Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks

Session title: How are donors influencing environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation in humanitarian action?

26 Apr 23 16:00-17:30 UTC+2 (Salle 3)

SessionAbstract

Organizations and donors alike are working to reduce the environmental footprint of humanitarian operations, mainstreaming this across the board from programming to procurement.
A major catalyst for the donor community’s growing interest in this topic is the Humanitarian aid donors’ declaration on climate and environment – which acknowledges the link between increasing humanitarian needs and climate change was adopted in March 2022 during the European Humanitarian Forum as well as the Climate and Environmental Charter which many donors are supporting. Twenty-five EU Member State donors as well as the EU (ECHO) have signed the declaration to date. Commitment four of the declaration states that donors will “Foster the creation of the conditions required for international humanitarian organizations and local partners to adopt environmentally friendly practices.” This envisages, for example, supporting humanitarian organizations to incorporate climate action into program design and environmental sustainability into procurement processes and waste management, promoting sustainable solutions and circular economy approaches.
The Joint Initiative for Sustainable Humanitarian Assistance Packaging Waste Management has recently developed an analysis of donor policies on environmental sustainability /climate change mitigation and humanitarian action focusing, in particular, on how this translates in their partnerships with / funding of humanitarian programmes. The session will explore the different ways in which donors are integrating these considerations into funding for humanitarian organizations and coordination efforts with the donor communities. It will outline similarities between approaches, identify differences and highlight trends for humanitarian actors to be aware of. There will be a spotlight on two individual donors, namely USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and DG ECHO, and the recent guidelines and tools they have produced to support their partners to “green” their humanitarian operations.

Agenda

Time allocated	Content	Speaker
15h-15h05 CET	Welcome, Introduction to the Joint Initiative and panel, presenting panelists	Fiona Cook (Humanitarian Action/Environment Expert, Joint Initiative) & Samantha Brangeon (Technical Lead, Joint Initiative)
15h05-15h15 CET	Presentation “Multi-Donor Policy Landscape Analysis: Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Mitigation”	Fiona Cook (Humanitarian Action/Environment Expert, Joint Initiative) & Samantha Brangeon (Technical Lead, Joint Initiative)
15h15-15h30 CET	ECHO’s minimum environmental standards and future plans	Karolina Kalinowska (Policy Officer, European Commission) In person or remote (TBC)
15h30-15h45 CET	USAID/BHA’s approach: Climate Strategy, supporting the Joint Initiative, Power of Procurement	Erika Clesceri, Bureau Environmental Officer and Climate Integration Lead (BHA/USAID) Remote
15h45-16h CET	Climate Action Accelerator is working on a decarbonization roadmap for the humanitarian sector	Beatrice Godefroy Director, Public Policy Engagement
16h-16h25	Facilitated discussion with the audience	All (moderated by Fiona Cook)
16h25-16h30 min	Conclusion / wrap up	Where to find more resources

Speakers

Fiona Cook Humanitarian Action/Environment Expert ( Joint Initiative for Sustainable Humanitarian Packaging Waste Management )

Samantha BrangeonTechnical Lead (Joint Initiative for Sustainable Humanitarian Packaging Waste Management)

Karolina KalinowskaPolicy Officer (European Commission)

Erika Clesceri, Bureau Environmental Officer and Climate Integration Lead (BHA/USAID)

Beatrice GodefroyDirector, Public Policy Engagement (Climate Action Accelerator)