"Humanitaires en danger", 8 December 2006, Paris
Groupe URD took part in an event organised by the Sciences Po School in Paris, on the subject of humanitarians in danger.
Programme (in French)
"Faut-il sacrifier l'indépendance de l'action humanitaire ?", 4 - 5 December 2006, Geneva.
For MSF Switzerland’s 25th birthday, Groupe URD took part in a round table on the issue of humanitarian independence and the role of funding agencies.
Programme (in French)
"Regards croisés sur l'action humanitaire France – Inde", conference jointly organised by Groupe URD, 13 - 15 November 2006.
Groupe URD, Coordination SUD and VANI (a platform of Indian NGOs) organised a conference, "Regards croisés sur l'action humanitaire France-Inde", 13 -15 November 2006 in Pondichéry.
The conference compared Indian and ‘Western’ humanitarian practices and positioning (emergency relief and reconstruction). The comparison was largely based on action carried out following the December 2004 tsunami.
Programme (in English)
Presentation of the LRRD project results, 7 November 2006, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Kabul.
On 7 November 2006, Groupe URD presented the results of its research into agrarian systems as part of the Linking Relief Rehabilitation and Development (LRRD) project financed by the European Commission. Partnerships were established with two French NGOs, GERES and Solidarités. The research improves understanding of the agrarian systems in the zones where these NGOs operate.
The conference took place in the offices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
Programme of the presentation (in English)
Presentation of the Quality COMPAS© and the Dynamic COMPAS®, 6 November 2006, in the Ministry of Finance, Kabul.
Groupe URD has been developing the Quality COMPAS© and the Dynamic COMPAS®, a quality assurance method specifically for humanitarian action, since 2001. The objective of these tools is to improve the quality of service provided to affected populations.
On 6 November 2006, in the Ministry of Finance in Kabul, Groupe URD presented the two Quality approach tools to a very broad public.
Invitation (in English)
8th Congress Theory and Practice of Humanitarian Practice by MSF Germany, 26 - 27 October.
Groupe URD was invited to the 8th Congress on Theory and Practice of Humanitarian Practice co-organised by MSF Germany and the German Red Cross, in Berlin 26 and 27 October 2006.
The issue dealt with is central to our work:"When to stay, when to leave?"
"When to stay, when to leave" by Francois Grünewald
The Second Forum on African Drought Risk and Development in Nairobi, 16 – 17 October 2006.
François Grünewald, team leader of the Evaluation of the Drought Response in the Horn of Africa, presented the evaluation conclusions at the Second Forum on African Drought Risk and Development in Nairobi, on 16 and 17 October 2006.
Conference report, pdf format in English
Or on the UNICEF web site
28, 29, 30 September 2006 : 4th Autumn School on Humanitarian Aid
The fourth Autumn Scool on Humanitarian Aid took place in brilliant sunshine, under a clear blue sky, and was a time for learning and exchange.
In a particularly warm atmosphere, participants from a variety of countries and from different sectors debated complex issues around the cross-sector theme of “Humanitarian Space in danger?”. These included the impact of the post-9/11 geo-political context on IHL, the blurring of lines between the military and humanitarians, the growing insecurity in the field, the reform of the UN, funding mechanisms…Are the founding principles of humanitarianism – independence, neutrality and impartiality – in danger? The debates were rich and constructive. There was much to take away that will help us to persevere in our work.
And, of course, there were the informal discussions over coffee, the painting exhibition, the planting of olive trees, the Provencal cuisine and all the other little moments which allowed everyone to get to know each other a little better. Many thanks to all those who made presentations, to the Région Rhône Alpes for its support, to the participants for their curiosity and the pertinence of their contributions, and to everyone for their friendliness and good humour!
Programme of the 4th Autumn School
Issue outline: "Humanitarian Space in danger?" (in French)
Contact: Mlle Jeanne Taisson
18, 19, 20 May 2006: 2ième Salon de l'Humanitaire
Groupe URD was actively involved in the Salon de l'Humanitaire, where we had a stand (more than 200 visitors), we contributed in conferences, workshops and round tables.
On Friday 19, François Grünewald, President of Groupe URD, chaired the conference 'Gestion d'une Catastrophe socio-naturelle: les synergies possibles entre les différentes structures et acteurs'. He also contributed to the round table, 'La prévention des catastrophes socio-naturelles et les systèmes d'alerte précoce', organised by Cap Solidarité, (association created by the students from the "Gestion de l'Humanitaire" Masters from Paris XII University.
On Saturday, Bonaventure Sokpoh took part in the conference 'De l'urgence au développement local, travail de terrain, difficultés et contraintes de l'action', with Alain Boînet, of Solidarités, Marie-Pierre Caley of ACTED, and a representative of Planet Finance.
Groupe URD also presented the Dynamic COMPAS, a quality assurance software programme for humanitarian project management. The software, financed by ECHO Grant Facility 2006, was presented at the workshop 'Des nouvelles technologies au service de l'action humanitaire: l'exemple du COMPAS Dynamique pour l'assurance qualité et la gestion de l'information' on Thursday 19 May. Visitors to the Groupe URD stand were also able to see the software being used in the context of a real project.
Groupe URD worked with 'Cap Solidarités' DESS Gestion de l'Humanitaire at Paris XII University.
The DESS GH pages on the conferences
The site of the Salon National de l'Humanitaire
How can humanitarian aid contribute to rural development, Amphi Grignon, INA-PG, 16 May 2006
François Grünewald, graduate of INA-Paris-Grignon and President of Groupe URD, spoke to the new generation of agronomists about “Food security, agriculture and crises, becoming involved in humanitarian action in the long term as an agronomist”. Other contributors were Henri Rouillé d'Orfeuil, President of Coordination sud and Marc Dufumier, professor at INA-PG and head of the "Développement agricole et agriculture comparée" chair.
3rd DIHAD, 10,11,12 April 2006
Groupe URD took part in the 3rd Dubaï International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference (DIHAD) on 10, 11 and 12 April as one of the speakers in the round table on ‘Disaster prevention and preparedness’. This was an opportunity to inform a large number of actors about the Quality COMPAS and its associated information management tool, the Dynamic COMPAS®.
Conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, 24 February 2006
On 24 February, Groupe URD organised a conference to present the results of its latest research. The cross-sector plenary and the 4 theme-based workshops were an opportunity for over 40 participants (Afghan ministries, representatives from funding agencies, NGO personnel) to discuss how the context, humanitarian practice and the impact of humanitarian aid are evolving in Afghanistan.
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