Day 2: 30 April 2025

SESSION 3: The Development / Humanitarian Aid Interface

Panel:

Prof. Dr. Michael Koehler, Grand Bargain Ambassador; Professor, College of Europe, and Former Deputy Director-General, ECHO – Chair, introduced the panelists and the theme of the session, wondering how the interface works in reality. Immediate aid in case of sudden onset crises is mostly short term while development funding kicks in for reconstruction or at the same time for the same people. It becomes more relevant when beneficiaries indicate development demands over purely humanitarian needs. Cooperating between humanitarian and development partners is not perceived as real interaction. Financial flows prove that development aid outreaches humanitarian aid, while in only few donor budgets a clear distinction is made. Humanitarian focus continues while development activities are no longer funded, addressing fragility and the need for resilience.

Mr. Amin Awad, President of the Foundation Council, DCAF Geneve Center for Security Governance, stated that separation between humanitarian and development concepts can be frustrating at first sight. Focus should be uniquely on resources, improved cooperation and shared approaches. Humanitarian and development aid should start simultaneously and be aligned with linked resources and objectives. Anxiety and animosity are to be avoided while shocks should be addressed by reinforcing each other.

Points of advice include:

  • Not sequencing but aligning capacities
  • Triple nexus with layers of intervention in basic services beyond individual mandates
  • Flexible financing models e.g. OECD for both humanitarian aid and long-term support systems to bring tools and modalities in development contexts
  • Joint needs assessments to also decide on chronological approaches
  • Bringing resilience in integrated phases
  • Localisation as a bridge and investing in local and preferably rural settings
  • Donor coordination and incentives not to be overruled by political priorities
  • Humanitarian diplomacy, service oriented and delivery planned
  • Data to be base for long term planning
  • Trust building, dignity, accountability.

Ms. Fati N’Zi-Hassane, Director, Oxfam Africa, briefly described Oxfam as a multi-mandate organisation, working to dismantle a poverty creating system by focusing on both areas of humanitarian and development. Both systems are under pressure while donors are also facing a complex setting and aid budgets are stretched. A fragile context is not a permanent state, and fragility goes beyond conflict while resilience indicates the capacity to come out of fragility. The Fragile States Index indicates that the most vulnerable states are in Africa with high displacement due to climate, conflict or poverty. It shows a two-tier system with some countries investable and others with protracted crises. Combining emergency aid and structural development brings about resilience, but mostly support is fragmented along institutional mandates, budget flows and political priorities.

Focus on people and not on projects will allow to overcome a crisis by looking at long-term impact; humanitarian aid should also include resilience aspects, be multi-year, flexible and integrated funding. It should create ability to manage risk effectively by supporting immediate as well as longer-term initiatives. Approaches must be risk aware and building towards resilience building.

Ms. Heidi De Pauw, Country Director, Enabel, Jordan, stressed that optimism is crucial in our line of work to rethink a change of priorities and not shift away from fragile contexts. Interconnected processes of long-term actions aligned with short term measures based on long term perspectives to ensure immediate needs are met and laying groundwork for a longer-term approach simultaneously with peace building. Short term threats should not take away from context-informed approaches, be localised and provide sustainable solutions for crisis contexts, able to change swiftly between timeframes and involving local communities. All efforts and initiatives should be demand driven and match the demands and needs of the communities on the ground and consider the role of new actors with public-private-partnerships becoming more important. Belgium is working with local partners focusing on dialogue, but collaboration needs to be increased, and partners should stick together as snowflakes.

Discussion: the gap is widening with less financing facilities on the humanitarian side while on the development side more focus is moving on the development potential and less so on resilience building. Better match must exist between needs of the population and offers of support to be creating a masterplan for the recovery with involvement of the local community in the planning and adequate funding to support the plan. Working with local systems and knowledge and going beyond narrow scope interventions are crucial. Peacebuilding shows a multiplying factor of 1 to 16 compared with peacekeeping costs.

Comments from the floor:

Consider moving food aid to cash.

Value of Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) and Joint planning is crucial, in particular in fragile contexts. International tax return policies are to ensure private sector pays taxes owed to be used for state building. JNA should also include local community representatives to better address the needs, be they humanitarian or development with common objectives.

What is the role for the private sector in bridge building? They should be more “trained” to be made aware of the needs.

Risk management should replace risk shifting. Risk shifting should be preceded by proper training.

Are checks and due diligence to be carried out before giving a full development platform?

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: “Holding onto our humanity: Combatting Propaganda”

Ms. Arwa Damon, President and Founder, INARA: Former CNN Senior International Correspondent, started as a journalist after 9/11 living in NY and motivated by propaganda on ill will. To build bridges and fight back against those being convinced of ill will with propaganda leading to polarisation and indifference. In Iraq witnessing military aggressiveness made her decide to go beyond reporting and set up an agency to work for those who have nothing.

The Gaza crisis shows we are manipulated by propaganda with even greater impunity. The number of journalists killed in 2024 is the highest ever with 70% killings by Israeli forces. Erosion of mainstream media by social media which also serves to amplify polarising messages that others are not deserving. We need to interact despite such messages and listen to each other.  We still emotionally process primitively by ways how trauma changes how we emotionally react to a narrative that is brought upon us. To break the cycle of violence we need to move beyond feeling comfortable. Looking for the truth it can be found in the smallest denominator such as the child that tries to survive. Journalism must counter the narrative of propaganda by being more from the bottom up. Even if exhausted we need to try to make change, even the smallest one. We need to emotionally evolve and refuse to be made comfortable and to talk and think in a different way and refuse to be “suckers”. (Attachment)

SESSION 4: Globalisation and Localisation; New Actors

Panel:

H.E. Mr. Panos Moumtzis, Former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, and Executive Director Global Executive Leadership Initiative (GELI), Chair, stressed the actuality of this topic where globalisation comes at the cost of localisation which needs to be changed. The overview of funding allocated to UN agencies, International NGOs and National and local actors showed that from 2016 to 2024 national and local actors received only less than 3% of total humanitarian funding. This raises the question how commitment can be changed: for the financing side money is power and all must be seen as equal partners. Leadership is enabling power with full partnerships and participation of national partner, while trust must be giving space. He addressed specific questions to the speakers in this session. (Attachment)

Dr. Hana Omar, Director of Partnerships and International Relations, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, was asked how globalisation and localisation can coexist. She drew an analogy with global and local farmer markets. New actors are needed to assist in the current financial stress such as faith based and private actors, diaspora, raising the question what the vision forward is with leadership and shift from global to local. A humanitarian reset can only happen with local actors, capacity building to implement, and donor due diligence to work with local actors.

There is slow improvement such as the country-based pooled funds, local capacity building for international systems and demands. Majority of the Centre’s partners are local, helping to fill local gaps, and working together with UN as an example of genuine partnerships. Networks with local actors make aid delivery in places with limited access possible, also by creating links with local communities which without local actors would not be welcomed.

On the question whether declining funding is an opportunity to shift gear, she stressed that local actors are needed for equitable status and funding access with reduced transactional cost.

Mr. Mohammad Alanzi, Director of Strategic Partnerships, International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO), was asked whether capacity is a barrier to local involvement. IICO strategy includes capacity building as a pillar in Kuwait with local expertise and also in the ten outside offices in Africa and MENA region in intensive training programmes. It is an investment which is supported by the Endowment fund. Regarding new actors and unmet needs, the challenge is how they can help to better respond and cover the needs. Big pharma start by setting up smaller units working up from local levels, a model that can be studied for humanitarian actors. Youth movements, social influencers and CSR businesses are to be involved for shared knowledge.

To build more trust and long-term commitments in current times with more than 40% coming from the US, IICO created a portal system moving from small budgets. It requires a change of mind set with empowerment of local partners with co-leadership.

A spirit of innovation to be more enabling requires for local leaders to be more involved, based on their local knowledge and access and learning the more global standards and processes.

Ms. Alice Laugher, Chief Executive Officer, Committed to Good (CTG), Dubai, a private firm, was asked how to measure success particularly for localisation. She focused on a people centred approach to localisation in the Republic of South Sudan with providing better and dignified labour, allowing them to make a difference to the local communities. It is more cost effective with direct support. Asked how to see local actors and initiatives, she gave examples such as hosting symposia receiving local government financial support. CTG’s business model can be used for localisation with adaptability despite the high risk attached to it, bringing more stability by working with global partners in a coordinated humanitarian response. Empowering local leaders can bring a risk that can be avoided by their motivation to the common cause with innovation and knowledge combined with products and services.

Comments from the floor:

Emphasis has been more on project implementation with less involvement in design of projects with direct links to the needs identified by local level. Many donors welcome local involvement from the design phase onwards to also avoid waste of resources. Localisation may need a different definition to be useful.

Besides funding to NGOs, what other networks can be built for Syria where 75% of funding already goes to local actors?  Bring in the youth. Islamic finance and endowment are being adjusted away from the focus on education alone. 

How to avoid tokenism? Does one size fits all approach apply in localisation? One way is to involve more women in various phases of design and implementation. 

How can high level powers be taken over at local level?

How to avoid “NGO-lisation” of local communities?

What is the role of UN and NGOs to move funding to local organisations without funding increases?

Can local organisations be moved from institutionalisation to family care?

Children of DIHAD “Bridging Differences, Children Can Unite a Polarised World”

Learning about different cultures helps to make people feel more comfortable, possible in Dubai.

SESSION 5: The Exponential Impact of Climate Change

Panel:

H.E. Ms. Mari Kiviniemi, Chair of the Board, University of Vaasa, Former Prime Minister of Finland – Chair, in her presentation referred to the data collected across 77 countries for the People’s Climate Vote 2024. This shows that 56% of the 1.2 million respondents are thinking daily or weekly about climate change, while 53% report being more worried than the year before.

The 2025 Ipsos Gallop U.S. poll shows that about half of the population in the United States see climate change as a serious threat while 63% believe its effects are already noticeable. This trend indicates greater awareness, concern and support for change, making it a call for decisionmakers to act.

The global average temperature in 2024 increased since 1940 to over 1.60 C in pre-industrial levels, with 2.5-2.90C increase to occur against the 1.50C target due to greenhouse gas emissions without very drastic global emission cuts. Environmental impacts of climate change exist already on ecosystems and society with health, economic, social inequality and polarisation, and infrastructure and security risks.

Positive opportunities for exponential benefits are possible when acting swiftly and sustained, leaving the critical question whether the planned measures will be sufficient to reduce the speed of the increase. Some progress has been made but much more action is needed by use of renewable energy, scaling up nature-based solutions, and innovations in circular economy with major economies setting ambitious targets creating global standards and momentum. (Attachment)

Mr. Ovais Sarmad, Independent advisor on Multilateralism, Climate Change and Sustainability; Vice-Chair of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Steering Committee; Former Deputy Executive Secretary of UNFCC, stressed that the move of the “VUCA” (Vulnerable, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world to a “BANI” (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear and Incomprehensible) world is rather challenging as the 1.50C limit set in 2015 will be hard to reach by the end of the century. Last years have already experienced the hottest temperatures ever. Annual COPs have become mega events without concrete measures proposed and agreed, such as on climate finance target which has not been met by far.

Climate change is a threat multiplier to humanitarian situations and SDG targets, but it also can provide an opportunity when it is addressed by likeminded coalitions among societies and nations. The fossil fuel age will end only when humanity has found other sources and methods or transformative solutions. For humanitarian action it means that climate action must be integrated in all measures to ensure that it is carbon negative and not only carbon neutral to remain within the limit. Scientists focusing on ice-frost regions are even more concerned and require more to be using all measures to be implemented to prevent worsening conditions to remain within the Paris limit and on the right side of history.

Asked for his message to COP30, it would be to move to implementation from discussion and submit national plans for this target. (Attachment)

Dr. Hugo Slim, Senior Research Fellow, Las Casas Institute for Social Justice at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, was somewhat encouraged to stay firm and get creative to reach the target. Focusing on polarisation between humanity and nature and between all life and nature. History has taught us to embrace nature, stay close to nature and not polarise it. To find lifesaving harmony between humanity and nature with new purpose and values including nature would require changing the principle of humanity; changing the fundamental principle of nature; and recognising mutuality between humanity and nature, which is needed for survival with mutual aid, with a revised principle of humanity and nature.

There is a need to revive measures for the future based for humans and nature, recognise and value nature and cooperate with it as a partner. A meltdown such as these times is a good moment to make changes. We need a landscape approach, looking at places in need and all life assessments, being more anticipatory and focused on adaptation, with new integrated organisations and not parallel running. Need to find a way to bring nature to the table.

DIHAD is encouraged to come up with new partners to make this possible.

To COP30 the message would be to come together with the Biodiversity COP to address the earth emergency.

Ms. Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Emirates Nature-WWF, Director General, focused on crisis response to lasting resilience – a model for community-led initiatives. It is necessary to take risk to achieve progress. The Asia-Pacific region faces unique vulnerability where the most vulnerable need traditional models to be adapted with rebuilding and also attacking root causes, planning for resilience with nature-based local integrated measures designed through a nature-based angle.

In a global partnership with IFRC the focus is on adapting to risks, scaling-up climate resilient unities at scale through local projects with community led knowledge to become sustainable such as reforesting, promoting climate/smart farming practices led by women and youth, partnering with local organisations and disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation efforts. Water scarcity is often felt by local communities when salination affects farming, so resilience can be strongest when it is locally led and rooted in nature.

For COP30, her message would point at the value of language. (Attachment)

Discussion: climate financing is needed to reach within 1.50 C limit and adaptation to a changed world. In 2015 the developed world pledged to provide USD 200 billion annually to developing countries to address climate change impact, an amount now set at USD 300 billion. Application processes to access the various mechanisms must be made less cumbersome. It is crucial to reframe the needs as earth emergency, show that projects are locally led with government or private sector funding and are sustainable. Build financial sustainability plan where philanthropy can provide support in the beginning.

Comments from the floor:

How to address the funding to make sure grantees at local level do cooperate with nature-based projects? Many funds are multilateral with strict reviewing boards that can be approached with local NGOs.

Why are humanitarian and development agencies working parallel and in other cases not? A middle way between government led and coordinated and local initiatives is most appropriate.

What is the impact of the US withdrawal from the Paris agreement and reduction of UK support, in a context that many sub-national states are already implementing multi-donor action plans. There is no experience yet of impact of these withdrawals as a new – yet disrupted – nexus on which exchanges are to be expected.

How can local actors access funds if already difficult for UN and international organisations?

What are the challenges for nature-based access? In case of bottlenecks it is necessary to work through partnerships to find a solution on the basis of the yet limited experience.

Is neutrality taken into account? It is an issue in relation to nature, but most do not want to be independent from government but with the bigger team interdependence.

SESSION 6: Population Displacements: Trends and Challenges

Panel:

Mr. Federico Soda, Director, Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery, International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Chair, stressed that the number of IDPs has doubled to over 76 million due to conflicts and increasingly climate change. Displacements are prolonged and multiple, of which one third are in the Gulf and MENA region. There is also a high number of returnees such as over 950,000 in Lebanon, over 700,000 in Syria, and in Sudan also recently substantial numbers are on the move. Finding durable solutions is more urgent than ever in view of profound suffering and internal displacement is not purely a humanitarian issue but has a socio-economic impact on affected communities in these areas.

The need for closer cooperation between development and humanitarian sectors has led to the Displacement Initiative and now has shown the limitation of humanitarian capacity to find a solution to internal displacement. More countries have already acted upon the commitment for National Action Plans for displacement, while also development banks are involved. In view of funding constraints, urgent action to find solutions is required also to support transition into recovery and development.

Dr. Moez Doraid, Regional Director a.i. for Arab States and Director, Division of Management and Administration, UN Women, stressed the very specific impact of displacement on women and girls. More than 21 million women and girls in this region are displaced, either as refugee or IDP. In peaceful settings they face discrimination, often with exclusion combined with displacement. Over 50,000 women were killed or deprived of basic services, in Syria about 6.3 million women and girls are displaced, of whom three million lack shelter, risking violence with silence and impunity, poverty, gaps in protection and basic services. A platform on gender alerts on impact of displacement on long -term discrimination. Women led organisations have shown heroic efforts such as women in Lebanon who started agricultural initiatives providing products for their displaced households without external support. Engagement of women in peace-making and security at local level has shown that they can play a central role between displaced and the host community.

Mr. Elie Dagher, Head of Humanitarian Diplomacy and Programs, Lebanese Red Cross (LRC), elaborated on the local engagement’s value, stressing the importance of humanitarian diplomacy with financial resources for basic services of health and education and mobilising local authorities as well as coordination between local level and NGOs. Integration of NGOs with the government to address needs of vulnerable populations exists particularly since the most recent crisis. Built on trust of local communities, the volunteers of LRC and with financial support of diaspora and the international Red Cross movement can also address long term recovery of some 100,000 housing units to allow for IDP returns.

Dr. Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor and Representative to the GCC Countries, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was requested to focus on the role of civil society and of governments towards their citizens. Taking the figures as entry point, he iterated that over 120 million persons are forcibly displaced, one in every 76 persons. At least 53% are women and 54% come from Muslim countries. While the Islamic economy is expected to amount to USD 3.6 trillion, the region faces the highest rate of displacement and unprecedented misery in the world. In many cases average displacement is 25 years, entailing a lost generation. In Gaza and several parts of Africa there are several lost generations, also leaving whole countries behind.

Nexus is only theory in situations like Gaza, while Zakat alone is at least tenfold all humanitarian needs every year. Most non-functioning governments are in the Islamic world, despite tremendous wealth, whereas IDPs are entitled to the same treatment and protection as the citizens of the same countries.

Locally driven solutions leveraged to the States’ responsibilities and reliance on states’ funding have affected the efficiency and independence of humanitarian initiatives. Governments are political animals and primarily serve their own interests and only in later stages their responsibility towards their own citizens. Those responsible should be pressed to play their role and act as much as possible to provide with as few strings attached when a large range of contributors provide support for the people and not just the governments or IFIs, concessional finance or banks.

Comments from the floor:

The importance of women’s participation is confirmed, while success of alternative funding largely depends on efficiency of the system itself. Zakat can deal with financial shortfalls but not with structural failures or issues related to endemic or chronic fragility. Zakat is a tool but should not be overloaded with expectations, and it is still not determined whether it can serve non-Muslims or needs outside regions.

How can engaging with local communities for rebuilding be done?

Message is that working locally with empowering local actors while also using a top-down approach for funding and allocation of resources with support from other member states.