Events

OCHA convenes a variety of events to tap into expert opinion on complex issues, identify priority policy research areas and strengthen partnerships a broad range of actors. These include OCHA’s global policy and research conferences, smaller regional workshops and other issue-specific meetings. Recent events have included:

2012 Global Humanitarian Policy Forum
New York, 13-14 December 2012

In December 2012, PDSB’s Policy Analysis and Innovation Section organized the first Global Humanitarian Policy Forum in New York. The Forum included participation from 70 participants, representing more than twenty countries. OCHA’s objectives were to hear from national, new and unconventional voices, including people outside of the humanitarian policy sector; and to develop a clearer understanding of the main policy and research gaps and how to work together to address them.  More>>

Regional Policy Workshop – Middle East and North Africa
Cairo, 5-6 December 2012

In December 2012, OCHA and The Humanitarian Forum organized a Regional Middle East and North Africa Workshop for Humanitarian Actors focused on identifying priority trends and issues, promoting operational collaboration and trust building between regional humanitarian actors and the international system. The workshop brought together 42 participants representing national and regional NGOs, charities and universities from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, as well as representatives of international NGOs, ICRC, WHO and the League of Arab States.  More>>

Regional Policy Workshop for Humanitarian Partnership - Southern and Eastern Africa
Stellenbosch, South Africa, 14-15 June 2012

In June 2012, OCHA convened a two-day workshop in Stellenbosch, South Africa, which brought together over 40 individuals from various institutions across the region.   Delegates included academic institutions, governments, regional organisations, national and religious NGOs and Red Cross Societies, as well as regional representatives of IFRC, WFP, UNICEF, IOM and USAID. OCHA’s objective was to identify key trends affecting humanitarian needs and to better understand the priorities and concerns of different groups in the region. The workshop also served to identify new opportunities for collaboration across sectors.  More>>

Risk, Adaptation and Innovation in Humanitarian Action
OCHA Policy and Research Conference
New York, 12-13 December 2011

In December 2011, OCHA hosted a humanitarian policy and research conference on the theme of 'Risk, Adaptation and Innovation in Humanitarian Action'.  The conference aimed to identify priority policy research areas for the humanitarian community, and to strengthen partnerships with policy and research organisations. Over 50 attendees came from a global network of research institutes, universities, international NGOs and UN organisations.   More>>