Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks

Session title: Bridging Gaps: Coordinating Humanitarian Engagement with Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs)

Organizer(s): OCHA - HNS

26 Mar 25 16:00-17:30 UTC+1 (Salle 2)

SessionAbstract

This session will explore the collective efforts of humanitarian actors in engaging with Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) to address operational access challenges in conflict-affected areas.
1. Strengthening Humanitarian Engagement with NSAGs: Highlight the importance of principled, coordinated approaches to engaging with Non-State Armed Groups to enable humanitarian access in complex conflict settings.
2. Sharing Tools and Frameworks: Present existing efforts, including negotiation strategies and operational guidance for engaging with NSAGs while safeguarding humanitarian principles.
3. Insights from Academia and Practice: Share relevant research findings, field practices, and upcoming initiatives that contribute to innovative and ethical engagement approaches.
4. Promoting Cross-Sector Collaboration: Foster dialogue among humanitarian organizations, academia, and other stakeholders to address operational and ethical challenges in NSAG engagement effectively.

The evolving nature of armed conflict, characterized by the rise of decentralized and community-embedded Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs), has created significant challenges for the humanitarian community. Ensuring humanitarian access and protecting civilians often hinges on effective engagement with these groups, which requires a principled approach rooted in international humanitarian law (IHL) and informed by collective experience.

Over the years, the humanitarian community has developed guidance and tools to address these complexities, drawing from field operations, academic research, and inter-agency consultations. Findings from research and operational practices emphasize the need for nuanced strategies that prioritize humanitarian principles while adapting to diverse conflict environments. These include fostering respect for humanitarian norms, understanding organizational dynamics of NSAGs, and building trust through consistent, principled dialogue.

This session seeks to provide a platform for humanitarian actors to share insights, revisit foundational principles, and explore new approaches to navigating the challenges of NSAG engagement. By integrating experiences from the field and emerging research, the session will highlight actionable strategies and inform upcoming consultations aimed at refining community-wide guidance for principled humanitarian action. The discussion will also emphasize the collective responsibility of the humanitarian sector in maintaining neutrality, impartiality, and operational effectiveness in complex conflict settings.

Agenda

• Introduction (10’)

• Panelist Presentations (35’)

• Q&A (35’)

• Reflections & Closing Remarks (5’)