COVID-19 has brought with it an unprecedented climate of uncertainty. With few useful experiences to draw upon, individuals, organisations and societies are struggling to define and adapt to a ‘new normal.’ Although uncertainty is familiar terrain for humanitarians accustomed to operating in unstable circumstances, COVID-19 has thrown up a heady mix of new challenges– operational, financial, even existential. But alongside these challenges, the Pandemic may also offer opportunities to re-imagine humanitarian assistance itself. Is this the time to lever change and create a new humanitarian business model? If so, what is possible?
This Meeting offers an opportunity for different humanitarian constituencies – donors, United Nations agencies, NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, networks and academics – to come together not only to navigate the current moment, but also to pool experiences and work towards a shared understanding of what we want to do differently in the future.
The Meeting will be divided into two components: a virtual curtain-raising event on 18 November 2020 which will allow ALNAP Members to contribute to the Meeting Background Paper; and an in-person event in 2021, which will bring ALNAP Members together in the usual format.
The Annual Meeting curtain raiser will be accompanied by a Members event on 19 November.
To enable participation for our global Membership from across different time zones both events will be held twice.