HUMANITARIAN NEWSLETTER
Oct. 29 - Nov. 12, 2014 
Training Humanitarians Around The World
PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD 2014
Kevin M. Cahill, M.D., University Professor and President of the Center for International Humanitarian Cooperation (CIHC), has recently been recognized by the government of Ireland for his tremendous work in peace, reconciliation, and development. In a ceremony that will take place tomorrow, October 30, 2014 in Dublin, Dr. Cahill will be presented with the 2014 Presidential Distinguished Service Award, by Ireland's President, Michael D. Higgins. The award is given to individuals living outside of Ireland who have made great contributions to Ireland, Irish communities abroad, & Ireland's international reputation. We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Cahill! 
IIHA ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Coordination Challenges in Post-Haiyan Recovery and Rehabilitation
By Richard Kochoa, P.T., M.D.*

Almost a year has passed since super-typhoon Haiyan left thousands of displaced people, an unimaginable number of casualties (more than 7,000), and a large swathe of land inundated. Major communities affected are in the city of Tacloban, and the Bantayan and Concepcion group of islands. The surrounding communities are equally as damaged. 
 
Unlike the swiftness and ferocity of the typhoon, the national government response was chaotic, intangible in vital areas and deeply-mired in political bickering. 
 
HELP for Peace, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that operates on just peace principles as it cares for affected communities, responded within a few days after the super-typhoon event. It prioritized its attention to areas that are geographically cut-off such as isolated islets and those not receiving as much media attention as Tacloban. 
 
Expectedly, the logistic challenges were daunting. In areas where relief goods and supplies are available, the availability of trucks was nil due to the ongoing sugarcane milling season. The other challenge was the availability of ferries and barges that can accommodate the influx of trucks needing to transport relief goods and medical supplies. 

*Richard Kochoa is the President of HELP for Peace and a graduate of the IIHA's Humanitarian Negotiators Training Course (HNTC) 1.

Have you or your organization been involved in the response to Typhoon Haiyan? How have your experiences mirrored or differed from Richard's and those of his organization, HELP for Peace? Leave your comments on our Facebook post...
EBOLA UPDATE
Dr. Craig Spencer, an American doctor who recently returned to New York City after volunteering in Guinea with M�decins Sans Fronti�res (MSF), has tested positive for Ebola. Despite public backlash about Dr. Spencer's activities upon returning to New York, MSF says that he followed all protocol recommended for staff returning from Ebola-affected areas. After pressure from the Obama administration to revise their harsh quarantine policy for those returning from West Africa, primarily prompted by the recent treatment of Kaci Hickox, Governor Cuomo (N.Y.) and Governor Christie (N.J.) have announced that a 21-day quarantine can be carried out at home.

In Liberia, the virus appears to be slowing down, but the news of empty beds could be misleading. While the disease "hasn't dropped of the cliff," the World Health Organization's Assistant Director General, Bruce Aylward, says that they have seen a decline in new cases. Nigeria and Senegal have also seen an improvement and have been officially declared Ebola free. Meanwhile, a two-year-old girl traveling from Guinea has been diagnosed with the virus in Mali, making it the sixth West African nation to be infected by Ebola. Officials in Mali are making great efforts to trace the girl's contacts, with 84 people being watched so far. Officials will begin trials of an Ebola vaccine developed by Canada with healthy volunteers in Europe, Gabon and Kenya.
 
IIHA Senior Fellow, Dr. Alexander van Tulleken, has been a frequent commentator on the unfolding epidemic. He recently sat down with CNN's Michael Smerconish to discuss the New York case and how it has been handled thus far. Larry Hollingworth, IIHA Humanitarian Programs Director, has also been vocal about the response to this crisis through an open letter urging the Australian government to send Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AusMAT) to help combat the disease. 

 

For more information, please visit: 
ALUMNI UPDATES
In our last newsletter, we included an update about Etienne Mutabazi, alumnus of IDHA 38, who recently received his Doctor of Laws degree in international criminal, human rights, and humanitarian law from the University of South Africa. Dr. Mutabazi has been kind enough to provide us with his full-length thesis, "The United Nations ad hoc Tribunals' Effectiveness in Prosecuting International Crimes," to share with the IIHA community.
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) recently published an article written by Andy McElroy (IDHA 16) entitled "Experience Saves Fisherman From Wrath of Haiyan." In the article, McElroy profiles a seventy-year-old Filipino man named Ely, who survived the terror of Typhoon Haiyan thanks to his knowledge and experience. The article is part of a series aimed at showcasing impressive older people around the world who are living proof that the wisdom and expertise of the elderly should never be underestimated. McElroy also published "IPU Hears Call to Support Women in DRR," which highlights how promoting and mobilizing women's leadership and gender equality in building resilience is critical to the sustainability and progress of risk reduction priorities and sustainable development goals. The 130th IPU Assembly in March adopted a landmark resolution, "Towards risk-resilient development" recognizing the importance of disaster risk reduction to the work of parliamentarians worldwide.  
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2015 SOHS SURVEY & CONSULTATIONS

Calling all humanitarian practitioners! ALNAP is now working on its next State of the Humanitarian System review. Commissioned by ALNAP and authored by Humanitarian Outcomes, the report offers a comprehensive picture of the shape and size of the system and insights into the 'bigger picture' of trends and performance in the sector. ALNAP asks humanitarian professionals directly involved in humanitarian assistance to complete the 2015 SOHS survey and disseminate the survey within their respective networks.  
HUMANITARIANISM & ACADEMIA
Call for Papers
NEW YORK EVENTS

Wednesday, November 5, 2014 | 6:30-8:00 PM   

 

The New York City Bar's Committee on African Affairs will host a presentation to be given by Dr. Amir Idris, Chair of the Department of African and African American Studies and Professor of History and Politics at Fordham University. Dr. Idris, who was born and raised in Sudan, researches and teaches about such topics as the history and politics of colonialism, slavery and race, and postcolonial citizenship in Northeast and Central Africa. This presentation is free, however, registration is required. 

 

For more information: Please view the event flyer. 

 

To register: Please RSVP by November 4th with Kwame at kwame.dougan@shearman.com 

 

Location: Shearman & Sterling Offices, 299 Lexington Avenue, Room 2j/k, New York, NY 10016
Friday, November 21 - Sunday, November 23, 2014

Machik Weekend is an annual gathering for dialogue, exploration and understanding among people who share a passion for the ideals of service and civic engagement in Tibet. It is a unique space to share and learn about path-breaking service projects, dynamic leaders and resilient communities in Tibet.

  

For more information: Please visit the Machik Weekend website. 

  

To register: Please click here and follow the prompts.

  

Location: Fordham University School of Law, 140 W. 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023

Thursday, June 4 - Friday, June 5, 2015 

 

In preparation for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, ALNAP, in conjunction with WHS Secretariat and USAID, will convene a Global Forum on Improving Humanitarin Action. The event will review the parameters of and challenges to the effectiveness of humanitarian action as well as present key propositions for change and improvement. The analysis will draw on the findings from ANLAP'S forthcoming State of the System Report 2015 and other sources, providing a current and comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of humanitarian action. More information will be available in the coming months. 

 

For more information: Please visit the forum webpage. 

 

Location: New York, New York
NATIONAL EVENTS
The Aid & International Development Forum's 6th Annual Disaster Relief Summit
Wednesday, November 19 - Thursday, November 20, 2014

The Aid & International Development Forum's 6th annual Disaster Relief Summit is the world-leading gathering for international humanitarian experts at relief agencies, NGOs and charity associations, UN and government agencies, development banks and donors and innovative technology and service providers. AIDF summits are designed to create a mutual platform to facilitate and encourage exchange of thoughts, share expertise and present the lessons learned through first-hand experiences. The summit strives to enable quicker and better response during crisis and catastrophes in a more effective, sustainable and cost-efficient way.

 

To register: Please visit the Disaster Relief Summit 2014 website.

 

Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington D.C. 20004
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

History of Modern Humanitarian Action: Regional Conference on Latin America 

Wednesday, October 29 - Thursday, October 30, 2014

 

Hosted by the Humanitarian Policy Group, the aim of this conference is to improve understandings of the history of 'humanitarianism' across the region, and may include discussions of the origins of and influences on modern humanitarianism in Latin America, historical precedents for such action, the influence of religion on a humanitarian or charitable sensibility, and the conceptual history of the word 'humanitarian' in the region. Discussions will investigate the subject from a variety of perspectives, including developmental, religious, human rights and social and political movements.

 

For more information: Please visit the event webpage.

 
Location: Bogot�, Colombia 
Wednesday, October 29 - Friday, October 31, 2014

The International Greening Education Event (IGEE), hosted by the European Organisation for Sustainable Development (EOSD), will bring together the academic community and other stakeholders from around the world to discuss the issue of integrating sustainability across all academic disciplines. The event provides an exclusive forum to examine how global issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity and other major challenges are affecting the education sector, deliberate on how to embed sustainability in curricula, courses and learning and teaching material, debate on the ways to make educational institutions one of the key leaders in finding long lasting solutions to environmental, social and economic challenges, share best practices, as well as get insights on how education is being reshaped to meet the requirements of the 21st century. The event will be followed by an optional excursion on Saturday, November 1st. 

For more information: Please visit the event webpage.

To register: Please email mail@eosd.org

Location: Karlsruhe, Germany

Monday, November 3 - Wednesday, November 5, 2014

 

The 2nd International Conference on Urban Sustainability and Resilience will be held at University College London from November 3rd - 5th, 2014. The inaugural conference took place in 2012 and was a great success, generating a high level of interest and a stimulating agenda-setting debate.

 

For any additional questions, please email usarconference2014@ucl.ac.uk.

 

For more information: Please visit the event webpage.

 

Location: University College London, Chadwick Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development
Monday, November 10 - Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Government of Japan are organizing this event to carry out a review and assessment of the implementation of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) and celebrate the Decade's achievements. The Conference will showcase initiatives, actors, networks and ideas that were stimulated by the DESD. Examples of good practice from all over the world will play an important role in identifying viable approaches to ESD, as well as key areas for future action.

 

For more information: Please visit the UNESCO website.

Location: Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
Tuesday, November 18 - Wednesday, November 19, 2014 

 

This annual conference, put together by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, brings together global corporations, lawyers, and pioneers in the field of women's rights to take action and commit to empowering women worldwide. Attending the conference provides you with the opportunity to be a part of the solution to issues of women's rights, network with a diverse group of people from around the world, and hear inspiring stories from survivors as well as speeches from high-profile speakers. This year's event includes a broad range of topics from economic empowerment of women, to access to land, to human trafficking and modern-day slavery. 

 

For more information: Please visit the Trust Women website.

To register: Please visit the click here and follow the prompts.


Location: London, England

Saturday, December 6 - Sunday, December 7, 2014 

 

This event is part of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP20) in Lima. The conference will be aimed at integrating global efforts to tackle climate change and poverty, with the end goal of achieving zero extreme poverty and zero net emissions within a generation. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the interdependence of climate goals with sustainable development goals, influence the climate change negotiations and the broader set of international processes, as well as identify and generate climate and development agreements that could help lead the world towards zero-zero within a generation. 

 

For more information: Please visit the event webpage.  

 

To register: Please click here and follow the prompts.  

 

Location: Country Club Lima Hotel, Calle Los Eucaliptos 590, San Isidro 15076, Lima, Peru

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

 

Entering its fifth year, The Sustainable Innovation Forum brings together a variety of established professionals to share ideas and form innovative solutions to address climate change as well as accelerate green growth and sustainable development. The forum, organized by Climate Action in partnersip with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP), generates robust debate and shares ideas that can be turned into postiive actions to climate-proof the post-2015 development agenda.

 

To register: Please visit the forum website. 

 

Location: Westin Hotel and Convention Center in Lima, Peru

Tuesday March 3 - Wednesday, March 4, 2015

 

In the last decade, the humanitarian system has seen a variety of approaches to improved collaboration and coordination. Among the many successes of collaborative approaches, there are also significant challenges. With the projected growth in humanitarian needs, coordination and collaboration can be expected to become even more important in the coming years. The ALNAP network has decided to meet to take stock and share experiences and best practices on collaborative and inter-organizational approaches for effective humanitarian response at both the field and country levels. The meeting will be open to all staff of ALNAP member agencies, with a limited number of places available for external participants. Registration will begin in November 2014. 

 

For more information: Please visit the event webpage. 

 

Location: Berlin, Germany

Saturday, March 14 - Wednesday, March 18, 2015

 

Preparations for the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) are gathering pace. NGOs, local authorities, scientific organizations, private sector and others must obtain special accreditation via Major Groups for participation in the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom2) and official proceedings of the WCDRR.

 

For more information: Please visit the event webpage. 

 

Location: Sendai, Japan
ONLINE EVENTS

Tuesday, November 4, 2014 | 10:00 AM (EST)

 

Adele Harmer (Humanitarian Outcomes, co-author of Unsafe Passage: Road attacks and their impact on humanitarian operations) and Michael O'Neill (Save the Children & INSSA) will lead this webinar, co-hosted by DisasterReady.org and the International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA). Harmer and O'neill will explore the nature of these threats and how aid operations can minimize their exposure to them. The webinar will last for one hour and will include time for questions and discussion. 

 

For more information and to register: Please visit the event webpage.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014 | 4:00-5:00 PM (EST)

 

Unite For Sight will host a free webinar concerning different strategies for improving health outcomes. Panelists will discuss what works, what doesn't work, and what some key strategies are for ensuring quality, effective healthcare. The webinar will include expertise and advice from six panelists and will leave ample opportunity for discussion and questions. Panelists will include Dr. Leana Wen (George Washington University), Lisa Hirschhorn (Harvard Medical School), Chad Rathner (mothers2mothers) and Laura Stachel (We Care Solar), and will be moderated by Unite For Sight Founder and CEO, Jennifer Staple-Clark. 

 

For more information and to register: Please visit the event webpage.

Monday, November 10, 2014 | 9:00 AM (EST) 

 

This webinar, hosted by ALNAP, is built upon their recent research on the importance of ensuring that organizations have clear organizational structures, delegated responsibilities, effective information management systems, standardied operating procedures and well understood decision-making processes. The research shows that humanitarian organizations have a lot to learn from emergency response professionals in other sectors, who regularly implement Incident Command Systems (ICS) to provide management and leadership structures for emergencies. The webinar will be lead by Harvard University's Arnold Howitt and Joseph Pfeifer, Head of the FDNY's Center for Terrorism and Emergency Preparedness. 

 

For more information: Please visit the event webpage. 

 

To register: Please click here and follow the prompts.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 | 10:00 AM (EST)

 

DisasterReady.org will host a live online discussion on effective crisis management techniques to be led by Lynne Cripe of The KonTerra Group. As much as we may hope that our people and organizations will be spared crises and critical incidents, it is likely that anyone choosing to work in the fields relief or development will find themselves facing a crisis at some point. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the key needs of staff affected by a crisis, how to identify those affected by a crisis, and practical steps that organizations can take to provide appropriate support to staff. The webinar will last for one hour and will include time for discussion and any questions. 

 

For more information and to register: Please visit the event webpage.