Critical Choices: Triaging Humanitarian Priorities
When: 16 – 17 October 2024
Where: Urania Berlin, An der Urania 17, 10787 Berlin
The theme of the Humanitarian Congress Berlin 2024 “Critical Choices: Triaging Humanitarian Priorities“ will focus on navigating humanitarian needs amidst diverse global crises. From the rise of authoritarian regimes to the climate crisis and unprecedented budget cuts, humanitarian actors face escalating challenges. The Congress will explore strategies for coherent humanitarian intervention and forward-thinking approaches to achieve equitable, resilient, and sustainable outcomes in today’s multipolar world.
This year’s congress will feature a variety of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops with esteemed speakers – have a first look at the exciting programme now and secure your ticket!
Please note that the programme is still under development and may be subject to changes.
09:15 – 10:30 | Kleistsaal & Edisonsaal (livestream available)
Welcome & Keynote Dialogue with Heba Aly & Nimo Hassan
Welcome & Keynote Dialogue with Heba Aly & Nimo Hassan
Welcome Note:
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Keynote Speaker:
Nimo Hassan | Director, Somali NGO Consortium
&
Heba Aly | Coordinator, UN Charter Reform Coalition
Chair:
Isabelle Arradon, Director of Research, International Crisis Group
11:00 – 12:30 | Kleistsaal (livestream available)
No peace, no protection: The humanitarian situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
No peace, no protection: The humanitarian situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a country with a vibrant civil society and significant natural resources has been experiencing escalating conflict, in particular in the eastern provinces. This session will look at current and urgent humanitarian challenges but also address root causes of conflict and violence, such as the trade of minerals and violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, including SGBV. It will also look at synergies between the work of humanitarian and human rights actors and seek recommendations on how they can support each other in the face of escalating violence and significant humanitarian needs. Finally, the session will also explore ways of ensuring that the urgent humanitarian situation in the DRC is not ignored by mainstream media, donor countries and political actors.
Sandrine Lusamba | National Coordinator, SOLIDARITE FEMININE POUR LA PAIX ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT INTEGRAL “SOFEPADI”
Luise Amtsberg | Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance
Manu Lampaert | DRC country représentative, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders
Faridah Luanda | Gender and Diversity Coordinator, Global Refugee Youth Network
Chair:
Omar Ahmed Abenza | Head of Region – Africa, Geneva Call
11:00 – 12:30 | Edisonsaal (livestream available)
Safe Abortion – A Denied Lifesaving Intervention
Safe Abortion – A Denied Lifesaving Intervention
In humanitarian settings, access to sexual and reproductive health and rights is often limited or non-existent, while contraception and abortion care remain neglected components. However, safe abortion is essential healthcare and a lifesaving intervention. Self-managed abortion has emerged as a viable and safe approach, especially when conventional medical services are unavailable. WHO considers abortion essential health care and calls on countries to decriminalize abortion and remove the many access barriers. Refusing abortion services can cause severe mental and physical suffering and has been considered a violation of IHL to ensure human treatment. This panel highlights the importance of safe abortion as a public health component in humanitarian contexts. It explores the role of self-managed abortion and share good practices from feminist organizations. Overall, it provides insights and solutions for the integration of self-managed abortion into humanitarian health frameworks.
Najat Lahmidi | Midwife and SRHR technical advisor, Médecins du Monde
Dr. Bela Ganatra | Unit Head, Preventing unsafe abortion, The World Health Organization Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research
Dr. Lucía Berro Pizzarossa | Women Help Women
Bill Powell | Senior Medical Scientist, IPAS
Chair:
Kristin Horn
13:30 – 15:00 | Kleistsaal (livestream available)
Where is Everyone? Understanding the Gaps in Sudan’s Emergency Response
Where is Everyone? Understanding the Gaps in Sudan’s Emergency Response
This panel explores the lack of humanitarian response in many global crises, despite the growing humanitarian system. In acute emergencies, international staff are often evacuated, leading to reduced or suspended programs. Many agencies focus on easily accessible populations, neglecting harder-to-reach areas. Increasingly, humanitarian actors operate remotely through local NGOs or government authorities, acting more as technical experts or donors. Local organizations, bearing significant responsibilities, often lack the resources and face high security risks.
In Sudan, over a year into the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a colossal man-made catastrophe continues. Urgent safe humanitarian access is a matter of life or death for millions. The panel will discuss the reasons behind the inadequate response and potential solutions to scale up activities across the country.
Maryam Elfaki | Sudanese democracy, social justice & peace activist
Ozan Agbas | Emergency Manager, Médecins Sans Frontières
Betty Ka | Director Supply Chain Operations Division, World Food Programme
Christina Förster | Deputy Head of Department, German Humanitarian Assistance in Countries and Regions, German Federal Foreign Office
Chair:
Kholood Khair | Political Analyst; Founding Director, Confluence Advisory
13:30 – 15:00 | Edisonsaal (livestream available)
Invisible Frontiers: Locals Leading Humanitarian Negotiations
Invisible Frontiers: Locals Leading Humanitarian Negotiations
In recent years, the working conditions for humanitarians have become more difficult, volatile and insecure. This has increasingly created INVISIBLE FRONTIERS for humanitarian actors operating in fragile contexts. This panel looks at the changing environment for HUMANITARIAN NEGOTIATIONS, especially for local actors who are at the forefront of humanitarian responses and regularly conduct negotiations for humanitarian access. Yet, they are often the least protected and their needs are not always considered. This panel therefore explores different perspectives, experiences and learnings from locally led humanitarian negotiations. Speakers representing local organizations from Afghanistan, Nigeria and Venezuela share their strategies to secure humanitarian access. Different approaches to negotiations and how to handle practical, security and ethical dilemmas are discussed. Overall, the panel shows practical solutions for humanitarian negotiations from local actors, and how international actors can support them best in doing so
Dr. Kristina Roepstorff | Senior Researcher, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
Hamsatu Allamin | Director, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development
Khalil Karimi I Head of Operations, Razi Social Development Organization (RSDO)
Arquímides Farías | Senior Analyst
Chair:
Armando Palacios | Network Security Advisor, Médecins du Monde
15:30 – 17:00 | Kleistsaal (livestream available)
Decisions on the edge: Handling Dilemmas concerning fundamental Humanitarian Principles
Decisions on the edge: Handling Dilemmas concerning fundamental Humanitarian Principles
Handling dilemmas that challenge humanitarian principles can be difficult, as they often require balancing competing ethical values, addressing complex societal issues, and making decisions that affect people’s lives. If we reflect the Core Humanitarian Principles that normally should guide humanitarian action, we will realize that dealing with dilemmatic situations is rarely easy and often does not offer perfect solutions, but even more requires well-founded, ethically justifiable decisions and the willingness to choose the better of two “bad solutions”.
This Panel aims to answer questions like whether every humanitarian need has an equal priority for every humanitarian actor, and is intergenerational aid – is the future – part of the emergency of the present, and should it be prioritized? Another burning question would be whether it is unethical – if no alternative financial support is offered – to involve profit-oriented companies in burden-sharing? Finally, the session will discuss whether humanitarian aid that is more successful should be weighed against that which is less promising.
Prof. Marco Sassòli I Professor of International Law, University of Geneva
Dr. Andrea Steinke | Researcher and Consultant, Associate Centre for Humanitarian Action
Abby Stoddard | Researcher, Writer, Humanitarian Policy Analyst
Nimo Hassan | Director, Somali NGO Consortium
Chair:
Alexandra Rüth | Head of Knowledge & Innovation Department, German Red Cross
15:30 – 17:00 | Edisonsaal (livestream available)
Funding gaps and changing Narratives: A Balancing Act
Funding gaps and changing Narratives: A Balancing Act
This session looks at the elephant in the (emergency) room: money and resources. Decreasing budgets and changing funding landscape pose significant challenges to humanitarian actors, while needs are escalating and complex crises become more protracted. This trend is often framed with narratives that link humanitarian funding to political and security interests of donor states or economical interests. Humanitarian organizations are increasingly required to “do more with less”. The panelists with their individual backgrounds will discuss their experience and concrete responses to the critical and changing funding panorama and its impacts on prioritization in humanitarian and developmental work. What are new and local solutions to funding gaps and what are the implications of new narratives on funding? Overall, the panel focuses on possible solutions and ways to move towards a more effective and equitable funding landscape, and asks what is needed from different stakeholders to achieve it.
John Bryant | Research Fellow, ODI
Margret Müller | Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, Oxfam
Misun Woo | Regional Coordinator, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
Mehdi Poyan | GFFO, Desk Officer for Principles of Humanitarian Aid, International
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Demining
Chair:
William Anderson | Executive Director, Sphere Standards
15:30 – 17:00 | Keplersaal
Medical Care under Fire – Reclaiming humanitarian spaces
Medical Care under Fire – Reclaiming humanitarian spaces
Delivering aid where it is needed the most, health care workers are often at the forefront of armed conflicts. the security of health workers in conflict zones hangs on a thin thread: The obligation to protect and respect medical personnel in contexts of armed conflict, embedded in international humanitarian law (IHL), is often not complied with in practice. This solution-oriented panel discussion explores how to prevent the grinding down of respect and security of medical care in armed conflicts. We approach this topic by looking at the dilemmas that aid workers are confronted with when their security is threatened. We will consider the impressive record of humanitarians in implementing their own security measures, as well as their advocacy for the implementation of legal obligations with warring parties and the international community. Learning from best and failed practices we strive to understand how we can attach thick mooring ropes to IHL to reestablish trust in its underlying principles. Drawing from the expertise of the room, the panel will be interactively guided by contributions of the audience.
Aurelien Buffler | Chief of Policy Advice and Planning, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Ana Elisa Barbar | Consultant, World Health Organisation
Dr Houssam al-Nahhas | Health and Human Rights Researcher, Physicians for Human Rights
Chair:
Christina Wille | Director, Insecurity Insight
All-Day: Free Media Training provided by Deutsche Welle Academy
9:00 – 10:00 | Kleistsaal & Edisonsaal (livestream available)
Welcome & Keynote Adress by Ugochi Daniels
Welcome & Keynote Adress by Ugochi Daniels
Welcome Note:
tba
Keynote Speaker:
Ugochi Daniels | Deputy Director General for Operations, International Organization for Migration
Chair:
William Anderson | Executive Director, Sphere Standards
10:30 – 12:00 | Kleistsaal (livestream available)
Humanitarianism in the Shadow of Politics: Navigating Aid under Pressure
Humanitarianism in the Shadow of Politics: Navigating Aid under Pressure
Humanitarian work takes place in geopolitical contexts and complex crises, whose drivers and root causes have always been important factors influencing how aid is funded and delivered. Humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, that aid must solely be based on needs, guided the work. Recent years show that contextual complexity is often reduced to simplistic narratives on who deserves aid and who doesn’t, while the global context is changing significantly. Do these changes drive us further away from principled humanitarian action and are we still serving the “most in need”? Has aid ever been non-political? Based on their experience and expertise, the panelists will critically discuss the politicization of humanitarian work of different stakeholders in a post-colonial framework and with competing narratives – its impact on affected communities, staff members and on implementation of aid projects. What lessons and recommendations can be drawn for the future of (principled) humanitarian action?
Prof. Thea Hilhorst I Professor for Humanitarian Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Olivier Vandecasteele | Founder, Protect Humanitarians
Marta Lorenzo | Director of the Regional Office of Europe, UNRWA
Wafa’a Al Saidy | Head of Mission Syria, Médecins du Monde
Deike Potzel | Director-General for Stabilisation and Humanitarian Assistance, German Federal Foreign Office
Chair:
Ralf Südhoff | Director, Centre for Humanitarian Action
10:30 – 12:00 | Edisonsaal (livestream available)
Young Voices in Humanitarian Law: Paradigm Shifts and Technological Change
Young Voices in Humanitarian Law: Paradigm Shifts and Technological Change
A multitude of paradigm shifts are changing daily life and the future, including the perception of long-standing IHL by a young algorithm-savvy, globally connected generation. Especially when it comes to highlighting innovative aspects of IHL, one should not ignore the technological dangers. In already crisis-ridden regions, feigned neutrality, independence, or participation in either a positive or negative sense is an issue that the younger generation must address when thinking about innovations in IHL. How do young people today understand and feel about international humanitarian law (IHL) and the policies in place when it comes to armed conflict? Many young people want to build bridges and remind others that building peace requires effort and commitment. Others choose the easy path and stray into confrontational ideologies. This diversity means that new solutions to complex humanitarian challenges must be found, including for IHL. This panel will discuss what this might look like.
Dr. Tassilo Singer | Lecturer “Technical Data Protection”, University of the Bundeswehr Munich
Erik Tuchtfeld | Research Associate, Max-Planck-Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg
Delphine Dogot | Associate Professor of Law, University Catholique de Lille
Dr. Claire Vergerio | Senior Assistant Professor of International Relation, Leiden University
Mirka Schäfer | Head of Advocacy & Mobilisation, SOS Humanity
Chair:
Dr. Katja Schöberl | Manager for International Relations/ Advisor Political & Movement Relations, German Red Cross
10:30 – 12:00 | Keplersaal
The Shrinking Pie: Tackling Funding Shortfalls in Global Health
The Shrinking Pie: Tackling Funding Shortfalls in Global Health
With shrinking foreign aid budgets and upcoming pledging campaigns, multilateral financing organizations face significant budget cuts, potentially reducing vital health services in high-burden countries. Many countries have not fully recovered from COVID-19, which severely impacted the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Humanitarian needs are also at an all-time high due to conflicts and the climate crisis, complicating health service delivery.
The next few years are crucial for global health organizations like Gavi, the Global Fund, WHO, and the Pandemic Fund as they seek new funding. If these organizations fail to fulfill their missions, there will be setbacks in infectious disease control and routine immunization, reversing progress on Sustainable Development Goal 3. Cost-saving measures, debt relief, and alternative funding must be explored to strengthen health services and mitigate budget crises.This panel will discuss cost-saving strategies, resource mobilization, and the roles of donor countries and civil society in mitigating cutbacks.
Mit Philipps | Coordinator Health Politics Team, MSF OCB
Yolanda Paul | Manager, The University of the West Indies Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Unit, Mona Jamaica
Dr. Katja Pohlmann | Head of Division for Global Health, German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Chair:
Andrew Green | Freelance Global Health Correspondent
13:00 – 14:30 | Kleistsaal (livestream available)
Unpacking the Climate-Water-Nexus: Climate Change Adaptation in Humanitarian WASH
Unpacking the Climate-Water-Nexus: Climate Change Adaptation in Humanitarian WASH
The climate crisis with its growing number of looming droughts and severe floodings is increasing humanitarian needs worldwide. Disasters are becoming more frequent and severe and the resilience of those affected is declining. All projections indicate that this situation will worsen.
The scale and nature of climate change will have specific impacts on the humanitarian WASH sector. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services are confronted by multiple growing challenges, such as: increased demand for water due to heat, increased pathogen activity in stored water and increased likelihood of overflow or damage to sanitation infrastructure. Water insecurity is also expected to grow in many regions across the globe.
The session “Unpacking the Climate-Water Nexus” spotlights climate change adaptation in humanitarian WASH. What are the challenges and technical solutions in light of growing water insecurity and other climate-related changes in the WASH sector?
Mercy Kieni | Public Health Engineer & WASH expert, Oxfam Kenya
Dr. Karen Lebek | Scientific Coordinator at the Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam
Paul Knox-Clarke | Consultant & Researcher in organisational and humanitarian effectiveness, ADAPT Initiative
Chair:
Nishanie Jayamaha | Co-lead Climate and Environment Charter Secretariat and Founder, Nik’s Fudo
13:00 – 14:30 | Edisonsaal (livestream available)
Gated Europe: Humanitarian Challenges and Responses to EU Migration Policies
Gated Europe: Humanitarian Challenges and Responses to EU Migration Policies
The European Union is increasingly closing itself off from refugees, creating a ‘gated Europe’ where its external borders have become hotspots of death, despair, and destitution. Despite having the wealth and capacity to manage the humanitarian challenges posed by refugee movements, EU states prioritize deterrence and outsourcing, often through ethically questionable deals. Humanitarian actors, filling the gaps in aid provision, risk becoming part of a system that uses structural violence as a deterrence tool. At the same time, the space for humanitarian work is shrinking, with increasing criminalization of aid providers and restricted access to vulnerable populations. This panel will explore how humanitarian actors can navigate this dehumanizing landscape and hold EU states accountable for violating European and international law.
Chris Jones | Executive Director, Statewatch
Ruben Andersson | Professor of Social Anthropology, Oxford University
Chloe Marshall-Denton | Head of the Forced Migration Team – Analysis Department, Médecins Sans Frontières – Operational Centre of Brussels
Chair:
Karoline Popp | Researcher, Expert Council on Integration and Migration
13:00 – 14:30 | Workshop-Room
Hidden Wounds: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Crises
Hidden Wounds: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Crises
With Ukraine and Gaza as current examples, this panel aims to discuss how concepts of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) are integrated and delivered in humanitarian work in complex crisis settings and emergencies and what the lessons learned are – also for the mental health of our own staff.
The panelists will discuss the mental health (+social) impacts and traumatic, long-lasting or intergenerational effects of crises situations on affected communities, especially children. What concepts are applied currently in humanitarian and development work, how do they relate to local culture and contexts, how is priority setting on the ground being considered?
Examples from their daily work will highlight the challenges, that that practitioners, staff of international and local NGOs are facing in providing MHPSS services to affected communities. What kind of answers and tools were useful, what works and what doesn’t and why.
Sameh Hendi | MHPSS Technical Advisor, Ukraine Country Office Save the Children
Ananda Galappatti | Co-Director, MHPSS.net
Hanan Ismael | Psychologist, Westbank oPT, Médecins du Monde Spain
Ohayla Shomar | MHPSS Coordinator, SAWA Foundation oPT
Chair:
Pennina Munguti | Regional head of East-Africa, ArcheNova
15:00 – 16:00 | Kleistsaal & Edisonsaal (livestream available)
Concluding Reflections and Take Aways with Anita Kattakuzhy and Dr. Hugo Slim
Concluding Reflections and Take Aways with Anita Kattakuzhy and Dr. Hugo Slim
Introduction:
Dr. Parnian Parvanta | Deputy Chairwoman, Médecins Sans Frontières Germany
Dr. Hugo Slim | Senior Research Fellow, University of Oxford
&
Anita Kattakuzhy, Director of Policy, NEAR
The Humanitarian Forum is an exhibition and a key part of the Humanitarian Congress Berlin. Centrally located in the foyers of the congress venue, the Humanitarian Forum gives NGOs, universities and think tanks the unique opportunity to introduce themselves and present their work to participants including young professionals, experienced humanitarian workforce as well as other organisations and interested parties. We are looking forward to this year’s participants
A Drop in the Ocean | German Red Cross |
Action Against Hunger | Deutsche Welle Akademie |
arche noVa e.V. | Handicap International e.V. |
Ärzte der Welt e.V. / Médecins du Monde | Heidelberg Institute of Global Health |
Ärzte ohne Grenzen e.V. /Médecins Sans Frontières | Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. |
CADUS & 5G-SPRINT | HelpAge Deutschland e.V. |
Caritas Germany | Independent Doctors Association IDA |
Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation | Islamic Relief Deutschland e.V. |
CHA – Centre for Humanitarian Action e.V. | medmissio Institute of Global Health |
Clingendael Institute | Oxfam Deutschland e.V. |
Charité Center for Global Health | Saygin & Stein engineering GmbH |
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe | Zentrum für Internationale Friedenseinsätze (ZIF) |
As part of the Humanitarian Forum, the Deutsche Welle Akademie will offer free Media trainings for all participants on the second day of the congress. (October 17)
If you feel uncomfortable giving interviews, making official statements or speaking at public events, DW Akademie media trainers can show you how gestures, body language and poise can help you deliver your message clearly and confidently. Practice in front of the camera and get feedback from the professionals.
You can register directly at the booth on October 17. The training sessions are offered in German and English.