ICVA Updates
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ICVA at 60 Commemoration
On 18th May we commemorated our 60th anniversary under the theme: Collaborating for Effective Humanitarian Action. Since our inception in 1962, we have remained committed to our mission of making humanitarian action more principled and effective by working collectively and independently to influence policy and practice. To mark this milestone, we held an online event and in person reception reflecting on our past, present and future. Thanks to all who joined us.
The recording from the online event is now available on our website and YouTube
ICVA at 60 Special Publication
We have also released a special publication that provides a decade-by-decade snapshot of ICVA’s first 60 years. Check it. Throughout the year, we are also commemorating the 60th anniversary alongside other meetings in the regions. Stay tuned for more resources to mark our 60 years.
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We are Hiring for Two Positions
Looking for new challenges in the humanitarian sector? Join our dynamic and committed team. We are looking for a Policy Officer in Humanitarian Finance who will support the delivery of high-quality products that help ICVA maintain its leading role in humanitarian policy and advocacy work. We are also looking for a Consultant to conduct a leadership skills training development and facilitation. They will develop and deliver three Women’s Humanitarian Leadership Training programmes for local and national women-led NGOs and local CSOs in Africa, Asia and MENA.
If this sounds like you, apply today.
Forced Migration
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UNHCR Global Consultations with NGOs: 7-10 June
This month, NGOs and UNHCR have been preparing for the 2022 Global Consultations on "Localization and Climate Action" so that participants exchange – in-person and online – to respond to related challenges and explore how partnerships can bring a value-added. Preparations were based on efforts from two specific Working Groups set-up earlier this year, including both NGOs and UNHCR. A main outcome of those consultations will be a set of recommendations focusing on the specific themes addressed in each session of the Consultations. Those joint recommendations will then be presented at the 73rd UNHCR’s Executive Committee, next October, as part of a report on the Consultations. Further information will follow.
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Third Country Solutions for Refugees
In May, ICVA engaged with the various preparatory meetings aiming to prepare for the 2022 Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR), which will take place in Geneva from 20 to 22 June. This year, the ATCR is chaired by the Government of the United States and co-chaired by Refugee Council USA (RCUSA). The overarching theme for the ATCR 2022 is “Reemerging and Building Globally”.
ICVA also contributed, through comments, to the development of the “Third Country Solutions for Refugees: Roadmap 2030”, which will be presented at ATCR as a successor process to the Three-Year Strategy on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (2019-2021).
For more information, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Migrants in Vulnerable Situations
International Migration Review Forum (IMRF)
The first IMRF took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 17-20 May 2022 and was attended by Member States, Observers, UN system representatives, as well as stakeholder groups. Key objective was to review the progress made at the local, national, regional and global levels in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). Hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly (PGA), the IMRF consisted of four interactive multi-stakeholder round tables, a policy dialogue, and a plenary and resulted in an intergovernmental agreed Progress Declaration. An informal interactive multi-stakeholder hearing, hosted by the PGA, took place 16 May before the Forum. Despite the large engagement of civil society and migrants’ representatives in this process, the space given to their voices during the IMRF remained limited. Regarding the Progress Declaration, civil society welcomed some specific language, such as on racism, wage theft, and regularization. However, concerns were also expressed on language included on detention of migrant children, the agency of migrant women, and the protection for migrant workers under international labour standards, which were considered by many as a step back from the initial ambitions of the GCM.
Financing
- Grand Bargain
The 2022 Grand Bargain Annual Meeting will take place on 30 June and 1 July in Geneva. This year's meeting will include both a full-day Sherpa-level engagement on the 30th and a virtual meeting for Principals on the 1st. The Facilitation Group is currently finalising the agenda for the meeting which will be shared by the Secretariat in early June. ICVA and NEAR will host at least one NGO constituency call to prepare for the meeting in mid-June and those signatories registered as NGO contacts will receive an email invite to join.
New updates are also now available on the Grand Bargain website. These include feedback from Facilitation Group members following the May Sherpa retreat in Berlin, results of the 2021 self-reporting exercise, and updates on the new National Reference Groups. For more information on ICVA's role in the Grand Bargain or questions on the preparation for the Annual Meeting, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- Pooled Funds
The Pooled Fund Working Group will hold a face-to-face meeting on 21 June in New York. In addition to this update meeting, ICVA is following up on several ongoing areas of interest with the OCHA Country Based Pooled Funds:
- Rapid expansion of the Ukraine fund and implications for local partners.
- Status of the Afghanistan fund, including funding allocation split between UN and NGO partners.
- Development of the Regionally hosted Pooled Fund model in West and Central Africa.
We will include a focus on these topics under the ICVA Humanitarian Finance Working Group. For those with a specific interest in supporting follow-up on the listed CBPF topics, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- Cascading of Overheads Policy Work
Initiated under the previous IASC Results Group 5, work led by UNICEF and OXFAM with the support of Development Initiatives is ongoing to map current practices and recommend options for moving forward regarding how overheads (indirect costs) are covered in partnership agreements. The intent behind this work is to improve consistency in how overheads are covered, including for local and national partners. A report from Development Initiatives will be available before July.
Over the coming months, ICVA will continue to coordinate with NGO and UN colleagues to promote improvements to approach and guidance on overheads within the IASC structure and bilaterally with UN agencies and donors. Overheads and indirect cost coverage will continue on the agenda of the ICVA Humanitarian Finance Working Group.
For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Coordination
- Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
The IASC Principals
ICVA’s Executive Director and Board Chair joined the IASC Principals for a face-to-face meeting on 16 May. A Principals-only session focused on the situations in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel regions, while the following session discussed thematic topics of humanitarian diplomacy, PSEA and the global impacts of the Ukraine crisis. A number of action points to strengthen collective advocacy, policy implementation, analysis, and forward planning were agreed. As follow up, the IASC Principals endorsed the IASC Vision and Strategy for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (2022-2026).
Emergency Directors Group (EDG)
The EDG met to discuss the ongoing humanitarian situation in Ethiopia and agreed to recommend an extension of the Scale Up activation for an additional six months, including to expand the coverage of the activation to include other regions as required due to increasing needs. This recommendation was then endorsed by the IASC Principals, noting the need for strengthening of capacity and channeling of resources in other prioritized locations in Ethiopia in view of the drought and complex access and protection issues in other parts of the country.
ICVA Member representation on the IASC Operational Policy and Advocacy Group (OPAG)
Over the past 2.5 years, ICVA has supported increased representation of local and national NGOs to contribute directly to the work of the OPAG. We have greatly appreciated the support in representing ICVA in OPAG through our members: Rezaul K Chowdhury from COAST Foundation (Bangladesh), Mary Pack from International Medical Corps (USA), Fiona Gall and Lisa Piper from ACBAR (Afghanistan), and Azmat Khan from Foundation for Rural Development (Pakistan). With their experience and knowledge, they provided constructive feedback to subjects discussed at the OPAG and improved many of the documents endorsed, particularly in pointing out what was working well on the ground, but also the gaps and the challenges, and proposing concrete solutions to address them.
In line with ICVA representation policy, the call for expressions of interest to rotate the OPAG member representation was shared recently. Among the different excellent applications received, we have now selected as new ICVA representatives to OPAG the following colleagues:
- Nimo Hassan, Director of the NGO Consortium, Somalia
- Jose Lois Berreiro Garcia, Coordinator, NGO Humanitarian Forum, Colombia
- Jameel Abdo, CEO, Tamdeen Youth Foundation, Yemen
- Kirk Prichard, Vice President of Programs, Concern Worldwide, USA
We look forward to working with these colleagues to continue to support and improve the work of the OPAG and ensure that the policy and guidance developed in this forum maintains its relevance to NGOs working in operational settings worldwide.
- Accountability to Affected People (AAP)
As part of its ongoing work to strengthen AAP within humanitarian programming, the IASC system has begun field testing a new AAP Collective Framework as a means to operationalize a renewed commitment from humanitarian leadership, and to harmonize in-country practices. The IASC Secretariat and ICVA commissioned research by a consultancy team comprising of graduate students from the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science. This research examines the role of NGOs in the implementation of collective approaches to AAP, drawing on a review of literature and lessons learned during field testing of the Framework in the North-West Syria Response. We are pleased to share the final report for this research project Accountability to Affected People Assessing NGO engagement with the Collective AAP Framework. By providing both broad and contextual good practices to improve the rollout of in-country workshops and Framework development, we hope this research will support the further testing and rollout of the AAP Framework in other humanitarian settings.
For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Transforming ICVA Network
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Champion Principled Humanitarian Action
Civic Space
Within the framework of the Solidarity Action Network (SANE), a guidance “Navigating cybersecurity: Guidance for (I)CSO professionals” has been developed to help civil society actors better respond to cybersecurity challenges and digital threats. The guidance provides steps to better protect your organisation online, as well as relevant resources and initiatives.
For more information see ICVA’s Civil Society Space webpage or contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Address Impact of Climate Change on Humanitarian Action
ICVA Joins Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP)
Through this partnership ICVA members have access to a global network of expertise to support their work across the full value chain of Early Warning Early Action interventions. The partnership will enable and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and solutions and fosters greater collaboration, including new partnerships, by bringing together the capacities and unique capabilities of the climate, development, hydrometeorological and humanitarian communities.
REAP represent donor and climate-vulnerable countries, UN and other major international organisations, civil society, and the private sector. Please contact Nishanie Jayamaha, ICVA’s Learning and Climate Change Programme Coordinator via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on how you can engage with REAP.
Save the Date: Webinar on The Road to COP27: Strengthening humanitarian perspectives on 30 June from 10:00 –12:00 CEST
ICVA and PHAP are organizing the 6th session of the Learning Series on Climate Change and Humanitarian Action with a focus on Commitment #6 of the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations that calls on organisations to use their influence to mobilise urgent and more ambitious climate and environment action.
It aims to:
- Raise awareness on the UNFCC process, the importance of this years’ COP27 and how it links to humanitarian action
- Discuss why humanitarian organizations need to engage to bring in humanitarian perspectives on the topic of Loss and Damage, among others, in the lead-up to COP27
- Highlight the modalities and strategies for humanitarian NGOs to engage in the preparatory work for COP27 and beyond
We will have the Norwegian Refugee Council, Practical Action and other speakers who will share their perspectives on the topic. Keep an eye on ICVA’s Learning Stream on Climate Change and Humanitarian Action page for more information.
For more information visit ICVA's Climate and Environment webpage, or contact:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Be Globally Distributed and Locally Rooted
Localization
The first meeting for the IASC Localization Task Force (TF) 5 was held in May and the three co-chairs from Titi Foundation, NEAR Network and UNICEF had a chance to meet with the TF members. During the meeting the co-chairs presented the TF priorities:
- Strengthen the engagement and leadership of local and national actors in humanitarian coordination mechanism and humanitarian response by: Operationalizing the IASC guidance on the engagement and leadership of local actors in humanitarian coordination including by: (i) setting targets for the engagement of local actors in humanitarian coordination structures, (ii) reporting annually on progress made in the meaningful engagement of local actors in coordination structures (including reporting on progress against agreed targets), and (iii) compiling good practice on the participation, representation and leadership of local actors in coordination mechanisms, including women-led organizations and approaches to involve affected populations in humanitarian response.
- Capacity sharing: Agree on minimum standards/arrangements to strengthen the sharing of capacity between international actors and local NGOs.
- Resourcing: Supporting efforts to increase and channel more direct funds to local NGOs including by: (i) setting targets for funds to be channeled directly to local NGOs, (ii) reporting annually on progress in getting funds to local NGOs, and (iii) stepping up advocacy with donors, UN agencies and INGOs on increasing direct funding to local partners.
For any further information about the members from local and international actors and about the priorities, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- Be Diverse, Inclusive and Live Our Values
Child Rights
UNICEF-NGO Consultations for the Development of UNICEF’s Guidance Note on Institutional Capacity for Local Actors, 24-26 May 2022, Nairobi, Kenya
Co-organized by UNICEF and ICVA, the consultations took a deep dive into the recently developed guidance note and gathered input and feedback from local partners to inform the revision and finalization of the document. This process, comprised of a two-day workshop and a one-day consultation, including discussions on the overall purpose of the guidance note and currently available institutional capacity assessment tools, institutional capacity strengthening in partnerships and localization issues. UNICEF’s guidance note will be rolled out shortly.
ICVA participated to the event ‘15 Years of the Paris Principles and Commitments: lessons learnt and ways forward for the implementation of action to prevent child recruitment in armed conflict and support reintegration’ on 4 May 2022
As 112 States have endorsed by now the Paris Principle, this event, co-organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Labour Organisation and Save the Children, offered the opportunity to hear a range of perspectives on the progress made and challenges faced to end the unlawful recruitment and use of children associated with armed forces and armed groups and to ensure that children are successfully reintegrated into their families and communities.
Safeguarding
Call for Applications for the 2022 PSEA Outreach and Communication Fund by 30 June 2022
UNHCR and ICVA are proud to announce the launch of the third round of the Interagency Community Outreach and Communication Fund on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). Since 2020, we have supported a total of 34 projects, 19 in 2020 and 15 in 2021. You can access the online Application Form for PSEA Fund here, available in English, French and Spanish. In order to change the application form into your preferred language, open the form and choose the language from the drop-down menu located on the upper right hand-side. The selection of grantees will be carried by a steering group of experts from NGOs and UN agencies.
For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Region Specific
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Africa Region
Peer 2 Peer Mission in Burkina Faso
ICVA with NRC, ICVA member, are currently participating in the IASC Peer 2 Peer Mission in Burkina Faso. Key objective of the mission is to support the HCT on response performance and identify corrective actions to improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The mission team is therefore working and travelling intensely in the country to ensure that the largest number of key informants is reached and consulted. A report from this mission will be shared in future and we remain available to debrief members on the same.
COTER
ICVA team in Africa hosted a consultation session with members on the IASC counter terrorism guidelines on 7 June. The objective was to underline specific aspects pertinent to the efficient and effective humanitarian operations in countries object of international sanctions.
FORA Support
The NGOs fora support program is running regularly. Specific attention has been dedicated to the support of NGOs advocacy on the Horn of Africa Drought, the persisting challenges in the response in Ethiopia and to the situation in Sahel.
African Union Summit
Through ICVA’s presence at the African Union Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference on 28-31 May in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, participation of number of national NGOs (NNGOs)and CSOs was made possible. These organizations were drawn from various countries in the continent, and they engaged with various AU member states as well as representatives of Donor Governments. The NNGOs participated actively in several side events on climate change and the UN Secretary General’s agenda on internal displacement. ICVA also co-organized a side event titled Localizing Humanitarian Aid in Africa. Some of the key messages from the summit include: African leaders, organisations and donors pledged to end humanitarian crises; and leaders promised to increase efforts against unconstitutional changes of government, terrorism and foreign mercenaries that negatively impact the peace, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of African states. A Declaration of the Extraordinary Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes will be made available to the public soon.
UNDP and Humanitarian Actors
A first open dialogue on stabilization at regional level between UNDP and humanitarian actors took place on 12 May. The meeting reinforced mutual understanding of each sector’s way of doing and principles and looked at ways to reinforce coordination between actions in the field to strengthen response. Another meeting will be held in the coming weeks.
West and Central Africa Representation
A successful handover was done to Adeline Benita who now assumes the position of ICVA West and Central Africa Representation. She can be reached at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For more information or to be included in the ICVA Africa Working Group List, please connect with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Asia and the Pacific
Workshop with Overseas Chinese NGOs: Humanitarian Coordination in Humanitarian Ecosystem
On 11 May 2022, Amity Foundation, China, in collaboration with ICVA organized a workshop to support increased understanding of the humanitarian architecture and coordination mechanisms in place at various levels that can support Chinese NGOs operating at international level. Participants from Chinese NGOs showcased deep interest in the continuation of humanitarian intervention in the region and globally. Case studies were presented on complex and context specific humanitarian coordination in emergencies. This engagement is part of an ongoing partnership between ICVA and Chinese NGOs to support principled, effective humanitarian engagement by diverse actors. The event builds on previous joint activities such as International Humanitarian Response Workshop: Experience and Innovation from Chinese Civil Society and the analysis piece on Chinese Aid, Positive Disruption? China's Humanitarian Aid.
Coordinating Regional Advocacy to Address Rohingya Displacement and Humanitarian and Peacebuilding Challenges in Myanmar
The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, ICVA and PRRiA co-organized a two-day virtual workshop on 11 and 17 May to discuss ways of strengthening collective regional advocacy in coordinated regional responses to protracted Rohingya displacement and humanitarian access and peacebuilding in Myanmar. The workshop supported the regional actors to have improved awareness of stakeholders in advocacy at regional and national level; mapping and identification of advocacy initiatives and opportunities for collective regional advocacy.
The Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub South Asia Online Hub Launch
The Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub South Asia website is now available in English and it targets civil society organizations (CSOs) in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Explore the resources and free safeguarding capacity building activities, such as webinars, online trainings and document review. Subscribe here to receive latest information.
For more information about ICVA's work in Asia and Pacific, contact Keya Saha-Chaudhury, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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MENA Region
MENA Regional NGO Fora Exchange Workshop
MENA Regional NGO Fora Exchange Workshop
ICVA in MENA will be hosting a two-day regional NGO Fora Exchange Workshop in Amman, Jordan in June 2022. International and local NGO Networks will be invited to the meeting to foster links and enable the exchange of information, learning, interaction, coordination, and networking between the networks throughout the region. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Harvard Negotiation Workshop
In 30 – 31 May 2022 an onsite workshop took place in Amman, Jordan on humanitarian negotiation for local practitioners. ICVA Deputy Regional Representative joined the panel discussion and spoke about various approaches to humanitarian engagement, and the key role of local actors.Localization Consultation in Yemen
The consultation with humanitarian actors in Yemen and data gathering is ongoing in order to articulate the localization baselining with an inclusive participation of local actors in all geographical areas, international actors, UN agencies and other key stakeholders. The main purpose is to support the role of local actors, advance their roles in the humanitarian response and provide clear recommendations and pragmatic steps to strengthening their roles.
Brussels VI Conference
The European Union chaired the sixth Brussels Conference on "Supporting the future of Syria and the region", which took place on 9 and 10 May 2022. The conference, which is the main pledging event for Syria and the region in 2022, succeeded in mobilizing aid to Syrians inside the country and in the neighbouring countries, through pledges totalling €6.4 billion for 2022 and beyond. This year's total pledges were higher than those of 2021 that totalled €5.3 billion.
On 5 May a side event organized by Lebanon Humanitarian and Development NGOs Forum and the Working Group for Persons Affected by the Syrian Crisis (PASC-WG) on “Localizing the response to the Syria crisis in Lebanon: towards complementarity, effectiveness, and accountability took place. ICVA deputy regional representative participated and spoke about localization in humanitarian leadership and opportunities and barriers of localization across the region.
For more information or to be included in the ICVA MENA Mailing List, please connect with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Learning Opportunities
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Building a Better Response (BBR) in Ukrainian and Polish and other languages
In support of those responding to the Ukraine crisis, the BBR project is now making available two key modules of its e-learning tool in Ukrainian and Polish: The Foundations of Humanitarian Action and International Law and Humanitarian Standards. Ukrainian translations of additional modules on the international humanitarian coordination system will be launched in the coming weeks. Further, the BBR e-learning is offered in Arabic, English, and French with users in 190 countries. E-learning course materials are also available in Russian and 12 other languages. Access more resources on their website.
- Negotiation Skills Training for Humanitarian Aid Workers
The Clingendael Academy will be offering the above training on 9-11 August 2022 to enhance the negotiating capacity of humanitarian workers. Participants will be introduced to the negotiation theory to help in their daily humanitarian work.
New and Noteworthy
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Survey on Germany's Humanitarian Engagement
The Centre for Humanitarian Action has launched a survey to help them understand how the German government and non-governmental humanitarian actors are perceived, what topics and sectors they are recognised for, and if their engagement is considered to contribute to humanitarian policy and reform processes.
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Global Report on Internal Displacement 2022
Check out the newly released Internal Displacement Monitoring Center’s 2022 Global Report on Internal Displacement. -
Education Under Attack 2022 Report
Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack has released this report which is a global study of attacks on schools, universities, their students and staff, in 2020 and 2021. Findings will be presented at an event in Geneva, on Thursday 16 June 2022, from 09.00 to 11.00am at the Palais des Nations (UNOG). Check out registration details.