2nd Transatlantic Dialogue on Humanitarian Action

A key component of Raising the Bar is a conference series, the "Transatlantic Dialogues on Humanitarian Action". Designed to work in tandem with the 18 month research program, the dialogues bring together EU and US policy-makers, NGOs, multilateral organizations, researchers, and the private sector. The sessions provide unique opportunities for supplying practitioner feedback into the research process and provides direction for the research agenda. They also offer a platform for discussing the program’s findings and fostering the development of a transatlantic strategic community on humanitarian action.

The 2nd “Transatlantic Dialogue on Humanitarian Action” (TDHA) took place from 15 - 16 December 2008 at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C. The event, entitled “Practitioners and Policymaking: Building Effective Transatlantic Action on Disaster Relief and Preparedness”, builds on the first Transatlantic Dialogue on Humanitarian Action and compared and contrasted policy approaches of the United States and the European Union with reference to doctrine, programming principles and sectoral priorities.

Panel discussions and working groups during the conference were structured along the four key research themes that are being pursued as part of the “Raising the Bar” Program: Linking Relief, Rehabilitation, and Development (LRRD); Improving Humanitarian Performance through the implementation of Lessons Learned; Business Engagement in Humanitarian Action; and Civil-Military Relations in Disaster Response. Topics addressed during the panel discussions included: disaster response and foreign policy; transatlantic approaches to preparedness and disaster response; and organizational innovation in humanitarian agencies.

The conference also hosted a public event entitled, “The Impact of Afghanistan Relief on International Humanitarian Assistance Cooperation.” To listen to the opening speech for this discussion by CEO and President of the International Rescue Committee, George Rupp, please click here.

To download the conference report, please click here.

To view more conference pictures, please click here.