Finn Houiellebecq’s Post

https://lnkd.in/dsj4dUSt Brussels here I come! Attending the 3rd European Humanitarian Forum, taking place on 18 and 19 March. From my personal point of view, it appears that the annual Forum takes place under much less favorable conditions than even one year ago. In 2023, the war in Ukraine was the focus of the Opening Session and many discussions there-after. The Pledging session on the 2nd Day brought some encouraging pledges from EU Member States. In 2024 with the European Elections around the corner, and in view of election results in various EU Member States over the past 12 months the context is more somber. The war in Ukraine rages on, and a silencing of the guns appears far away. Gaza added to this a crisis of proportions not seen before, and an undermining of the universal human rights standards and international law, that will affect humanitarian operations far beyond Gaza. What has been lacking in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in many years prior to 7th October, is the human dimension: how ordinary people are affected and how they think. The same is even more true related to Ukraine. Western newspapers report sometimes on the life in villages close to the front-line. But what do we get to know about the ordinary people on the other side of the front-line? It would in my opinion be beneficial to the humanitarian dialogue, to the creation of support for humanitarian action among the broader public, if the voices of those affected by conflict get a more prominent place, and are guiding responses. New approaches are needed.

We need to move beyond institutional silos to materialise the ambition. Humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors should work towards collective outcomes based on comparative advantages...

The #WestAfrica region faces some of the world's most complex challenges and the acute crises are deteriorating almost everywhere in the region. In the Central Sahel alone, #Mali, #Burkina Faso and #Niger, some 17 million people are currently in humanitarian need. How do we preserve the continuity of aid delivery in times of political instability?   I'm happy to be a co-signatory to this oped, warning that our region is at risk of becoming a blind spot on the international community’s radar. Read more for key actions that would reduce the impact of crises and therefore response costs:"

Interesting insight as to further applying a protection lens to evaluations of humanitarian action.

🌍 Over the past decade, humanitarian emergencies have surged in number, size, and severity. This has placed unprecedented strain on the international aid system, which struggles to keep pace with the financial and human resources needed for effective response. Compounding the challenge, humanitarian work has become increasingly perilous for aid workers, who often face violations of international humanitarian law meant to protect them. A recent analysis from The Wilson Center Quarterly confronts these escalating humanitarian needs, emphasizing the urgent requirement for innovative solutions and stronger global cooperation. As we witness growing conflicts, climate crises, and economic instabilities, the need for a robust, responsive humanitarian system has never been more critical. Let's advocate for and work towards a humanitarian system that not only meets the demands of today but is resilient enough to address the challenges of tomorrow. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gTJAkfmX

🌍 Global Humanitarian Overview 2025: A Call for Solidarity and Action 🌍 International humanitarian laws are being violated with impunity. Civilians and humanitarian aid workers alike are under attack. That’s why with our NGO peers, we’re calling for the full and early funding of the 2025 Global Humanitarian Overview. The GHO outlines a $47 billion appeal to support 190 million people across 32 countries and 9 refugee-hosting regions. From escalating conflicts to climate-induced disasters, the challenges are immense—but so is our resolve. As a signatory, Sphere remains committed to strengthening humanitarian standards and fostering resilience in crisis-affected communities. Let's reset the world's relationship with those in dire need and ensure their voices are at the heart of our response.   Read the joint statement at https://lnkd.in/eGmR48zS #investinhumanity

New AES Blog post: Addressing protection in humanitarian evaluations: what ALNAP 's new guidance needs to achieve https://lnkd.in/gnr6xdED #evaluation #evaluationlearning

Never heard of the European Commission Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department before? 🚨 Let us properly introduce ourselves. Our department first started in 1992 as the EU’s humanitarian aid office - an expression of the European solidarity with people in need across the globe. We have been providing life-saving assistance for over 30 years, with the help of our field network and humanitarian partners, and in line with the humanitarian principles grounded in international humanitarian law: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. In 2010, our department integrated civil protection for a better coordination and disaster response inside and outside Europe, through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the work of the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre. Our job is to help countries prevent and prepare for emergencies, and ensure immediate response and humanitarian assistance for the most vulnerable worldwide. In short, we are here to ensure that no call for aid is left unanswered. We explain this and more in the video below, but if you still have questions, our website will help answer them ➡️ europa.eu/!yjjCMm #EUHumanitarianAid #EUCivilProtection #EUinEmergencies

Interesting read from our #IFRC Regional Director in Asia Pacific on the importance of complementarity within the humanitarian architecture... Quote: "Yes, some international humanitarian organizations will continue to have mandates and capacities to provide support and protection to people who won’t be served through national capacity alone. But this needs to be managed without an ambition to grow and sustain international structures indefinitely. Rather, complementarity should be funded and led with the intent of being as local as possible — for the sake of ownership, sustainability, and respect — and only as international as necessary — to provide the benefits of neutrality and technical skills until they are transferred. Those words are not new, but we are still far from seeing them applied."

Great to see the publication of USAID 's policy on locally led humanitarian assistance. I'd have liked to see more about what it means for how USAID engages with government actors at different levels (local and national) and some mention of linkages between social protection and humanitarian action as a key way of moving to more locally led assistance. https://lnkd.in/eXcv8UaY