This meeting is under Chatham House Rule.
Driven by shifting power dynamics, the global order is becoming increasingly multi-polar. The multilateral order is eroding, and there is a growing disregard for international humanitarian law and human rights. Funding for humanitarian action is confronted with drastic cuts after 15 years of upward financing. The withdrawal of USAID funding was a major case in point. It does, however, not stand alone and rather fits a broader trend amongst – most Western – donors.
These trends have serious consequences for people affected by crises. Numerous local NGOs have had to shut down their operations, and thousands of layoffs at the UN and at (i)NGOs have led to direct negative consequences in the delivery of humanitarian action. As an effort to address the humanitarian field’s crisis of funding and legitimacy, sparked by the sudden demise of USAID, Tom Fletcher – UN OCHA’s Emergency Relief Coordinator – launched the ‘Humanitarian Reset’, a policy reform agenda. This agenda, calling for a drastic shift in the UN-coordinated/led humanitarian system, is presently taking shape through prioritisation of responses, policy dialogues and consultations. It triggers debate across the humanitarian system. While details are still to be determined, the Reset’s expected impact on the Dutch humanitarian field will be significant.
Against this backdrop, KUNO invites policymakers and humanitarian practitioners for a meeting to unpack the Reset, to review the latest developments, assess their implications, and consider possible responses.
Please find the concept note with more details
Please register at kuno@kuno-platform.nl.
– Picture Sebastiaan Soeters –
