In line with this year’s event theme “DIHAD 2004-2024: Humanitarian Diplomacy and a Journey to the Future”, the 20th edition of the UNOCHA Pre-Conference Workshop, scheduled on 22 April 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will be held under the theme: “Humanitarian Diplomacy – Additional Avenues for Humanitarian Engagement”. The workshop aims to introduce participants the topic from the perspectives of the multilateral humanitarian system by bringing high-level technical experts to share their experiences and lessons learned with a group of professional participants who are interested in expanding their knowledge and engaging in the discussion.
“Humanitarian Diplomacy – Additional Avenues for Humanitarian Engagement”
22 April 2024 | Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Welcome Note
Ms. Sajeda Shawa | Head of Office, UNOCHA in UAE
Ms. Sajeda Shawa
Head of Office, UNOCHA in UAE
UNOCHA Speaker 2024
Sessions by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Welcome and Opening Remarks
09:00 - 09:30
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Welcome Note
09:00 - 09:05
Monday, 2024-04-22
Closing Session
15:10 - 15:50
Monday, 2024-04-22
Wrap Up & Presentation of Certificates
16:00 - 16:30
09:00 - 09:05
Opening Remarks
Ms. Bérangère Boëll-Yousfi | The United Nations Resident Coordinator for UAE
Ms. Bérangère Boëll-Yousfi
The United Nations Resident Coordinator for UAE
UNOCHA Speaker 2024
Sessions by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Official Opening Remarks
09:05 - 09:15
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Pre-Conference Workshop Opening
09:05 - 09:15
Monday, 2024-04-22
Opening Remarks
09:05 - 09:15
09:05 - 09:15
Remarks
H.E. Arthur Mattli
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, in Abu Dhabi
Arthur Mattli was born in Lucerne in 1963, place of origin Wassen (UR). He studied law at the Universities of Fribourg and Exeter and graduated with a degree in law from the University of Fribourg in 1989. After assignments as Delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Jerusalem, Damascus, Riyadh and Dubrovnik, an assistantship at the University of Fribourg and a research residency in New York, he joined the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 1994. After an internship with the Political Affairs Division I in Bern, the Swiss Mission to the European Community in Brussels, and a language training in Taipei and Beijing, he was leading the Economic and Trade Section of the Swiss Embassy in Beijing. In May 2000, he was appointed Head of the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Section of the Directorate of International Law in Berne. In August 2004, he was appointed Deputy Head of mission of the Swiss Embassy in Nairobi, and in September 2008, as Deputy Head of mission of the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi (co-). From August 2011 to July 2015, Ambassador Mattli was Head of Division for Europe, Central Asia, Council of Europe and OSCE at the Directorate of Political Affairs in Bern (job-sharing). From August 2015 to February 2019, he was Head of Mission in Dar es Salaam (job-sharing), where he represented Switzerland at the East African Community and in Zambia. Ambassador Mattli has been Head of mission of the Swiss Embassy in Bucharest since March 2019 to July 2023 . As of the 1st of August 2023 he is serving as Head of Mission of the Swiss Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Remarks
09:15 - 09:30
09:15 - 09:30
Session I: What is Humanitarian Diplomacy?
Definition and Purposes of Humanitarian Diplomacy: The Key Characteristics of Humanitarian Diplomacy. The International Humanitarian Law and the Humanitarian Principles
Dr. Nehal Hefny
Deputy Regional Director, Middle East & North Africa, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Dr. Nehal Hefny joined the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement) in 1997 as a volunteer. Since then, she has held several positions in the Movement and worked in various areas including health and first aid, disaster risk reduction and community resilience, community-based programs, at national, regional, and global levels. Before taking up her current position as the Deputy Regional Director for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in MENA region, Dr. Hefny was the Head of Delegation of IFRC in Jordan since 2021. Prior to that, Dr. Hefny was the Head of the Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) Delegation for Lebanon and Jordan from 2019 to 2021. Prior to that, she was the Under-Secretary General of the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) from 2016 to 2018 where she led and implemented the ERC’s strategic development process. She was also the ERC’s Head of Programs and Projects from 2014 to 2016 and its Programs and Projects Coordinator from 2008 to 2014. Dr. Hefny has also represented the Movement at various international events such as the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai in 2015 and in Cancun in 2017, and she presented the “Health Care in Danger Project” (HCiD) to the African Union in Addis Ababa in 2014. She was a member of the Movement Reference Group for Safety and Security of Health Services, and she has been elected to represented North Africa at Pan African Coordination Team (PACT) since 2013. She served as a Medical Doctor at the Ministry of Health in Egypt from 2001 to 2007 and as a Medical Doctor at the Egyptian Forensic Medicine Administration from 2007 to 2012. Dr. Hefny holds a bachelor’s degree in Medicine from Cairo University, and post-graduate degrees in Public Policy and Executive Management from the American University in Cairo. She is an Egyptian national and is fluent in Arabic and English.
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Definition and Purposes of Humanitarian Diplomacy: The Key Characteristics of Humanitarian Diplomacy. The International Humanitarian Law and the Humanitarian Principles
09:30 - 10:15
09:30 - 10:15
Session II: Overcoming Gender Barriers to Humanitarian Diplomatic Efforts
How Gender can Influence access to Humanitarian Aid and how to Build the Capacity of Women. The Underrepresentation of Women in Peace and Political Processes: Limiting Women Ability to Influence the Outcomes and Advocate for their Rights
Mr. Nestor Owomuhangi | Representative to Iraq, UNFPA Arab States Regional Office
Mr. Nestor Owomuhangi
Representative to Iraq, UNFPA Arab States Regional Office
Nestor Owomuhangi, a Ugandan, became UNFPA's Representative to Iraq in February 2023. Before Iraq, he was the UNFPA Representative in Yemen where he played pivotal roles, boosting UNFPA's humanitarian presence, notably through the Rapid Response Mechanism. Owomuhangi's experience in Iraq dates back to 2014-2018 as UNFPA's Deputy Representative, where he contributed significantly to humanitarian efforts, including Mosul's liberation. His career also includes positions in Lesotho and Uganda with UNFPA, beginning in 1999. With over 28 years in the sector, mainly with UNFPA, he has a profound impact on humanitarian and development work. Owomuhangi holds a master’s in Population and Reproductive Health from Makerere University.
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
How Gender can Influence access to Humanitarian Aid and how to Build the Capacity of Women. The Underrepresentation of Women in Peace and Political Processes: Limiting Women Ability to Influence the Outcomes and Advocate for their Rights
10:15 - 11:00
10:15 - 11:00
Tea/Coffee Break & Networking
11:00 - 11:30
Session III: Trajectory of Humanitarian Diplomacy
Advancing Humanitarian Interests and Goals through Humanitarian Diplomacy: The Humanitarian Diplomacy Role and the Empowerment of Humanitarian Actors. The New Emerging Political and Humanitarian Players and the Consolidation of the Role of New Donors.
Mr. Amin Awad
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Former Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine; Senior Fellow, Advanced Leadership Initiative, Harvard University
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Former Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine; Senior Fellow, Advanced Leadership Initiative, Harvard University
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Advancing Humanitarian Interests and Goals through Humanitarian Diplomacy: The Humanitarian Diplomacy Role and the Empowerment of Humanitarian Actors. The New Emerging Political and Humanitarian Players and the Consolidation of the Role of New Donors.
11:30 - 12:15
11:30 - 12:15
Session IV: Diplomacy Influencing Humanitarian Aid
Humanitarian Diplomacy from a UAE Lens: Perspective shared by the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy
Mr. Rikard Henrik Jalkebro | Associate Professor, Anwar Gargash Academy, Abu Dhabi
Mr. Rikard Henrik Jalkebro
Associate Professor, Anwar Gargash Academy, Abu Dhabi
Dr Rikard Jalkebro is an Associate Professor at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, where he leads the Master's programme in Humanitarian Action and Development (MAHAD). He holds a PhD from the University of St Andrews, where he also spent 14 years contributing to academic research and teaching. Dr Jalkebro's research interests are diverse, ranging from humanitarian action and sustainable development to peace and conflict studies and terrorism studies with a regional focus on Southeast Asia.
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Humanitarian Diplomacy from a UAE Lens: Perspective shared by the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy
12:15 - 12:50
12:15 - 12:50
Role of Think Tanks & the Private Sector in Advancing Humanitarian Diplomacy
Ms. Dubai Abulhoul | Founder of Fiker Institute, Dubai
Ms. Dubai Abulhoul
Founder of Fiker Institute, Dubai
Dubai Abulhoul is an Emirati author, Rhodes Scholar, & founder of Fiker Institute, an international affairs think tank based in Dubai. Fiker Institute's areas of research focus include, but are not limited to, decolonization, global governance, diplomacy, climate change, and gender equality. Dubai’s work has been recognized by key policy platforms, including the Paris Peace Forum and the Rome Med Dialogues. Dubai graduated from the University of Oxford (Diplomacy & Global Governance), and from New York University Abu Dhabi (Political Science & Literature), where her research focused on women’s political participation in the UAE. She also previously served as a diplomat at the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Role of Think Tanks & the Private Sector in Advancing Humanitarian Diplomacy
12:50 - 13:30
12:50 - 13:30
Lunch, Free Time & Networking
13:30 - 14:30
Humanitarian Diplomacy from the NGOs Perspective: Gaza Humanitarian Response as a Case Study
Ms. Sandra Rasheed | Country Director for Palestine, American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera)
Ms. Sandra Rasheed
Country Director for Palestine, American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera)
Sandra Rasheed has worked in the development field for 28 years working for both national and international organizations including MA’AN Development Center, Carter Center, and Save the Children, She has managed tens of projects and worked with such donors as USAID, EU, BMZ, DFAT, and others. She has worked and provided oversight for programs in the fields or sectors of children, youth, education, water, environment, community development, food security and agriculture, human rights, good governance and capacity building, gender, and economic empowerment. She speaks Arabic fluently and currently resides in Ramallah. Ms. Rasheed graduated from Eastern Washington University with a bachelor's degree in English literature. She later earned her master's in sustainable development from World Learning’s School for International Training in Vermont.
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Humanitarian Diplomacy from the NGOs Perspective: Gaza Humanitarian Response as a Case Study
14:30 - 15:10
14:30 - 15:10
Closing Session
Ms. Sajeda Shawa | Head of Office, UNOCHA in UAE
Ms. Sajeda Shawa
Head of Office, UNOCHA in UAE
UNOCHA Speaker 2024
Sessions by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Welcome and Opening Remarks
09:00 - 09:30
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Welcome Note
09:00 - 09:05
Monday, 2024-04-22
Closing Session
15:10 - 15:50
Monday, 2024-04-22
Wrap Up & Presentation of Certificates
16:00 - 16:30
15:10 - 15:50
Tea/Coffee Break & Networking
15:50 - 16:00
Closing
Wrap Up & Presentation of Certificates
H.E. Gerhard Putman-Cramer
CEO of DIHAD Sustainable Humanitarian Foundation and Director of DIHAD International Scientific Advisory Board - DISAB
Currently: Ambassador, Permanent Observer of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva; Chief Executive Officer, Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development (DIHAD) Sustainable Humanitarian Foundation; Member, Dubai Council on the Future of Humanitarian Aid (Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives); President of the Finance Committee, Founex Municipal Council, Switzerland; Former member of the Advisory Committee on International Operations of the Swiss Red Cross, of the Board of the Henri Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and of the Higher Council of the International Congress for Health Specialties (ICHS); former Senior Associate of the Global Humanitarian Forum, Geneva. In his capacity as Permanent Observer of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Putman-Cramer provides support to a number of initiatives undertaken by – or aimed at – PAM member states. This involves developing and applying various aspects of parliamentary diplomacy, often as inputs complementary to actions conducted under the auspices of the UN. As the CEO of the DIHAD Sustainable Humanitarian Foundation, Amb. Putman-Cramer spearheads a number of the Foundation’s initiatives (including the newly created DIHAD College) and elaborates as well as oversees the Conference Programme of the annual DIHAD event (www.dihad.org). The most recent Conference (13-15 March 2023) had as its theme: “Energy and Aid, Capitalising on Available Resources”. From 1975 until 2009 Amb. Putman-Cramer was with the United Nations, initially with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and subsequently with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA/OCHA). He served in New York (on 3 separate occasions), in Geneva (also on 3 separate occasions) and in a variety of field locations (including 2 years in Malaysia and 3 years in Madagascar). The last 14 years of his UN career saw him in the position of Chief of OCHA’s Emergency Services (concurrently appointed as Deputy Director, OCHA Geneva), during which time he created and developed a number of effective international response mechanisms and instruments (e.g the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team – UNDAC – and the Civil/Military Coordination concept ) while also reinforcing, together with the concerned authorities in disaster-prone countries, essential response capacities at the community, national and regional levels. During this period also, he led a large number of emergency/disaster response missions to, inter alia, Iraq (in the years 1991-94 and in 2003, as Area Coordinator for the Centre Region), the Caucasus, Tajikistan, Pakistan (the 2005 earthquake), Turkey, Mongolia, Thailand and Indonesia (also in the context of the South-East Asia Tsunami). Amb. Putman-Cramer has a ‘’Diplôme Universitaire en Santé Humanitaire’’ from the University Claude-Bernard in Lyon, a Post-Graduate Diploma (Economics, International Relations and International Law) from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, a Post-Graduate Diploma (Economic Development) from the Polytechnic of North London and a B.A. (Hons.) in Literature from Bedford College, University of London. Amb. Putman-Cramer is married and has two daughters.
Sessions by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Closing
16:00 - 16:30
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Wrap Up & Presentation of Certificates
16:00 - 16:30
Ms. Sajeda Shawa | Head of Office, UNOCHA in UAE
Ms. Sajeda Shawa
Head of Office, UNOCHA in UAE
UNOCHA Speaker 2024
Sessions by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Welcome and Opening Remarks
09:00 - 09:30
Lectures by this speaker
Monday, 2024-04-22
Welcome Note
09:00 - 09:05
Monday, 2024-04-22
Closing Session
15:10 - 15:50
Monday, 2024-04-22
Wrap Up & Presentation of Certificates
16:00 - 16:30
16:00 - 16:30
Explore past pre-conference archives here.