Concept Note, Building a Better World Together: The Future of Humanitarian Action, IASC High-Level side event at the Summit of the Future
Background
Since 1992, the humanitarian system has evolved significantly to address increasing needs. However, it now faces an increasingly complex multilateral environment and a growing number of crises driven by armed violence, evolving conflict settings (including the increased role of non-state armed actors and privatized security), natural disasters, and climate change. Compounded by economic downturns, dwindling funding and emerging technologies, these factors severely affect millions of people globally. The humanitarian system and the communities it serves are under immense stress.
This year has seen conflict expanding with brutal consequences for civilians and increased disregard for international humanitarian law (IHL), international human rights law, refugee law and the basic norms underpinning humanitarian action and multilateralism. Humanitarian space is under daily threat, with partners facing barriers to reaching those in need. Women and children suffer disproportionally. Attacks on humanitarian workers, medical personnel and critical civilian infrastructure could reach record-highs this year. Killings, injuries, detentions and kidnappings of humanitarian workers, particularly local staff and volunteers are affecting mental health and operational continuity. On 19 August, World Humanitarian Day (WHD), IASC Principals alongside over 400 humanitarian organisations called on Member States to take urgent action to protect civilians and halt attacks on humanitarians.
Forced displacement has reached unprecedented levels, with around 120 million forcibly displaced by end of 2023. The world also faces the largest food crisis in modern history, with 282 million people facing acute hunger, particularly in Palestine and Sudan. Multiple health threats such as Mpox, polio and cholera exacerbate the situation. The Global Humanitarian Overview seeks US$48.7 billion to help 188 million people in urgent need in in 72 countries, but by June 2024, only 19 per cent of this had been received.
Yet, we continue to stay and deliver in humanitarian crises around the world. The humanitarian community, particularly local partners, continues to deliver in the most difficult contexts including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Palestine, Sudan and Ukraine. In 2023, more than 143 million people received some form of assistance while also aiming to mitigate the further impacts of climate risks, diseases and conflict. This has included providing lifesaving aid to reduce malnutrition and hunger, offering protection services, sheltering forcibly displaced people, and implementing education and livelihoods programs. Investing in anticipatory action and paving the way for resilience and durable solutions have been the guiding principles of our work.
These actions are strengthened by the unified efforts of the IASC and thousands of humanitarian partners, particularly local frontline responders, including local women’s organizations. The IASC drives collective humanitarian and multilateral action through partnerships with UN agencies, NGOs, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, the World Bank, Member States and regional partners, in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 46/182. The IASC leads solutions to reduce human suffering with a focus on placing people at the centre of our response. Now more than ever, humanitarians need Member States to fulfil their political responsibilities, address attacks on humanitarians, tackle the root causes of crises and ensure predictable funding. These steps are essential to meeting growing global humanitarian needs.
Objective
The High-Level Side Event will convene Member States, regional grouping, the UN, NGOs, the private sector and key humanitarian and development partners to discuss how global humanitarian action aligns with the principles and values of the UN Charter and contributes to the future of humanity. It will assess current challenges and explore multilateral approaches to ensure humanitarian action is fit for the future to respond effectively.
Discussions will focus on supporting people affected by crises[1] and forced displacement, upholding international law[2] and ensuring accountability to the communities we serve, particularly youth, women, girls and people with disabilities[3]. The event will explore how partnerships can strengthen technical capacities and political will to respond to growing global crises, reduce disaster risks and impacts, build resilience to climate and other shocks, and pave way for sustainable peace and development[4].
It will also call for concrete actions to drive forward solutions to reduce human suffering, tackle the root causes of crises and displacement, address gender-based violence and urge Member States to promote respect for IHL. The event complements the Pact for the Future and contributes to achieving the SDGs, ensuring no
crisis-affected community is left behind.
Event organization and arrangements
The High-Level Side Event will take place in person at UN Headquarters, following a multi-stakeholder approach. The 75-minuteevent will feature a panel discussion and a short film, followed by interactive discussions with participants. This event will be streamed live on the UN Web TV.
Co-organizers: IASC secretariat on behalf of the following IASC members: ICVA, IFRC, InterAction, OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP, along with Member States Slovenia, Spain (Global North), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Global South), the African Union.
Panel speakers: The panel will include IASC Members’ Principals co-hosting this event, a civil society representative from the field, and a speaker representing refugees.
[1] Linked to International Peace and Security Agenda action 13 and 15.
[2] Linked to International Peace and Security/Chapter 2 and Transforming Global Governance/Chapter 5.
[3] Linked to Chapter 4 on Youth and Future Generations, and as a cross-cutting issue of the Pact.
[4] Linked to Sustainable Development and Financing for Development/Chapter 1 and Chapter 5.