World Humanitarian Summit 2016

The first-ever World Humanitarian Summit is a global call to action by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon which will bring together governments, humanitarian organizations, people affected by humanitarian crises and new partners including the private sector to propose solutions to our most pressing challenges and set an agenda to keep humanitarian action fit for the future.

The Summit has three main goals:

• Reaffirm our commitment to humanity and humanitarian principles
• Initiate actions and commitments which enable countries and communities to prepare for and respond to crises and be more resilient to shocks.
• Share best practices which help save lives around the world, placing affected people at the centre of humanitarian action and alleviating suffering.

The Summit programme will include the following main features:

• An opening ceremony and plenary: Statements by the Head of State or Government of the Host Country, the United-Nations Secretary General, and other VIPs including Heads of State or Government, UN Goodwill Ambassadors and Special Advocates, and representatives from crisis-affected communities.
• Announcement Plenary: Statements by global leaders announcing commitments to take forward the Agenda for Humanity.
• High-Level Leaders’ Roundtables: Focusing on some of the great humanitarian challenges of our time, these will provide an opportunity for leaders to make commitments and announce bold actions in support of the Agenda for Humanity.
• Special sessions: These will focus on important partnerships and initiatives spurred by the Summit process.
• Side events: Governments, international and non-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to organize events in the form of briefings, seminars, workshops and panel discussions in the margins of the Summit.
• Exhibition fair and Innovation marketplace: Spaces dedicated to showcasing the work, products, and programmes of governments, organizations, agencies, companies and other institutions and partners in support of humanitarian action.
• Commitments platform: An online platform will allow governments, humanitarian organizations, businesses and regional, sub-regional and sub-national stakeholders, among others, to register commitments to action or to join existing initiatives in support of the five core responsibilities and the Agenda for Humanity.

One of the High-Level Leaders’ Roundtables is titled "Natural disasters and climate change: Managing risks & crises differently". The objective of the roundtable is to build on global agreements in 2015 to commit to a more collective approach to managing risks, and increasing investments in preparedness, reinforcing national and local systems, and agreeing clear responsibilities, triggers and guaranteed finance for early action.

A side event organized during and in the context of the World Humanitarian Summit is the BRACED (Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters) event on "Localising humanitarian aid: Building resilient networks, systems, organisations and people on May 24, 13:00-14:30 in Rumeli Hall 2.
See: http://www.braced.org/resources/i/?id=5e84b11a-4d4f-4477-a1d4-9b81880ce879