The WPS-HA Compact Secretariat is excited to host its second Thematic Knowledge Session for Compact Signatories.
The sessions are structured around the Compact’s five thematic areas, as well as other critical, cross-cutting, or emerging areas, and will enable Signatories to exchange with other Signatories and thematic experts on their selected Compact actions, share progress on implementation, and forge connections for collaboration.
The upcoming session will be held on 21 February, 9:00-11:00 am EDT and it will focus on Engaging with and Supporting Non-Traditional Humanitarian Actors in Conflict and Crisis Settings.
The impact of protracted armed conflicts, violent extremism and disasters, often with root causes in climate change, has seen record numbers in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, with the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance having doubled in just four years. In 2023, an estimated 103 million people are displaced due to conflict and crisis and 339 million people will need humanitarian assistance, half of which are women and girls. However, it is crucially important that women and girls are not just seen as victims in crisis settings. In most locations, and in situations of conflict, women are amongst the first responders, ensuring the survival and recovery of not only themselves and their dependents, but also their wider communities. As such, the inclusion of crisis affected women in the decision-making and planning and implementation processes of humanitarian action is a prerequisite to effective crisis response. This is also recognized through the commitments of the IASC’s Gender Policy and the tenets of Accountability to Affected Populations.
This thematic knowledge session will allow a conversation amongst signatories and experts to explore the Compact’s potential to contribute to advancing women’s leadership in humanitarian response where persistent gaps and challenges remain.
Interpretation will be provided in English, French and Spanish.
L’interprétation sera assurée en Anglais, Français et Espagnol.
Habrá interpretación en Inglés, Francés y Español.
Register here to attend the session
Provisional Agenda:
- Opening and Introductions
- Overview of Signatory Actions
- Context and Gaps Analysis
- Presentations by Compact Signatories
- Audience Q&A
- Reflections and Way Forward
Panelists:
- Amani Aruri, Youth Representative of MENA region-Karama Network
- Negina Yari, Head of the Afghan Women Advisory Group to the Humanitarian Country Team
- Ruwaydah Matete, UNHCR Accountability Affected Populations & Gender Equality Specialist in the East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes
- Rahel Beigel, UN Representative, Women’s Refugee Commission
Reflections from Compact Stakeholders:
- Facia Harris, Feminist Humanitarian Network Representative
- Sweta Kannan, German Federal Foreign Office
We look forward to exchanging with you all on 21 February 2023.
