OTTAWA, Dec. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - The Humanitarian Coalition is proud to announce, at the Canadian Humanitarian Conference, the launch of a consultation with the private sector and Canadian humanitarian aid agencies - Improving Cross-Sector Partnerships For More Effective Canadian Humanitarian Aid. This one-year project will be funded by Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD).
Natural disasters and international crises affect more and more people each year, and Canadians are aware of the importance of humanitarian aid. Local and international businesses play a crucial role from the first moments of a crisis. Canadian agencies and their experienced teams have the hard job of planning for the unforeseeable and responding swiftly when disaster strikes.
"Canada is a leader on the international stage—providing timely, effective and impartial humanitarian assistance and ensuring that it reaches those most in need. It is vital for our government to be ready when crisis strikes", said the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, the Honourable Christian Paradis. "Our humanitarian assistance relies on effective partnerships with the Canadian and international humanitarian communities. Now, Canada also wants to begin to explore harnessing the expertise, resources and innovation of the private sector to help the most vulnerable."
Despite the generosity of individual Canadians and the country's businesses in times of crises, like the Haïti earthquake (2010) or the Philippines Typhoon (2013), financial donations simply cannot cover the extensive needs. Moreover, the international trend is to develop new response mechanisms combining donations and fundraising efforts, material contributions that meet identified needs, and the sharing of expertise.
In this context, DFATD tasked the Humanitarian Coalition with carrying out a research and consultation exercise aimed at understanding whether it is possible to bolster Canada's overall emergency response capacity through intersectoral partnerships. This year-long project seeks to assess the potential for establishing innovative partnerships between the private sector and humanitarian agencies and to determine how such partnerships would work. The Conference Board of Canada will lead the research initiative and engage with key private sector partners to consult and collaborate on solutions.
"Many Canadian businesses are eager to leave a global footprint and to make a positive impact - particularly in times of humanitarian crisis," said Paul Forgues, Principal Manager, Governance and Corporate Responsibility at The Conference Board of Canada. "This is a unique opportunity to engage in a dialogue that will inform and grow our country's leadership in the humanitarian sector."
Based on the research's conclusion, the team will then evaluate the possibilities for launching a platform or other tool to promote long-term sharing and cooperation between the sectors.
"I am passionate about this ambitious project. As a leader in Canada's humanitarian aid sector, the Humanitarian Coalition is always on the lookout for response mechanisms that can help improve the country's ability to reach and assist vulnerable populations in their time of need," said Nicolas Moyer, Executive Director. "This project will help us understand what we need to do as a community to promote innovative and flexible partnerships with the potential to benefit thousands of lives."
The report stemming from the research should be available as of summer 2015, with the first recommendations to follow.
To participate in one of the consultations, join the research advisory committee or simply find out more about the project, visit the Humanitarian Coalition website: http://humanitariancoalition.ca/about-us/how-we-work/cross-sector-collaboration
The Humanitarian Coalition is Canada's only joint appeal mechanism for humanitarian assistance. It is comprised of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan Canada and Save the Children Canada. With a combined presence in more than 120 countries, we bring together Canada's leading aid agencies to finance relief efforts in times of international humanitarian crises. We work together to eliminate unnecessary competition, reduce the duplication of fundraising costs, and inform the public on humanitarian needs. The Humanitarian Coalition is a member of the Emergency Appeals Alliance, which is made up of similar humanitarian networks from eight countries. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Image with caption: "Humanitarian Coalition (CNW Group/Humanitarian Coalition)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141205_C7293_PHOTO_EN_8997.jpg
SOURCE: Humanitarian Coalition
Humanitarian Coalition - Marie-Eve Bertrand, [email protected], 613-239-2154; Conference Board of Canada - Corporate Communications, [email protected]; Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie - Maxime Robert, Press Secretary, [email protected], 343-203-6238
Share this article