Global Humanitarian Platform

Working Level Group Meeting

9 January 2007, 15h00-17h00

at ICRC, Geneva

1. Minutes from 08 December WLG meeting and listserve.

   Minutes of 8 December meeting were approved.

   Participants are invited to send in comments, corrections and rectification to the listserve. OCHA and SCHR should be identified as members of WLG and OCHA and ICVA as members of the Steering Committee.

   Action: HRSU to circulate corrected list after approval by co-chairs.

2. Update from the IASC Principals meeting in December

   OCHA provided the full written record of the IASC Principals discussion regarding the GHP. The

   IASC Principals agreed to support and participate in the GHP.

   During the IASC meeting it was proposed that a small number of regional pre-session meetings could take place prior to the Platform meeting in July. These sessions could address issues of partnership. WLG took note of this suggestion.

3. Tasks allocated at the 06 Nov and 08 Dec meetings, for WLG decisions, to be presented to Steering Committee 16 January.

• Presentation of GHP objectives and scope

  ICVA presented a new draft presentation of GHP objectives and scope. It was stressed that the text should follow the original text of the Co-Chairs' summary as closely as possible and avoid overstating the objectives of the GHP. ICVA will make a few further amendments, reflecting the comments, so that the text can be submitted to the Steering Committee.

  Action: ICVA to prepare new draft for submission to Steering Committee.

• Principles of Partnership (PoP)

  ICRC presented further comments received on draft 3 of the PoP. A discussion took place whether the principles should mention the rights and/or the needs of victims of conflict, violence, and disaster. It was decided to revert to the phrase "to the benefit of" considering that it covers both and would avoid discussions between rights-based vs. needs-based approaches.

  Regarding the headings of each principle it was decided to keep "equality" (term used in the Co-Chairs summary), change "solution-oriented" to "result oriented" and keep "responsibility".

  Action: ICRC to introduce changes, WLG Co-Chairs to submit draft 4 to Steering Committee.

• Pilot countries

  HRSU presented the countries suggested by a small number of WLG members. A majority of members were not able to suggest countries. It was decided to select two countries in each region and submit the list to the Steering Committee for decision.

  • Asia: Indonesia (first choice) and Sri Lanka (with caveat given the present difficulties)

  • Africa: Ethiopia (first choice) and Kenya (no HC) or CAR (small NGO presence)

  • Latin America: regional approach in Central America (first choice) and Colombia

  The test countries could each host a pre-session meeting prior to the Platform meeting in July. Issues coming from the pilot countries themselves shall also be embraced.

  Action: Co-Chairs to submit list to Steering Committee.

• Criteria for participation in Global Platform Meeting

  ICVA presented the participation criteria used last July 2006 for information. Next meeting ICVA with Interaction and SCHR will present participation criteria for July 2007.

• Capacity building and Accountability to affected population

  The WLG had chosen two out of the four suggested themes from the Chairs' summary for elaboration. The Federation presented an outline on "Capacity building" and SCHR presented an outline on "Accountability to affected populations", both possible themes for the July meeting. Further work will take place in smaller groups to refine the papers:

  
  Capacity building: lead Federation, with OCHA and ICVA (or an interested member)
  Accountability: lead SCHR (or an interested member) with ICRC and UNICEF.

  Action: Co-Chairs to submit both draft papers to Steering Committee for consideration as themes for Platform meeting in July.

• Communication

  A diverse group of humanitarian actors must be reached with coherent and consistent information and updates of the GHP process. Basic channels could be the NGO consortia, IASC and OCHA HRSU websites and newsletters etc.

  Such communication must be consistent, and WLG will come back to the issue.

• Consultation

  WLG agreed that is important to consult various humanitarian actors in order to get substantive input for the July meeting. Main issues to consult need to be defined. Capacity building and Accountability to beneficiaries as well as the Principles of Partnership are possible topics of consultation. Lack of time did not allow further discussion on main target groups to consult, when and in which form/fora and possible funding.

  Action: OCHA to prepare a rough outline on pre-regional meetings for discussion by the Steering Committee (noting that WLG did not discuss it prior to Steering Committee Meeting).

• Statement of common concern

  No further discussion.

• Danish initiative

  No further information available.

• Future meetings

  Steering Committee: 16 January 17h00-18h30 at OCHA, Geneva

  Steering Committee: 30 April 08h00-10h00 New York (venue to be determined)

  WLG: Monday 5 February 15h00-17h00 at OCHA, Geneva