ICVA | International Council of Voluntary Agencies

As crises deepen and funding shrinks, bold humanitarian reform is urgent—but must be critically assessed. The Humanitarian Reset proposes channelling 33% of global humanitarian funding—upwards of USD 6 billion—through Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs). This is more than a funding shift. It’s a major reconfiguration of how aid is prioritised, governed, and delivered. Our latest paper explores the implications of this proposal, calling for measured reflection, inclusive governance, and a balanced funding ecosystem that supports local actors without displacing other vital mechanisms. 🔍 Read the full paper here: icvanetwork.org/resource/rebal… #HumanitarianReset #CBPFs #Localization #HumanitarianFunding #ICVA

📢 Missed our recent webinar on humanitarian data? The recording of the ICVA report launch "Publish Once, Use Often: Realising the promise of data in humanitarian work" is now available on YouTube! 🎯 The session explored how we can move beyond data reporting for compliance toward more meaningful, inclusive, and collaborative data sharing in humanitarian action. With insights from: 🔹 Mark Brough, Emergentally 🔹 Yemesrach A. Workie, IATI 🔹 Peter M. Egwudah, CISCOPE Moderated by Elise Baudot, ICVA 🎥 Watch the full webinar here: youtube.com/watch?v=aZ7S0D… 📘 Download the report: icvanetwork.org/resource/publi… #HumanitarianData #DataSharing #ICVA #IATI #HumanitarianFinance

📢 Join us for the launch of ICVA’s new report - Risk Sharing in Pooled Funds for Locally Led & Effective Response As humanitarian actors push for greater localisation and efficiency, pooled funds, especially Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs), are central to these efforts. But to fully unlock their potential, we must tackle persistent challenges in risk sharing across donors and partners. 🌍 ICVA’s new report sheds light on risk management in pooled funds across Myanmar, Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine - offering concrete recommendations to strengthen trust and collaboration. Objectives of the session: 🔹 Launch and present the key findings and recommendations from the report. 🔹 Facilitate a multi stakeholder dialogue on the impact of current risk management practices in pooled fund delivery chain and their impact on locally led humanitarian action. 🔹 Share practical examples and emerging best practices from diverse pooled fund models and crisis contexts. 🔹 Identify opportunities to implement the report’s recommendations, especially in upcoming CBPF reforms, partnership frameworks, and donor strategies. 📅 Date: Thursday 17 July 2025 🕑 Time: 14:00-15:30 CET 👉 Register now: @fdf47e2e-9dca-4960-b7de-48a11611c69d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">events.teams.microsoft.com/event/948b3467… 📝 Read the report: icvanetwork.org/resource/publi… #HumanitarianFinancing #PooledFunds #RiskSharing #Localisation #ICVA

🔹 New publication: Planning for People, Not Process: NGO Recommendations for a Collective, Principled and Lightened Humanitarian Planning Process At a time when humanitarian needs are rising and funding is shrinking, it's critical to reimagine how we plan. This new paper, developed by ICVA members and partners, outlines NGO perspectives on what a credible, inclusive, and efficient humanitarian planning process must look like in today’s complex environment. The publication calls for four essential shifts: ✅ Clarify and streamline the purpose of planning ✅ Rebuild trust in needs estimation ✅ Make response design demand-driven ✅ Improve and lighten costing estimations 📄 Read the full paper and join us in advancing a more principled, people-centred approach to humanitarian planning: icvanetwork.org/resource/plann… #HumanitarianPlanning #HPC #ICVA

📢 Save the date and register: Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week (RHPW) Asia Pacific 2025 Registrations are now open for the RHPW 2025 that will take place in person from 8–10 December 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand under the theme “Reframing Humanitarianism for a Changing World” and sub-theme: Redefining Aid; Navigating Shifts in Power, Climate, and Resources. Co-hosted by ICVA, ADRRN, Community World Service Asia (CWSA), and OCHA, the event will gather humanitarian actors from across the Asia-Pacific region: civil society, local responders, UN agencies, donors, academics, and private sector leaders. 💬 Together, we’ll explore how to shape humanitarian action amidst climate change, resource constraints, and shifting power dynamics. 👉 Register now to secure your spot: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… We strongly encourage participation from youth, women leaders, crisis-affected communities, and local organisations. We invite international/regional actors to sponsor local partners to ensure inclusive participation. 💡 Want to contribute a session? Submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) by 31 August 2025 👉 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… 🧩 Showcase your work at the RHPW Marketplace! This free exhibit space is a great way to share your work, services, or ideas with a diverse audience. Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis 👉 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… 📄 Read the full Concept Note: rhpwasiapacific.com/about-the-event #RHPW2025 #HumanitarianAction #ICVA #AsiaPacific

📣 Advancing resilience-based development through strategic philanthropy Eman Ismail, ICVA MENA Regional Engagement Coordinator, joined an inspiring gathering of over 50 leaders, practitioners, and innovators at the Workshop on Advancing Resilience-Based Development through Strategic Philanthropy, co-organized by the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF) and @UNDPArabStates in Amman, Jordan. 🎤 Eman participated as one of the key speakers on the panel exploring how philanthropy can catalyze locally led resilience and long-term solutions in complex settings. The workshop was part of the AGF–UNDP Thought Leadership Series, a joint initiative aimed at deepening engagement with philanthropy to drive resilience-based development across the Arab region, especially in times of growing fragility, displacement, and shrinking humanitarian funding. 📘 Drawing from these rich discussions, the Outcome Report synthesizes key messages across three thematic areas and reflects the diversity of perspectives contributed by over 50 participants: 🔹 Rethinking resilience: from coping to transforming - A call to rethink resilience as a forward-looking, dynamic process, shifting from crisis response to transformative, systems-based strategies. Philanthropy was seen as a key enabler of flexible, risk-tolerant, and locally led action. 🔹 Building inclusive futures through digital skills - Discussions focused on aligning education with market needs, bridging the digital divide, and ensuring equitable access for youth, women, and marginalized groups. Examples included employer-led training, digital literacy, and cross-sector partnerships. 🔹 Philanthropy and innovative finance for sustainable impact - Exploration of tools like blended finance, social impact bonds, and impact investing as ways to bridge funding gaps and enable sustainable resilience outcomes. 📄 Read the full report: undp.org/arab-states/pu… 🎥 Watch a short recap video here: youtube.com/watch?v=YfuPiD… #Resilience #Philanthropy #Localization #SustainableDevelopment #ArabRegion P.S.: The workshop took place last December, but the UNDP Regional Bureau released the outcome report just recently, at the start of this month, reflecting back on the event.

📢 Is return always a durable solution? - Join us for an ICVA webinar exploring the relevance, reality and durability of voluntary repatriation in 2025. Voluntary return has long been framed as the preferred durable solution for refugees. But how relevant is this framing today—especially in an era marked by protracted displacement, conflict, and instability? 🗣️ This webinar will bring together expert speakers to: ▪️ Unpack the origin of ‘return’ as a durable solution and assess its relevance today ▪️ Reflect on whether voluntary return is a rhetoric or reality for stateless populations ▪️ Examine the durability of voluntary return in practice, with real-world case studies 📅 Date: Tuesday, 22 July 2025 🕘 Time: 09:00–11:00 CET 💻 Platform: Microsoft Teams (link shared upon registration) 🎤 Speaker lineup and full programme coming soon! Whether you're working on protection, solutions, advocacy or policy, this conversation is critical for rethinking durable solutions in a changing world. 👉 Details & registration: @fdf47e2e-9dca-4960-b7de-48a11611c69d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">events.teams.microsoft.com/event/83a9c5b5… #ForcedDisplacement #DurableSolutions #VoluntaryReturn #Refugees #ICVA

💬 "If donors and partners truly want to protect Yemeni women and girls, they must invest in those already doing the work on the frontlines, every day.” – Asia Al-Mashraqi, Chairwoman, Sustainable Development Foundation & Chair of the Yemen Women’s Leaders Network (YWLN) In #Yemen, over six million women and girls are at risk of gender-based violence, yet only 1% are expected to receive support in 2025. Local women-led organizations (WLOs) are a lifeline, providing critical protection services on the frontlines. However, without equitable and sustained funding, many are being forced to shut down. A few days ago, ICVA and @RESCUEorg Yemen hosted a powerful webinar to launch IRC’s new policy brief: 📄 “In Their Own Words: How to make funding and partnerships work for women’s organisations delivering Gender-Based Violence services in Yemen.” The event was moderated by Eman Ismail, ICVA MENA Regional Engagement Coordinator, and brought together Yemeni women leaders, donors, and humanitarian actors to chart a more just and inclusive path forward. The report and panel discussions call for: ✔️ Shifting power to women-led organizations ✔️ Reforming funding to be transparent, accessible, and needs-based ✔️ Investing in capacity on local terms ✔️ Fostering peer collaboration ✔️ Recognizing WLOs as leaders—not just implementers It’s time to move from commitments to concrete support. 👉 Read the full policy brief: rescue.org/report/their-o… #Localization #WomenLedOrganizations #GBV #FeministHumanitarianResponse #ICVA #IRC #YWLN

In #Gaza, 2 million people are forced into militarised zones under gunfire to access food. HelpAge joins 160+ organisations calling to: - Lift the blockade on aid - End the deadly distribution scheme - Restore @UN-led aid coordination Read the statement: reliefweb.int/report/occupie…

📣 Applications are now open also in French and Spanish! The 2025 Interagency PSEA Community Outreach and Communication Fund is now accepting proposals from local and national NGOs and CSOs working in humanitarian or displacement contexts. This joint initiative by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and ICVA provides grants of up to USD 20,000 to support community-based outreach and communication projects that help prevent Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by aid workers. 📅 Application deadlines: - Deadline for English applications – 17.00 CET 11 July 2025 - Deadline for Spanish applications – 17.00 CET 16 July 2025 - Deadline for French applications – 17.00 CET 17 July 2025 🌐 Applications are accepted in English, French, and Spanish. We’re looking for creative, inclusive, and contextually appropriate projects that raise awareness, engage communities, and strengthen local capacity to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse. Access further information on the the call and the application form on the link below and help ensure humanitarian assistance is safe, accountable, and survivor-centered. 👉 icvanetwork.org/resource/pseaf… #PSEA #SEAprevention #Safeguarding #HumanitarianAction #NGOs #UNHCR #ICVA #Localization #CommunityEngagement

🔄 Rotation of ICVA NGO Representation at the IASC Emergency Directors Group (EDG) We are pleased to announce that following expressions of interest from the ICVA membership, Elodie Andrault, Operations Director of Action Contre la Faim (ACF) France, has been selected as the new ICVA EDG NGO representative. 👏 👩‍💼 Elodie Andrault is Operations Director of Action Contre la Faim (ACF) France, the founding member of the ACF international network. In her twenty years career in the international humanitarian sector, Elodie has worked in multiple well recognised organisations (MSF, Crisis Action, ICMP, and IRC), including Senior Leadership roles at Country and Regional level in complex humanitarian contexts (Myanmar, Ukraine, the Middle East, Sudan, Chad, North Caucasus, and more). Overseeing operations in 25+ Country Offices, Elodie has operational responsibilities over 4000+ staff (over 90% in the field). She is a proven strategic transformation leader, with success in diversity & gender equity, decentralisation, decolonisation, and access. 🙏 ICVA would like to acknowledge and deeply thank Birke Herzbruch, Head of Portfolio for Fragile & Conflict Affected States at Trócaire, for her dedication and valued contributions to the EDG over the past two years. #NGOLeadership #IASC #ICVA

📣 "Resilience is not built through charity, but through inclusion." That's the driving force behind World Vision's pledge at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum and their efforts to promote the financial inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants seeking to rebuild their lives in Colombian communities. Since that pledge, over 1,100 people, mostly women, have gained financial skills, joined savings groups and launched businesses, and taken back control of their futures. But barriers still hold many back: Banks are turning away migrants despite legal protections and job opportunities remain scarce. 📝 Our latest blog by Isidro Navarro Paya explores what real inclusion means and how stakeholders can support the move from pilots to regional transformation. 👉 Read the full blog here: icvanetwork.org/blog/building-…

📣 ICVA Statement on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and the Erosion of Principled Humanitarian Action The International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) expresses deep concern over the recent announcement by the United States government of $30 million in funding for the newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). We join a growing number of humanitarian and human rights organisations in warning that this model undermines principled humanitarian action, politicises aid, and risks setting a dangerous precedent globally. The GHF has been widely criticised for operating outside of established humanitarian coordination mechanisms, marginalising local Palestinian NGOs, and misrepresenting core humanitarian standards. Of particular concern is the misuse of the Sphere Handbook, a cornerstone of humanitarian quality and accountability. The Sphere Association has made clear that the GHF’s public justification for its selective aid model grossly distorts the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. ICVA is committed to upholding these principles and ensuring that humanitarian assistance is delivered based on need, not politics. The creation and funding of the GHF sidesteps the established aid system, ignores the leadership and knowledge of local and national organisations, and weakens the humanitarian coordination architecture that exists to ensure efficiency, transparency, and equity in aid delivery. As a global network of NGOs committed to principled and coordinated humanitarian action, we are deeply concerned that this model risks not only failing the people of Gaza, but also legitimising an approach to humanitarianism that is exclusionary, politicised, and inconsistent with international humanitarian norms. We call on all donors, including the United States, to: Uphold and reinforce the centrality of protection and humanitarian principles in all aid efforts; Engage with and support local and national NGOs in Gaza and the broader Occupied Palestinian Territory; Avoid the creation or endorsement of parallel structures that weaken coordination, exclude legitimate actors, or promote politically motivated aid models; Ensure that humanitarian funding is delivered through inclusive, needs-based mechanisms that reinforce, not replace, existing standards and architecture. The humanitarian community must remain steadfast in defending the integrity of our work. The lives, dignity, and rights of people in crisis cannot be subject to political agendas. ICVA Secretariat - icvanetwork.org/blog/icva-stat…

📣 New blog out now: Shifting the balance – reflections on advancing locally led action in Iraq Last week, ICVA hosted a fantastic discussion to launch our latest baseline, which measured localisation in Iraq. "We commissioned this baseline to look at how power and resources are distributed across the humanitarian and development response in Iraq," says Eman Ismail in our latest blog. "The baseline findings paint a clear picture: While Iraqi NGOs have long played essential roles in delivering aid, overall progress toward truly locally led humanitarian action has been limited. This is despite decades of humanitarian response in the country." Eman's blog reflects on the findings and rich discussion, and how the NGOs and the Humanitarian Reset can better support localisation. As she notes "The localisation journey in Iraq is far from over. The enthusiasm and resilience of local actors has been profoundly inspiring, despite all the challenges they face. With shared commitment, we can ensure the next chapter of this journey is written by those who have lived every page of it." 💡 Read the blog: icvanetwork.org/blog/shifting-… 📖 Read the report: icvanetwork.org/resource/measu… 📽️ Watch the webinar: youtube.com/watch?v=uikAVe… With Suzan Aref, Noor Al-Ibadi, Eranda Wijewickrama, Alwand Talaat and Ismaeel Dawood

📣 Joint NGO Policy Brief: East Africa – A Refugee Haven Under Threat ICVA member organisations, through the Inter-Agency Working Group for East & Central Africa (IAWG), have launched a new Joint Policy Brief signed by 20 INGOs. The Brief highlights growing humanitarian needs and increasing financial pressures on host governments, threatening the region’s historically progressive refugee policies. As the Brief outlines, now more than ever, cost-effective and sustainable responses are essential. Governments and donors must prioritise: 1️⃣ Tackling the root causes of displacement 2️⃣ Advancing refugee self-reliance and integration 📄 Read the policy brief here: reliefweb.int/report/sudan/j… #Refugees #EastAfrica #HumanitarianPolicy #ICVA

📣 Upcoming Webinar | Women-led response in Yemen: a call for equitable partnerships In Yemen, women-led and women’s rights organizations (WLOs/WROs) are at the forefront of the humanitarian response, delivering lifesaving GBV services and reaching the most vulnerable. Yet, they continue to face chronic underfunding and structural barriers to meaningful participation. ICVA is pleased to co-organise this important discussion with the @RESCUEorg to mark the launch of the new report: 📝 “In their own words: how to make funding and partnerships work for women’s organizations delivering Gender-Based Violence services in Yemen” Moderated by Eman Ismail, ICVA’s MENA Regional Representative, the event will spotlight the experiences, leadership, and solutions of Yemeni WLOs and WROs, and offer concrete ways forward to ensure more equitable funding and partnerships. 🎙️ With speakers from: - Yemen Women’s Union - TOBE Foundation - Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF) مؤسسة التنمية المستدامة - IRC, CARE, DG ECHO and more 📅 Date: Tuesday, 1st July 🕒 Time: 12:00-13:45 (Yemen time) - 11:00-12:45 (CEST) 💻 Live-streamed webinar 🗣️ Arabic & English 👉 Register here: lnkd.in/dfHtyB5a We look forward to seeing you there! #ICVA #WLO #WRO #Yemen #IRC #GBVResponse

🌍 New Speaker Spotlight – Qamar Iqbal joins the ICVA Speakers Bureau We’re pleased to welcome Qamar Iqbal, Head of Localisation & Partnerships at Pak Mission Society, to the ICVA Speakers Bureau! With 22 years of experience working with international and national NGOs across Pakistan, Qamar brings deep expertise in localisation, humanitarian financing, access, climate action, children's rights, and more. He currently convenes both the NEAR Network and Charter4Change in Pakistan, playing a key role in shaping policy and practice on the ground. 🎤 Are you looking for insightful, experienced panellists for your next humanitarian event? Browse the ICVA Speakers Bureau and find speakers with lived experience and regional expertise: 🔗 icvanetwork.org/icva-speakers-… #HumanitarianAction #Localisation #HumanitarianLeadership #ICVA #SpeakersBureau

🌍 World Refugee Day 2025 | #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs This year’s theme, solidarity, is a powerful reminder that refugee leadership is not optional - It’s essential. 📣 Paul kithima from Bondeko Livelihoods Centre (Uganda), whom also intervened at the Standing Committee yesterday, reminds us: “The refugee crisis concerns the entire world… everyone should get involved in finding solutions. We either all disappear, or survive, together.” 🎙️ And as Maria Isabel (Marisa) Leon Gomez Sonet from Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT) clearly put it: “When refugees sit at the tables where decisions are made, outcomes are more effective, more sustainable, and more grounded in reality.” At ICVA, we strongly believe that refugee-led organisations must be at the table to influence, participate, and lead in shaping the policies that affect their lives. True hashtag#solidarity means recognizing refugee-led organisations as equal partners, in Geneva, New York, and everywhere decisions are made. 🎥 Watch the video below to understand why meaningful refugee participation matters, now more than ever ⬇️ #WorldRefugeeDay #RefugeeLeadership #ICVA

🤝 Yesterday, ICVA was pleased to welcome Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, to our Geneva office. We’re grateful for the time he took to hear directly from our local NGO members from South Sudan, Lebanon, and R-SEAT, alongside international NGOs. These exchanges are essential to ensuring humanitarian leadership stays focused in realities on the ground. ▶️ ICVA remains committed to being a strong and constructive partner in shaping a more inclusive, effective, and principled humanitarian system. As Tom Fletcher noted, "NGOs have a powerful and consistent advocate in Jamie and all of ICVA." #ICVA #OCHA

📣 Join us for the launch of our new report “Publish Once, Use Often: Realising the promise of data in humanitarian work.” Despite progress in data reporting, much of the data published by humanitarian actors remains fragmented and driven by donor compliance rather than impact. Our new report sheds light on these challenges and offers a roadmap for meaningful, inclusive data sharing. 🔹 Key highlights of the webinar: ✅ Presentation of the report’s findings and recommendations ✅ An open discussion on moving from compliance to collaboration ✅ Exploring concrete actions for a more inclusive transparency ecosystem Moderated by Elise Baudot, ICVA’s Head of Humanitarian Finance. Our speakers include Mark Brough from Emergentally and Yemesrach Workie from IATI. 📅 Date: Tuesday 24 June 2025 🕒 Time: 15:00-16:30 CET 👉 Register here: @fdf47e2e-9dca-4960-b7de-48a11611c69d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e22123b1… 📝 Read the report here: icvanetwork.org/resource/publi… We look forward to seeing you there! #ICVA #HumanitarianData #DataTransparency