ICVA Speakers Bureau

Introduction

The International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) is committed to elevating the voices and perspectives of national and local humanitarian aid workers and ensuring their meaningful participation in high-level events and decision-making processes at national, regional and international levels. ICVA is regularly requested to identify speakers by members, governments and UN agencies for national, regional and global events, such as UN Member State Briefings, the European Humanitarian Forum, as well as ICVA and member events.

To facilitate this, ICVA in partnership with the Hilton Foundation will provide training and support for national humanitarian aid workers to join the ICVA Speakers Bureau. The ICVA Speakers Bureau will serve as a bridge between national humanitarian aid workers and decision-makers, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and better understanding.

Objectives

• Develop a diverse database of compelling and knowledgeable national humanitarian speakers who can effectively advocate for the needs, priorities, and perspectives of affected communities.
• Provide expert training opportunities to enhance the communication and public speaking skills of selected speakers, including guidance on effective message development, storytelling techniques, and engaging with diverse audiences.
• Coordinate with NGO Fora, UN agencies and donors, and facilitate the participation of speakers in member state briefings, high-level events, conferences, and panel discussions.

Read more in the Concept Note:

• Speakers Bureau Concept Note.

Explore Speakers Categorised by Regions Below.

Disclaimer: The opinions that will be expressed by the speakers during events are not necessarily reflective of ICVA’s views or stance.

• National humanitarian aid workers from either a national or international NGOs can register for the ICVA Speakers Bureau. The NGO must be either a member of ICVA or a member of their national or international NGO Forum. Female representatives are strongly encouraged to apply.
• We are seeking confident and experienced humanitarian aid workers that can represent the work of their organization and speak compellingly about the humanitarian issues in their contexts.
• If you are not the Executive Director or Country Director of your organization you will need to request your ED/CD to send a signed letter via email to speakers@icvanetwork.org to inform ICVA that they recommend and approve your selection.