Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks

Session title: "Could you just put this into Ukrainian for me?": Insights from the Ukraine response and wider humanitarian system on challenges and solutions for integrating language support in emergencies

26 Apr 23 16:00-17:30 UTC+2 (Pleniere F)

SessionAbstract

Communication is critical to an effective humanitarian response. Yet provision for managing multilingual communication and information is not yet routine across the humanitarian system. Looking at insights from people affected by the war in Ukraine, organizations supporting them, and professional linguists engaged in the response, this session will explore how the humanitarian system can better address language and communication challenges in this and future responses.

Speakers

Tetyana Struk, Language Industry Expert: Tetyana, with a career spanning over 25 years as the founder of a language service company, is a pioneer of Ukrainian localization and has brought transformative changes to the academic training of translators. She is the author of several books on translation, a regular speaker at international conferences, and an organizer of many events aimed at promoting and developing the profession. Tetyana serves as the Chapter Manager for Women in Localization Ukraine and has been granted the title of Honorary Ambassador for her contributions to the city of Lviv. In 2022, she worked with CLEAR Global as a Country Program Manager, bringing her wealth of experience in the language industry to the humanitarian sector.

Katarzyna Blasinska, Regional Convenor, CDAC: Katarzyna is atrainer of intercultural and anti-discrimination communication, taking into account the global perspective of the issue. She is a long-time project coordinator, third sector activist, mediator, and currently also working in CDAC Network as a Regional Convenor (Europe) for the Ukraine Response.

Ana Paula Espinosa Mooser, Communications Officer, CCHN: Ana works as a Communications Officer at the Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation, an initiative that gathers humanitarian professionals to learn how to negotiate better together. She is responsible for leading a group of humanitarian practitioners who are passionate about improving the way negotiators and interpreters work as a team to better assist and protect people in need. Before joining the CCHN, Ana worked as a freelance translator and editor for United Nations agencies and international non-governmental organizations. She speaks English, Spanish, and French.

Indu Nepal, Deputy Head, Accountability to Affected People, ICRC: Indu Nepal is the Deputy Head of Accountability to Affected People Unit at the International Committee of the Red Cross. In this role, she oversees the organization’s efforts to mainstream accountability to affected people and inclusion in its operations.Before the ICRC, Indu worked with Internews in Nepal and Afghanistan on its humanitarian information and media development programs. As Managing Director of EngageMedia, she oversaw its programmes in South East Asia on digital security, training, research and open source software development.Prior to that Indu worked as a journalist for various media outlets in Nepal, the US and UK and is also the co-founder of Body&Data, an organization working on technology and gender.