The Fifth Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW)

Dear colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a pleasure to be with you today to witness once again the remarkable success of the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week.

Let me first express my gratitude to the organizers for assembling such a diverse group for the fifth year. I am impressed by how fast your annual meeting has evolved into an indispensable part of the busy calendar of the “humanitarian capital of the world”, that is International Geneva.

We live in a time of increasing fear, isolationism and disillusionment, despite the progress we have seen in many areas in the last few decades.

Meanwhile, the very people we are meant to serve are losing trust in their governments, at the local and national levels, in the UN and in the wider international system.

Paradoxically, this growing lack of confidence in the multilateral system comes at a time when the global challenges we face require more than ever integrated, global solutions and stronger collaboration.

Recognising that yesterday’s toolbox can address neither today’s nor tomorrow’s challenges, our Secretary-General launched a reform process to make the United Nations more nimble, flexible, efficient and effective. This reform, which entered into force on 1st January of this year, aims to increase transparency, widen delegation of authority and deepen accountability within the UN System, as well as strengthen UN country teams.

Parallel to this reform, we have seen a new spirit of collaboration take hold, emboldened by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Goals.

This is why the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week – and the key word here is partnerships - has the power to be more impactful than ever, and I am very happy to see participants from so many different sectors amongst us this morning.

We have people here today both from the field and from headquarters, and I am likewise pleased to see representatives from different Governments, including from Ministries of Defence, alongside UN entities, NGOs, the private sector, environmental networks, grass-root organizations and technical partners.

The volume, cost and length of humanitarian assistance over the past 10 years has grown dramatically. Current humanitarian needs far outstrip available resources. The size of Inter-agency humanitarian appeals increased nearly 400 per cent in the last decade.

Here, this week, we are all united by the imperative to redouble our efforts as the interconnected challenges of climate change, state fragility, long-term humanitarian needs, and protracted conflicts have become even more apparent.

This trend has given new urgency to the long-standing discussion around building synergies between humanitarian and development efforts.

New approaches are urgently needed. We must get out of our comfort zone and break through institutional barriers. We must think beyond today’s emergencies. Preparedness and prevention must go hand in hand with quick and effective emergency response.

We have to amplify our efforts to regain the trust of the people we serve. And we must all join forces to deliver more efficiently and sustainably.

I wish you a successful meeting. Thank you.