Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW) - Closing Ceremony of the Inter –Network Day

Dear Rudi,
Ambassador Bessler [Assistant Director General, Head of
Humanitarian Aid Department and Head of the Swiss
Humanitarian Aid Unit],
Dear Mr. Jones,
Dear Colleagues,

I am very pleased to join you this evening here at the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week. With the legacy of Henry Dunant, humanitarianism is deeply engrained in the DNA of International Geneva. A stronger humanitarian sector means a stronger International Geneva, and a stronger, more prosperous world. Your gathering here this week is of utmost importance to build partnerships and find cross-cutting solutions to the rapidly evolving challenges that you and all our humanitarian colleagues are facing every day.
I thank our host, the Swiss Government, who once again do justice to Switzerland’s long-standing humanitarian and multilateral tradition. And I congratulate the organizers – the UK’s Department of International Development (DFID) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – for having brought together such an influential and solution-oriented gathering.

In the 21st century, humanitarian action often takes place in a complex multi-stakeholder environment. With the continuing fragmentation of power, our entities have to interact with a range of stakeholders when delivering humanitarian assistance. At the same time, new humanitarian actors from local NGOs to global networks emerge. Efficient delivery of aid requires maximizing comparative advantages. This is why partnerships and collaboration are needed more than ever, and I am very happy to see participants from various sectors at this week’s conference here in Geneva including Governments, UN entities, NGOs, the private sector, representatives of the military, environmental networks, Stand-By Partners, grass-root organizations and technical partners.

Geneva is often referred to as the humanitarian capital of the world. Capitals have an aura of prestige and recognition. But what really generates the unique added value of having this operational hub here, and of gathering all of you in this city, is the ability to innovate, collaborate and identify synergies. The density of actors that are based here and that visit regularly make innovation possible.

New approaches are urgently needed. I do not need to tell you that humanitarian needs far outstrip available resources. You experience this in your work every day and I commend you on your resilience and determination to find ever more efficient ways of tackling this challenge. At this time of competing demands and crises, bringing experts in crisis management together is indispensable. At the same time, we have to think beyond today’s emergencies. Preparedness and prevention must go hand in hand with quick and effective emergency response.

Our new Secretary-General, who is himself a humanitarian having worked with and for refugees here in Geneva for many years, has made prevention a major priority. The fact that your programme at this conference includes sessions on conflict analysis, information management and other cross-cutting aspects shows that the humanitarian community is fully on board on that priority. These issues connect development aid and humanitarian response. They address root causes throughout the cycle of conflicts and other emergencies. I am particularly pleased to see that the Leading Edge Programme is being launched this week. This year-round platform will be extremely helpful to exchange information and to resolve issues of common concern for humanitarian responders and other relevant partners.

Dear Colleagues,

The past years have not been easy for the humanitarian community. Increasing pressure to deliver aid to rising numbers of vulnerable people around the globe combine with a shocking disregard for the most fundamental humanitarian principles on far too many occasions. Aid workers keep being attacked, and we must never forget the colleagues who died in action. Against this backdrop, it is not always easy to remain optimistic. But we have good reasons to be confident that we will overcome the challenges we face. The close collaboration at this conference is a clear demonstration of the resilience of those whose mission in life is to help others. If Geneva is the humanitarian capital, it is also and always must be the capital of hope.

At UNOG, we are fortunate to be able to rely on the close collaboration with UN-OCHA and the many other humanitarian actors here in Geneva and beyond. And I promise you that we will do all we can to help you help others, to raise awareness about your important work and to defend the humanitarian mission to which you have dedicated your lives. We know that this work is not about us. It is about the millions of people in need of the most basic help and support. It is about upholding the shared humanity of each and every individual across the world. Getting this message out there will be essential in the months and years ahead. I look forward to continue working with all of you to support the implementation of the outcomes of this conference, to raise awareness and to facilitate the delivery of efficient, impactful humanitarian aid wherever it is needed.

Thank you very much.