Martin Griffiths
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
Biography
United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres appointed Martin Griffiths of the United Kingdom as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator in May 2021. Mr. Griffiths brings extensive experience in humanitarian affairs. Since 2018 he served as the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Yemen. Between 2014 and 2018, he served as the first Executive Director of the European Institute of Peace. Between 2012 and 2014, he served as an adviser to all three Special Envoys of the Secretary-General for Syria, and Deputy Head of the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS). From 1999 to 2010, Mr. Griffiths was the founding Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva. He also worked in the British diplomatic service and for various international humanitarian organizations, including UNICEF, Save the Children and Action Aid. In 1994 he became the Director of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva and, from 1998 to 1999, served as Deputy to the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator in New York. He has also served as United Nations Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Great Lakes and in the Balkans. Mr. Griffiths holds a master's degree in Southeast Asian studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, and is a qualified barrister.
Martin Griffiths will speak within a video message for the session on Addressing access impediments through humanitarian diplomacy
Organisation
UN OCHA
International organisation
Speaker session
Localisation: The guidance on the promotion of equal partnerships with local responders
Studio
The Commission has set out its approach on strengthening equal partnerships with local responders around five pillars: 1) recognising skills and supporting capacities, 2) equitable partnerships, 3) participation throughout the humanitarian response cycle, 4) strengthening the leadership role of local and national humanitarian actors, 5) facilitating access to localised financing models. This session will discuss what good practices have been adopted by organisations and governments on these subjects and how can they be replicated. The session will also evaluate what actions are most relevant/effective for implementing durable solutions for localisation. Finally, the session will discuss how to move forward to support localisation at a global level, for example through alliances with other donors.
Responding to an unprecedented global food crisis and averting famine
Auditorium
Closing remarks
Michael Koehler
Deputy Director-General
Biography
As of August 2019, Dr Köhler has been Deputy Director- General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations in the European Commission’s DG ECHO where he coordinates the world-wide EU humanitarian aid activities. From April 2022 to February 2023 (both inclusive), he also served as Acting Director-General at DG ECHO.
Organisation
European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)
EU institutions
Speaker session
Localisation: The guidance on the promotion of equal partnerships with local responders
Studio
The Commission has set out its approach on strengthening equal partnerships with local responders around five pillars: 1) recognising skills and supporting capacities, 2) equitable partnerships, 3) participation throughout the humanitarian response cycle, 4) strengthening the leadership role of local and national humanitarian actors, 5) facilitating access to localised financing models. This session will discuss what good practices have been adopted by organisations and governments on these subjects and how can they be replicated. The session will also evaluate what actions are most relevant/effective for implementing durable solutions for localisation. Finally, the session will discuss how to move forward to support localisation at a global level, for example through alliances with other donors.
Responding to an unprecedented global food crisis and averting famine
Auditorium
Closing remarks
Michael Koehler
CEO
Organisation
KONU
Other
Speaker session
Localisation: The guidance on the promotion of equal partnerships with local responders
Studio
The Commission has set out its approach on strengthening equal partnerships with local responders around five pillars: 1) recognising skills and supporting capacities, 2) equitable partnerships, 3) participation throughout the humanitarian response cycle, 4) strengthening the leadership role of local and national humanitarian actors, 5) facilitating access to localised financing models. This session will discuss what good practices have been adopted by organisations and governments on these subjects and how can they be replicated. The session will also evaluate what actions are most relevant/effective for implementing durable solutions for localisation. Finally, the session will discuss how to move forward to support localisation at a global level, for example through alliances with other donors.
Responding to an unprecedented global food crisis and averting famine
Auditorium
Closing remarks