| |
|
|
| The Global Event For Humanitarian Aid, Disaster Relief And Development Effectiveness. |
| Mar 09, 2010 – Washington, D.C., July 22-23 |
The Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF) is the annual event for humanitarian aid and development solutions. The forum brings together the international stakeholders involved in the delivery of humanitarian relief assistance to conflict and disaster situations as well as international development to countries across the globe.
More than halfway to the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), major progresses to reduce poverty and underdevelopment have begun to slow as a result of the global economic and food crises. The forum intends to move towards a global framework for aid effectiveness looking at aid and development through building capacity for Development and the delivery of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, warns that, despite many advancements, overall development has been insufficient for most of the targets to be met by 2015: “We cannot allow an unfavorable economic climate to prevent us from realizing the commitments made in 2000”. Time has come to further advancement towards the MDGs. The world community has the capacity to reach those, even the poorest countries, with a greater political will and commitment, as well as sufficient funding will be able to diminish the gap.
However the recent global economic breakdown weakened the capacity of countries to self-finance their development programs. Export revenues were drastically knocked-out of as the financial meltdown in developed economies began to trickle down. The MDGs report also stresses that as a result of the global economy instability, most of the donor’s countries financial support to aid and development was diminished, and therefore for many developing countries receiving a lower level of assistance would stop progress and could even reverse some of the achievements made and make the situation even worse for the vulnerable populations which could have drastic consequences in the long-term.
Still, governments, stakeholders and all humanitarian actors -including UN agencies, NGOs, international financial institutions, think tanks, the military and the private sector- have to reinforce their interaction and cross-sector collaboration in order to revitalize efforts to provide effective and decent aid and assistance relief.
In order to improve dialogue among key humanitarian actors in the delivery of MDGs, AIDF has set three key objectives: the exchange, sharing and transfer of knowledge; the showcasing of products and services; and the effective networking of stakeholders within the sector.
Alongside the forum, a procurement network will be held to amplify understanding between government, UN, and NGO organisations, procurement agencies and companies supplying goods and services to the aid, humanitarian relief and development sectors. At last year's event, Finbarr Curran Director of WFP's Field and Emergency Support Office (FESO) gave a presentation entitled "Working with the UN - WFP Field and Emergency Support Office (FESO)", Liz Critchley, and Joice Williams from the American Red Cross presented a session on "How to work with non-profit procurement officers" and a session called "How to work with USAID and OFDA" was hosted by Michael F. Walsh, Director of programs for Finance, Grants and Contracts for Inside NGO, John Abood, Team Leader and Contracting Officer for OFDA, USAID, Bob Miller and Ron Stanley, also from USAID.
The event is a forum to enhance a greater international will to discuss humanitarian and development policies and practices as well as a shop window for operational suppliers at the forefront of delivery.
For additional information on the event, registration or the news that is the subject of this release contact Ann Gire or visit www.aidforumonline.org |
 |
| |
|
.jpg)
