Rotary International Participates in the 2024 UNICEF-NGO Consultations with ICVA in Geneva, Switzerland
Dr. Rose Cardarelli, Rotary International Representative to UNICEF-USA was invited by UNICEF’s Inter-Agency & Humanitarian Partnership Division of the Office of Emergency Programmes to participate in the NGO Consultations in collaboration with ICVA from 16-17 April in Geneva.
These collaborations began in 2019 when UNICEF and ICVA initiated ongoing dialogues to improve partnerships in humanitarian settings. The 2024 consultation theme was “Partnering for Children in the Climate Crisis”. It was an opportunity for collaborative dialogue on programmatic and policy issues in areas affected by climate change while connecting with key partners from INGOs and NGOs and envisioning sustainable partnerships.
Major topics focused on 4 thematic subjects of focus:
1.) Humanitarian-Development Nexus and the Climate Crisis;
2.) Accountability to Affected Persons and Community Engagement;
3.) Localization: Advancing Partnerships with Local Actors; and
4.) Quality Funding and Equitable Partnerships.
The primary objective of the Consultation was to gather diverse perspectives related to the delivery of humanitarian and development aid to children while safeguarding their rights and generating practical insights and developing plans and ideas to effect change.
Speakers included Hazel De Wet, Deputy Director, Office of Emergency Programmes, UNICEF, Jamie Munn, Executive Director, ICVA and other experts from Plan International, CWIN-Nepal, Save the Children International, Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group, Secretariat for the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations, World Vision, Association Tin Tua/Burkina Faso, Organization International Rescue Committee, Chief, Inter-Agency & Humanitarian Partnerships Unit, Office of Emergency Programmes. CHS Alliance, Youth Advocates Zimbabwe, Tamdeen Youth Foundation, SAHED Foundation, Development Initiatives, and The Lebanese Organisation for Studies and Training.
Dr. Cardarelli shared in breakout sessions the Local Collaboration Framework handbook that she helped create with Rotary International and UNICEF to demonstrate how collaboration between two large international organizations can lead to successful action for global, regional and local projects.
