International HDP Conference
Gustav-Stresemann-Institut,
Langer Grabenweg 68, 53175 Bonn, Germany
The humanitarian–development–peace (HDP) nexus is the "new way of working" for UN agencies and international and national NGOs, introduced at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016. The HDP nexus calls for conflict sensitivity and conflict prevention, but also encourages H, D and P actors to design and implement peacebuilding activities. However, the peace component of the triple HDP nexus has been the most elusive one for actors to implement, and donors are still struggling to devise funding strategies and models that allow for flexible adaptation in crisis contexts. Also, the localisation of aid to local and national actors in crisis intervention contexts has made little progress. This international conference brings together implementing organisations, donor institutions and academics to find answers to the following pressing questions:
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Political perspectives: What are possible peace activities and what is political about them? What are the strengths and risks of introducing these activities in the context of protracted crises?
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Local perspectives: What have been the obstacles to strengthening the role of local actors in the design and implementation of the HDP nexus, and in what ways can these be empowered?
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Practical perspectives: Do we need to integrate H, D, and P activities, or just better coordinate among H, D and P actors? What are the difficulties and synergies of both options
The conference has a global focus: Experiences with the HDP in Iraq, Mali and South Sudan will be put into perspective with experiences in other areas of the world to draw cross-regional lessons. Speakers and participants at the conference possess a wide range of backgrounds, including professionals working for local to international implementing organisations, donor institutions and academia.
Simultaneous translation (French and Arabic) will be provided throughout the conference.
The format of the conference will be hybrid, with the possibility of online participation.
Programme
Day 1: Thursday, 19 September 2024
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09:00–09:30 |
Registration |
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09:30–09:45 |
Welcome Conrad Schetter, bicc Katharina Spieß, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Germany (BMZ) Esther Meininghaus, bicc |
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09.45- |
Keynote speech: Brokering the local: Challenges for the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Birgit Bräuchler, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Q&A Moderator: Birgit Kemmerling, bicc |
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Part I: Political Perspectives: What are Possible Peace Activities and what is Political about them? What are the Strengths and Risks of Introducing these Activities in the Context of Protracted Crises? |
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10:15–11.20 |
Session 1: Main challenges and possibilities for implementing the P component of the H-D-P- nexus So-called peace activities—encompassing approaches of conflict sensitivity, conflict prevention and peacebuilding—are often complex and contested. Different peacebuilding approaches can conflict with each other, and peacebuilding objectives are sometimes difficult to reconcile with emergency relief or development objectives. The challenges for peacebuilding activities differ between H, D and P actors, and the panel aims to bring these into dialogue. This panel will seek to answer the following questions: What are possible peace activities and what is political about them? What are the strengths and risks of introducing these activities in the context of protracted crises? Panel followed by Q&A Panellists:
Moderator: Boubacar Haidara, bicc |
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11:20–11:45 |
Coffee break |
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11:45–12:45 |
Session 2: Key findings from the research project “How can the HDP Nexus Succeed? NGOs Between Humanitarian Aid, Development Assistance and Peacebuilding” What is political about peace activities and how does that relate to local concepts of peace? How does a decolonial perspective help us understand this? This session will present findings of the three-year research project on the implementation of the HDP nexus in Iraq, Mali and South Sudan that was guided by these questions. The project has developed a mobile app for implementing organisations, which will be presented on the panel. Format: Academic panel followed by Q&A Panellists:
Moderator: Claudia Breitung, bicc |
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12:45–14:00 |
Lunch |
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Part II: Local Perspectives: What Obstacles have so far Stood in the Way of Strengthening the Role of Local Actors in HDP Design and Implementation, and how can these be Empowered? |
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14:00–15:30 |
Session 3: Empowering local organisations and communities The Grand Bargain, which emerged from the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, pledged support for greater empowerment of local actors. This included an increase in direct global funding for local NGOs, but also a shift towards more decision-making power for local NGOs and communities. What have been the obstacles to strengthening the role of local NGOs and communities in HDP design and implementation, and how can local NGOs and communities be empowered? Panel followed by Q&A Panellists:
Moderator: Esther Meininghaus, bicc |
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15:30–16.00 |
Coffee break |
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16.00-17.00
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Session 4: Takeaways from the discussions: Main avenues to promote peace and make humanitarian and development responses conflict-sensitive This session will distil several key messages and recommendations on whether and how peacebuilding activities can be strengthened—even in the extremely difficult conditions of protracted crises for which the HDP is intended. This also requires a re-think: To what extent can conflict-sensitive H and D activities contribute indirectly to peacebuilding, and what red lines should be respected when introducing peace activities? After input from the speakers on these specific questions, conference participants are invited to discuss the takeaways for Part I Political perspectives and Part II Empowering local actors. Inputs followed by fishbowl dialogue Speakers:
Moderator: Rodrigo Bolaños Suárez, bicc |
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17.00-17.15 |
Closing of day 1: Birgit Kemmerling, bicc |
Day 2: Friday, 20 September 2024
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Part III: Practical Considerations: Do we need to Integrate H, D, and P Activities, or just better Coordinate among H, D and P Actors? What are the Difficulties and Synergies of both Options? |
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09:30–10:45 |
Session 5: Financing models for local actors Donor funding strategies and models are beginning to shift towards more flexible funding but are still too rigid and bureaucratic to accommodate triple nexus approaches. In addition, local NGOs operating in highly challenging contexts find it difficult to meet the criteria set out by international funding calls. What are the funding barriers for donors and implementing organisations? How adaptable are donors willing to be and what do local actors need to be able to participate in international funding calls? Panel followed by Q&A Panellists:
Moderation: Boubacar Haidara, bicc |
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10:45–11:15 |
Coffee break |
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11:15–12:30 |
Session 6: Integrating H-D-P- activities within one organisation or project Organisations working at the local level and trying to combine peace, development and humanitarian relief activities face a range of practical challenges. The timelines of emergency, development and peace projects are different, and capacities to successfully implement each component may not be available in one organisation. Nonetheless, there may be complementarities and synergies between the different approaches. What are the practical challenges and possible synergies of combining the three approaches? How can different timelines and scales be used for an effective, integrated H-D-P approach? What reforms should donors implement to help in this regard? Inputs followed by fishbowl dialogue Speakers:
Moderator: Marie Müller-Koné, bicc |
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12.30-13.30 |
Lunch |
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13.30-14.45 |
Session 7: Coordinating HDP actors to promote peace at the local level At the local level, different actors often have different and sometimes competing agendas for what working towards ‘peace’ should entail. State actors, UN agencies, INGOs and local NGOs may each have different priorities. Equally, within a given town or village, local elites, armed groups or residents may also have very different visions of peace. For example, the goal may be “social cohesion” and strengthening the status quo or socio-economic change and reform. Should such goals be unified? Or is the goal of coordination to avoid duplication or even mutual undermining of each other’s different activities (such as military missions vs local peacebuilding)? This session will discuss what is the main purpose of coordination and how H, D and P actors can work towards this goal via coordination. Inputs followed by fishbowl dialogue Speakers:
Moderator: Birgit Kemmerling, bicc |
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14.45-15.30 |
Concluding discussion and closing of conference |
Our Panellists & Speakers
This conference is organised as part of the research project “How can the HDP Nexus Succeed? NGOs Between Humanitarian Aid, Development Assistance and Peacebuilding” that bicc is carrying out in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Malteser International (MI) and Welthungerhilfe (WHH). The project is funded by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Project website and publications: https://www.bicc.de/Projects/HDP-Nexus
Please note that pictures or videos will be recorded during the conference. These recordings will be used for the purpose of publication on bicc’s homepage, social media and in print and online publications. Please inform our team at the registration at the event if you do not wish to be recorded. After the event, you can object to the use of the recordings at any time without giving reasons. Your recordings will then be deleted or made unrecognisable.
You can find our privacy notice here: https://www.bicc.de/datenschutzerklaerung
Register here:
https://forms.office.com/e/dvKRgVK6RC
