courses.
The International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) has partnered with DisasterReady to make free online learning resources available for humanitarian aid and development professionals to better understand how to apply risk management best practices in their daily work. Partnerships are a key component for improving the efficiency and impact of humanitarian action. Many international aid organizations rely on national partners and actors to implement programs and deliver assistance to people and communities affected by crisis, especially in areas with limited humanitarian access. Risk management:
What you will learn:
1. Risk Management in Practice Course
In this 10-minute course, you will learn how to apply risk management best practices in humanitarian response. This resource provides guidance on understanding risks, defining your organization’s risk universe, key steps in the risk management process, and embedding risk management in your organization.
2. Risk Management and Funding Partnerships Course
In this 10-minute course, you will learn best practices for managing operational challenges and risks affecting funding partnerships in the humanitarian sector. This resource provides guidance for applying risk management practices to select and engage with partner organizations in programs that are funded by external donors.
Both courses come with a downloadable PDF for offline use and works great on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
How to register
To access this free, online training resource go to DisasterReady.org to create your free account, log in, and search for “Risk Management in Practice” and “Risk Management and Funding Partnerships.”
The CBPF-NGO Dialogue Platform has been an important forum to improve NGO engagement with OCHA on Pooled Funds.
Country Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs) are a valuable mechanism used by donors to pool their contributions to support country specific humanitarian efforts. These funds can be allocated directly to local NGOs, to support donor’s localisation objectives. ICVA aims to develop a more systematic approach to identify how to improve participation of national NGO partners, and how to improve NGO access to and use of pooled funds.
The NGO and Humanitarian Reforms Project presents a document regarding the allocations of pooled funds, particularly in regards to the gap that exists between the guidelines governing the process and the practices developed in the provinces. This document draws lessons from previous allocations and suggests possible solutions for future ones.
The work plan of the IASC Humanitarian Financing Task Team (HFTT) focuses on improving the availability of adequate and accessible funding for operational aid agencies. To this end, in 2014 OCHA and ICVA led a mapping of NGO challenges to accessing country-based pooled funds (CBPFs), which contributed to the development of new Global Guidelines for CBPFs issued by OCHA in February 2015 following an extensive consultation process.
NGOs play a vital role in the implementation and governance of CBPFs through the delivery of projects and their participation in Advisory Boards and Humanitarian Country Teams.
Click below to access the unanswered questions from this topic’s webinar.
Click on Topic Three’s briefing paper to access a synthesis of all information covered in this topic.
Click on the document below to access more information discussed throughout this topic.
Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs) play a key role in delivering the “Grand Bargain” (GB), a set of reforms to improve the humanitarian financing system which was agreed by aid organizations and donors during the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit.
The study also builds on NRC’s 2017 report, Understanding Humanitarian Funds. It endeavours to determine whether NGOs still feel CBPFs are fit for purpose, particularly in terms of Grand Bargain commitments to reduce the earmarking of donor contributions, increase multi-year disbursements and improve local and national humanitarians’ access to funding. It also discusses ways to reduce the administrative burdens on recipient organisations, and governance and decision-making issues.
CBPFs are established by the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) when a new emergency occurs or when an existing humanitarian situation deteriorates.
The NGO and Humanitarian Reforms Project presents a document regarding the allocations of pooled funds, particularly in regards to the gap that exists between the guidelines governing the process and the practices developed in the provinces. This document draws lessons from previous allocations and suggests possible solutions for future ones.
The work plan of the IASC Humanitarian Financing Task Team (HFTT) focuses on improving the availability of adequate and accessible funding for operational aid agencies. To this end, in 2014 OCHA and ICVA led a mapping of NGO challenges to accessing country-based pooled funds (CBPFs), which contributed to the development of new Global Guidelines for CBPFs issued by OCHA in February 2015 following an extensive consultation process.
NGOs play a vital role in the implementation and governance of CBPFs through the delivery of projects and their participation in Advisory Boards and Humanitarian Country Teams.
Click below to access the unanswered questions from this topic’s webinar.
Click on Topic Three’s briefing paper to access a synthesis of all information covered in this topic.
Click on the document below to access more information discussed throughout this topic.
Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs) play a key role in delivering the “Grand Bargain” (GB), a set of reforms to improve the humanitarian financing system which was agreed by aid organizations and donors during the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit.
The study also builds on NRC’s 2017 report, Understanding Humanitarian Funds. It endeavours to determine whether NGOs still feel CBPFs are fit for purpose, particularly in terms of Grand Bargain commitments to reduce the earmarking of donor contributions, increase multi-year disbursements and improve local and national humanitarians’ access to funding. It also discusses ways to reduce the administrative burdens on recipient organisations, and governance and decision-making issues.
CBPFs are established by the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) when a new emergency occurs or when an existing humanitarian situation deteriorates.
Risk awareness is something that is embedded in the culture of humanitarian work but risk management is not. Therefore, it is critical for NGOs to understand how to identify and manage risk. This learning stream provides a platform for the NGO community to share their current practice, discuss, and learn from one another in order to better understand how to manage risks when working in the humanitarian sector and apply it in their day-to-day work.
This series includes webinars on the following topics:
The 2016 ICVA learning stream on demystifying humanitarian financing is a series of webinars, videos and briefing papers to help NGOs better understand the various humanitarian financing mechanisms, influence policy related to humanitarian financing, and access funding.
Topics included in the webinar series include:
ICVA is a global network of non-governmental organisations whose mission is to make humanitarian action more principled and effective by working collectively and independently to influence policy and practice.
International Council of Voluntary Agencies
NGO Humanitarian Hub,
La Voie-Creuse 16, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
Email: secretariat@icvanetwork.org
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