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| Home - Events news |
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| November |
- Conference on "The health of civilians caught up in armed conflict", Paris, 19 November 2009
Groupe URD is taking part in a conference on "The health of civilians caught up in armed conflict", organised by the Henry Dunant Association of France, along with Action Contre la Faim, ICRC Paris, Médecins du Monde and Médecins sans Frontières. The conference is being held at the Académie Nationale de Médecine in Paris on Thursday 19 November 2009.
It was on seeing the battlefield of Solferino strewn with 40 000 injured soldiers that Henry Dunant exclaimed, "Never again!" 150 years later, with the sixtieth anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, it is the terrible fate of the civilians caught up in armed cinflict - amongst whom levels of mortality and morbidity are extremely high - that prompts us to repeat Dunant's call.
The organisers invite you to a day of debate focusing on the issue of access to essential resources for survival. Examples from the field will be presented highlighting contexts where populations do not have access to these resources and the limits of humanitarian action. The conference will then look at protection measures and International Humanitarian Law and whether or not it is adapted to current contexts. Possible measures to improve the overall situation will then be discussed.
Programme
Registration form, to be returned by 5 November 2009
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| September |
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Humanitarian action takes place in environments that have been weakened and often stretched beyond their capacity for resilience. With protracted crises becoming more and more common, the humanitarian community has understood that preserving the environment during operations is essential to allow crisis victims to regain their autonomy and to avoid serious negative consequences for the local population.
Humanitarian actors, therefore, need to know about:
- the types of environmental vulnerability which exist in operational contexts and what effects humanitarian programmes have on these
- how to take the environment into account in the design and implementation of programmes
- the methods and technical solutions which exist
These are the issues we will be dealing with at Groupe URD’s Autumn School on Humanitarian Aid this year. We will look at what is currently being done to reduce the environmental impact of humanitarian action and explore methodological and technical ideas for taking the environment into account as well as the constraints that exist.
The ‘Open Space’ method, an approach which encourages creativity, collaboration and personal commitment, will be used during the two and half days of exchange.
We hope you will be able to join us this September!
For information and to register, please contact Jeanne Taisson
Programme
Registration Form
Topic overview
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| July |
- The Regional Summer School on Aid, Bourg lès-Valence, 3 - 4 July 2009
Groupe URD took part in the Université d’été de la solidarité internationale organised by the Rhône-alpes region in partnership with the CADR (Collectif des Associations de Développement) and a variety of associations. This event brought together more than 170 participants over two days in Bourg les Valence on the theme "Building links between civil society in the North and the South. Why? How?". Groupe URD spoke about the link between relief and development in crisis situations at one of the workshops.
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| August |
- 3rd Dry Toilet Conference, Finland, on 12-15 August 2009
Groupe URD will take part in the 3rd Dry Toilet Conference, which will be held in Tampere, Finland, on 12-15 August 2009.
The main theme of the conference will be the evaluation of achievements in sanitation after the International year of Sanitation and to what extend have dry toilets helped to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Special focus is given to health aspects related to dry sanitation.
Main topics:
· Promoting ecological sanitation in order to achieve MDG’s
· Health and safety aspects related to sanitation
· Technical development of Dry Toilets
· Prospects and challenges in reuse of excreta
· Social, Cultural, Economic and Gender related aspects of dry sanitation
· Implementing ecological sanitation in emergencies
· Sustainable sanitation for tourism and recreation
Groupe URD will share his current experience in Eastern Chad, in the panel "Implementing ecological sanitation in emergencies": Sanitation in refugee and IDP camps and sites (as well as possible areas of return) in Chad: current and future challenges
The conference is organised by Global Dry Toilet Association of Finland and is expected to attract ca. 150 experts in the field of sanitation, officials, developing aid workers, teachers and students, etc. from over 30 countries.
The conference provides an ideal platform for all interested parties to share their experiences and to learn about new practises and technologies.
More information
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| June |
- General Assembly of the Ritimo network, 5, 6 and 7 June at Groupe URD headquarters
Groupe URD has been a full member of the Ritimo network since December 2008, having been an associate member since 2003. This year we hosted the network’s General Assembly. Representatives of the different documentation and information centres in the network gathered to discuss various themes (documentation, development education, welcoming and guiding the public, etc.) and to elect a new administrative board and new commissions (Label, Documentaries, Young people’s projects, Educating young people about development and aid, etc.)
Watch highlights of the weekend
Find out more about Ritimo (Réseau d'information et de documentation pour le développement durable et la solidarité internationale)
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| April |
- Cities at War, the urban dynamics of violence, Ghent, Belgium, 1 April 2009
Groupe URD began working on the interaction between cities, crises and humanitarian action in 2000. The results of this work, published in the book, “Villes en Guerre et guerres en ville”, will be presented as part of the lecture series "Cities at war: the urban dynamics of violence" organised by the Conflict Research Group, University of Ghent, Belgium.
Presentation
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| March |
- Groupe URD at the World Water Forum, Istanbul , 16 -22 March 2009
The World Water Forum is the biggest event in the world dealing with the subject of water. It aims to give the issue of water (and sanitation) more prominence on the international political stage. It is a step towards global collaboration on water issues, providing the water community and political decision-makers a unique opportunity to meet and get to know each other, exchange views and attempt to find solutions to the question of water security.
The 5 th World Water Forum will take place in Istanbul , in Turkey , from the 16 th to the 22 nd of March 2009. For the first time a session will be specifically dedicated to water and sanitation in humanitarian emergencies (session 1.3.4) – Emergency Water Management During and After Disasters/Conflicts
Groupe URD has been actively involved in the activities coordinated by the Partenariat Français pour l'Eau (PFE), which is made up of French agencies which deal with water at the international level. We will be making a presentation on Tuesday March 17 at the France stand - “Between Humanitarian emergency and development: Water and Sanitation, a priority for the population”.
Programme
Groupe URD and French Water Academy's Water Project
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| February |
- World Conference on Humanitarian Studies, Groningen, 4-8 February 2009
The University of Wageningen (Groningen, Netherlands) is organising the first World Conference on Humanitarian Studies from the 4th to the 8th February, 2009. The conference will aim to generate the same kind of dialogue and close collaboration between policy makers and practitioners that characterises humanitarian studies. The debates will cover a wide range of themes related to humanitarian action. For more information about this event, visit the conference website at www.humanitarianstudies2009.org
Groupe URD will be present at the conference to present the work it conducts on the following research topics:
- LRRD
- Humanitarian space
- Managing the quality of humanitarian projects
- Knowledge management and institutional learning mechanisms
- The principles of the Good Humanitarian Donorship Initiative
- Civil-Military relations
- The reform of the UN’s humanitarian mechanisms
- Humanitarian action in urban contexts
- Food security in complex crisis situations
- The development of an information management system for the humanitarian sector
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January |
- “Water and sanitation in crisis and post crisis situations” – internal work seminar organised by Groupe URD and AFD, 12 th and 13 th January 2009 in Paris
Groupe URD and the French Development Agency (AFD) are co-organising an internal work seminar on “Water and sanitation in crisis and post-crisis situations: how can the humanitarian and development sectors work together better?”
This meeting follows on from work already carried out with AFD on ways of helping humanitarian and development actors to work together better from the very beginning of a project and particularly in post crisis situations. A synthesis document will be produced in preparation for the World Water Forum in Istanbul , from the 16 th to the 22 th march, 2009.
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November |
- 5th annual health conference: "Health and humanitarian action", Aix en Provence, 28 November 2008
Groupe URD took part in the 5th annual health conference, which was on ‘Health and humanitarian action’, at the Institut d’études politiques in Aix en Provence on 28 November 2008. The association co-led the first session on the complex relations between humanitarian action and health with a presentation on multisector responses to problems.
Programme - 4th International Conference of Emergency Architects Foundation, 6-7 November 2008
This conference was based on the theme ‘A different way to be an architect’ and looked at the place of architects in crisis, post-crisis and development situations. It brought together the different members of the Emergency Architects Foundation, its partners and French and foreign specialists.
Topics covered included humanitarian issues, sustainable development and the place of the architect in emergency situations. Presentations included ‘When an emergency becomes long-lasting’, ‘Slum clearance – a new emergency?’, ‘Recognition of the job of emergency architect’, ‘Working in crisis situations’, ‘Witnesses from the field (Chad, Indonesia, Solomon Isles, Peru…), ‘Towards the development of an international organisation’ and ‘Architecture and sustainable development’.
Groupe URD participated in the round table ‘Between emergency and development – for the durability of emergency constructions’.
A diversity of backgrounds and a variety of experiences allowed different points of view to be shared.
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| October |
The Plaisians Action Plan (PAP)
: The European Humanitarian Consensus under surveillance...
In the context of the French presidency of the European Union, Groupe URD decided to organize the 6th Autumn School on Humanitarian Aid on the “European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid”, from the 23rd to the 25th of October 2008. After these three days of debates, the participants drew up the Plaisians Action Plan (PAP).
This action plan proposes the creation of a ‘multi-actor observatory’ for the European Consensus, suggests that national action plans should be put in place to organise the implementation of the Consensus by EU member states, and also makes provision for the monitoring of the Consensus main strategic measures.
Read the action plan
Press release
- 23, 24 and 25th October: the sixth Autumn School on Humanitarian Aid "European Consensus on humanitarian aid: putting principles into practice”
Groupe URD is pleased to inform you that the sixth Autumn School on Humanitarian Aid will take place at its head office, La Fontaine des Marins, Plaisians, in the south of France on 23th, 24th and 25th of October 2008. This annual event is an opportunity for field workers and researchers to meet and discuss an issue affecting the humanitarian community. This year, the subject will be: “European Consensus on humanitarian aid: putting principles into practice”.
This policy statement, which was adopted in 2007 by the European Parliament and all member States, raises numerous questions about key issues facing the sector (coordination, the quality of aid, crisis management, civil-military relations…). It is currently due to enter a second phase of application and the eyes of the aid sector will be on France as it takes on the presidency of the European Union for the second semester of 2008.
One of the reasons for drawing up this document was to respond to a need for clarification expressed by NGOs. However, certain areas remain unclear and the process of getting it up and running has been relatively slow, causing further concern. For all these reasons, we felt that there was a need to encourage debate about this document between humanitarian actors from all horizons, whether they are from France or abroad and whether they are governmental or non-governmental.
Invitation
Provisionnal agenda
Topic Overview
Registration form
Contact
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| September |
- Groupe URD held a round table on “Managing emergencies in crisis situations” and gave a presentation on “Integrating the environment into humanitarian action” at the conference on "Humanitarian Affairs" organised by the Conseil Académique sur le système des Nations Unies (ACUNS), 26-27 September 2008 in Marseille.
- Groupe URD gave a presentation on “Water, sanitation and health in precarious situations” at the conference on “Society, water and health in the Mediterranean region” organised by the University of Montpellier , 5 September 2008, in Montpellier
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| July |
- Participation in the Universités Européennes d'Eté 2008 in Montpellier 5 - 12 July
In a complex international environment, the Mediterranean is both a meeting place and a place of confrontation, at the centre of the World’s principal conflicts and exchanges. Groupe URD took part in the "Universités Européennes d’Eté" which, once again, were held in Montpellier on the theme, ‘Traditional and new aid actors’
Programme
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| Juin |
- Conference - Debate "Proving crisis-affected people with drinking water and access to sanitation", 25 June 2008, Paris
After its General assembly held in the morning and presided by Marc GENTILINI, its President, the Académie de l’Eau organised a conference/debate under the patronage of the Minister for , Roselyne BACHELOT-NARQUIN on the theme ‘providing crisis-affected people with drinking water and access to sanitation’.
- Groupe URD took part in the conference "The human face of climate change" organised by the Global Humanitarian Forum in Geneva, 24-25 June, which was an opportunity to present our ideas on the humanitarian impact of climate change.
- Film/Debate for World Refugee Day, 20 June 2008, Buis les Baronnies (26)
Groupe URD was pleased to take part in the organisation of a debate at Buis les Baronnies cinema on World Refugee Day on the dual issues of refugees and Afghanistan. The film, ‘In this World’ by Michael Winterbottom was shown. This film, which won a Golden Bear at the Berlin film festival in 2003, tells the story of two Afghan cousins, one of whom lives in a Pakistani refugee camp, who decide to cross Europe like millions of other refugees to find a better life in England.
- Salon des solidarités internationales, 6-8 June 2008, Parc floral, Paris
Groupe URD will take part in the second Salon des solidarités from 6 to 8 June at the Parc Floral in Vincennes. We were very pleased to be part of the steering committee and to contribute to the preparation of this event. We will have a stand where we will present our activities and the Dynamic COMPAS. Certain photographs from the exhibition "Curiosités afghanes, instantanés de vie autour des paysans du nord de l’Afghanistan" will be on show. We will be organising a role play activity for the general public in partnership with the CESH in the debating area on Sunday 8 June. Presentation of the activitiy
Internet Site of the Salon des Solidarités
- Participation at the conference, "Adapt or Surrender? The Challenges of Climate Change for Humanitarian Action", Geneva 5 June 2008
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| May |
- Curiosités Afghanes, photo exhibition, 23 May to 21 June, Paris.
In connection with Artisans du Monde’s campaign on Food sovereignty and the international conference on Afghanistan on 12 June in Paris, Groupe URD has co-organised a photography exhibition on Afghanistan.
The photos, taken by Annette Courteix, were taken during a study on the means of subsistence of poppy farmers in the mountainous Badakhshan province of Northern Afghanistan. The photos show a personal vision of this independent, unusual and captivating society. The exhibition will take place from 23 May to 21 June 2008 in the resource centre of the Central Paris branch of Artisans du Monde.
Address: 1st floor of the Artisans du Monde shop 13th arrondissement, 48 rue du Chevaleret - 75013 Paris (M° Bibliothèque Nationale) - 01 44 24 36 49.
Opening times: every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 12-2pm, 5-7pm / Wednesday, Saturday: 11am-7pm.
- Groupe URD participated in the conference on "development – aid – crises – peace" at the CERI / Sciences Pô, Paris. A collectively-written book is due to be published following this event.
- Groupe URD will co-host the conference, "La société afghane : quelles dynamiques?" with French NGOs working in Afghanistan, at MDM headquarters in Paris on 22 May, 2008.
- Groupe URD will be participating in the conference, "Diversité culturelle & confessionnelle, une chance pour l'humanitaire de demain?" organised by Islamic Relief France which will take place in Paris on the 24th of May.
www.colloquesecoursislamique.org
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| April |
- Participation by Groupe URD at the Rousset film festival, 16 April 2008
Environmental issues and their links with turbulence in the world were discussed at the Rousset film festival on “Cinema and the Future of Humanity”.
François Grunewald took part in two round tables, one on the links between climate change and conflict, and the other on the strategies available to reduce the growing risks of environmental deterioration
- Good practice conference on the theme of Cooperation funds, Barcelona, 17-18 April
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| March |
- Workshop in Kabul, 12 March 2008
On 12 March 2008, Groupe URD and the Church World Service, in partnership with HAP and the Afghan government, will hold a workshop on the quality of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. It will be held in Kabul from 9 am to 4.30 pm.
Having for a long time applied a quantitative approach, covering humanitarian needs as broadly as possible, humanitarian actors have started to realise that it is necessary to adopt a more qualitative approach to the service delivered to crisis-affected people.
On their own, evaluation, training and participation can not have a significant impact on the quality of aid. This is the collective responsibility of all actors in the field and of donors, whose lack of coherence, flexibility and coordination has been highlighted on many occasions.
How can the quality of aid be improved? What tools exist? How can these quality approaches be institutionalised so that there is a real impact on practices? What can be done to improve skills and to control and monitor how the situation evolves so that actors can fulfill their responsibility?
The workshop will be a chance to explore these questions and will have three objectives:
- To stimulate interest in the quality and accountability of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan (Why is it important? Why is it difficult? etc.);
- To discuss what a shared vision/definition of ‘Quality’ in the Afghan context might be;
- To instigate dialogue between donors, UN agencies, International and national NGOs about these issues, and specifically about how donors can influence the quality of aid.
Programme
- Groupe URD will be
taking part in the conference on "civil-military operations" organised by the "Institut de Droit de la Paix et du Développement", Nice, 7 March 2008
Programme
- Groupe URD will be participating in the WWF conference on "War and the environment”, Paris, 6 March 2008
Groupe URD took part in Conference 1 - “Armed conflict, environmental causes and consequences” at the “War and the Environment” conference organised by WWF-France
Provisional programme
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| February |
- Conference "De la crise écologique à la crise humanitaire" (From ecological to humanitarian crises), Maison du Tourisme, Grenoble, 14 February 2008, at 7.45 pm
In connection with its work on the relations between crises, humanitarian action and the environment, Groupe URD will be taking part in the conference on humanitarianism and the environment organised by Humacoop in Grenoble on 14 February.
Programme
- Groupe URD gave a presentation on “The need to take the environment into account in the design and implementation of programmes” at the conference on “The Humanitarian sector and the Environment” organised by HUMACOOP, 14 February 2008, in Grenoble
- Groupe URD will be taking part in the conference organised by Handicap International, Lyon, 12-13 February 2008
The subject of this conference, organised to mark Handicap International’s 25 years of existence, is ‘What role for NGOs in the International Arena ?’
Conference presentation
Programme
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| January |
- Groupe URD will be at the ‘Aid &Trade’ conference in Geneva on the 29th and 30th of January 2008
The conference, organised by Aid &Trade, will focus on the different phases of disaster management.
Groupe URD will be involved in the workshop on capacity building within the humanitarian sector.
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