Helping humanitarians to better help the needy: The cluster approach
The Aid & International Development Forum is looking to assist the UN's campaign towards the adoption of the Cluster Approach by providing an international forum for UN agencies, NGOs, international aid agencies and government, to discuss and address humanitarian issues and development challenges.
- (1888PressRelease) February 08, 2011 - London - Over 1.4 billion people reside in extreme poverty, hunger and disease worldwide. With 2010 labelled the 'Year of Natural Disaster' resulting in millions of displaced people living in squalor worldwide, the need to provide uniform, long term strategies to disaster response and reconstruction has never been greater.
Since 2000, the UN has led a collective endeavour to bring solidarity within the international humanitarian community and ensure quicker and more efficient response to handling disaster.
The strategy known as the Cluster Approach, seeks to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian response by ensuring greater predictability, accountability and
partnership through five methods:
- Ensuring sufficient global capacity
- Ensuring predictable leadership
- Developing partnerships (clusters) between UN agencies, IGOs and NGOs
- Strengthen accountability at a global level
- Improve strategic field-level coordination and prioritization
Although simplistic in approach and implementation, the Cluster Approach has been criticized due to inconsistencies in communication. However, the need to reach more aid beneficiaries, with more comprehensive needs-based relief and protection effectively and timely is undisputable.
This year, the Aid & International Development Forum is looking to assist the UN's campaign towards the adoption of the Cluster Approach by providing an international forum for UN agencies, NGOs, international aid agencies and government, to discuss and address humanitarian issues and development challenges.
Now in its 11th year, the Aid & International Development Forum provides an exclusive opportunity for the aid, relief and development sectors to network, build partnerships and share expertise. Additionally, the Aid & International Development Forum showcases the application of innovative solutions from leading suppliers to the emergency aid and development sectors, such as Philips Lighting Bv, Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings, Star Tides, Inmarsat, and LMS France (to name a few) in a series of real-life scenarios, based on past and present crises such as Haiti and Pakistan.
This year, the Aid & International Development Forum will be organised into nine sectors of response or Cluster Zones to include transport and logistics, water and sanitation, ICTs, power and energy efficiency, health, medical and nutrition, protection and security, finance, shelter, education and training. Each zone will feature dedicated exhibits, networking opportunities, experiential and workshop sessions, resulting in greater and more efficient collaboration amongst all stakeholders involved.
Some of the confirmed speakers for the workshop sessions include:
John Abood, Leader/Contracting Officer for the Transportation Division of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Graham Saunders, Cluster co Chair for Emergency Shelter
Charley Ansbach, Ansbach Associates
Keith Robbertory, Disaster Services Technology Manager, American Red Cross
As well as workshop sessions, there will also be a procurement network examining how businesses can best work with NGO, UN and government entities. Participants will discuss policy, the needs of the sectors, and exchange best practice at the same place that they can see, touch and experience products central to delivery.
The Aid & International Development Forum is a free to attend event. Registration has now opened and anyone wishing to attend can register online at www.aidforumonline.org/register.
For further information about the Aid & International Development Forum, please visit www.aidforumonline.org or contact:
Mairead Mc Nally, Event Marketing Manager
mmcnally ( @ ) aidforumonline dot org
About the Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF)
The Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF) 2011 will take place from 8-9 June 2011 at the Walter E Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. The Aid & International Development Forum (previously International Aid & Trade) is a world leading forum for humanitarian relief professionals to cement relationships, build partnerships, gain understanding and share experiences. Having been acquired by Henley Media Group in 2005, International Aid & Trade ran in Geneva in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and in 2009 the event moved to its present location in Washington D.C.
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7871 0188
Website: www.aidforumonline.org
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