SESSION 1:
HOW EFFECTIVE ARE WE AS A HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY?
HOW PREPARED ARE WE FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES?
Before looking at how to enhance our humanitarian response, the first step is to assess how well we are currently doing in terms of responding to humanitarian needs and how we are collectively responding vis-à-vis external environment and constraints, (i.e. lack of access, insecurity, etc.). The assessment should look at how well prepared we are to respond to needs in the face of current and future challenges, such as the impact of climate change, the impact of terrorism and of the global war on terror as well as new pandemics. The discussion will begin over dinner with a guest speaker, Mr. James Darcy (Group Coordinator and Research Fellow, Humanitarian Policy Group, Overseas Development Institute, London, UK) reflecting on the question, before opening up the discussion to participants.

Expected Outcomes:

• A better understanding of the areas where improvement is required in order to better meet humanitarian needs.
• Clarification of the views of various types of humanitarian organizations (UN and non-UN) on current and future challenges facing the humanitarian community.
• Review of the Agenda for the Meeting, taking into account additional issues to be incorporated in the planned sessions (13 July 2006).

SESSION 2:
HOW WELL DO WE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER?
This session will focus on perceptions, constraints, opportunities and expectations between UN and non-UN humanitarian actors. In particular, it aims at uncovering real and perceived differences and similarities in institutional principles, identities, cultures, scope of work, and working modalities. The relationship between local and international actors in emergency response and perspectives on independence and accountability will also be explored.

Expected Outcome:

• Clarification of main similarities and differences between UN and non-UN humanitarian actors, to arrive at a better understanding of how each of us works and of possible complementarity within the humanitarian sector as a whole to optimize response.

With the better understanding of each other in mind, participants will turn to identifying ways to improve collaboration at the global and field levels. What are the practical means of making such collaboration a reality? Recently introduced mechanisms, such as those included in the humanitarian reform agenda, i.e. the CERF, the Cluster approach and Strengthening the Humanitarian Coordinator system, will be examined to see how they can be improved in terms of operations and advocacy, as well as exploring new means of working better together.

Expected Outcomes:

• Identification of existing mechanisms, such as the Humanitarian Country Teams, where improvements can be made to enhance collaboration in order to provide better guidance to these mechanisms.
• Identification of new ways of working better together that optimize complementarity.

WHAT NEXT STEPS FOR AN ENHANCED RESPONSE?
While some of the mechanisms of working better together will have been identified in the previous session, this session will take a more forward looking view of the strategic partnerships that can be developed between UN and non-UN humanitarian actors - both at the global and field levels. Discussion will focus on ways to complement the varying objectives that agencies may have (i.e. we may have different interpretations of the objectives of humanitarian action: how can these be reconciled while working together in a complementary manner?).

Expected Outcomes:

• Consider common objectives that may maximize complementarity between the UN and non-UN humanitarian actors.
• Agreement on the way forward to enhance humanitarian response and identification of specific next steps.