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We are pleased to launch our inaugural WHFtalks on World Humanitarian Day, today.
It will share with you the developments in the humanitarian and development sector; have discussions and debates on issues ranging from poverty, gender parity to conflicts and climate change. We encourage your interaction and feedback. I hope you find the issue insightful and interesting.
World Humanitarian Forum as a concept is a place for people to come together to make a change and call for action and WHFtalks aims to keep the discussions open, brave and thought-provoking. I like to think of us as ‘possibilists’—people who believe the world can get better and are committed to playing their part to improve it. More than ever before, we have the power to shape the future.
In the current issue, we have some very interesting conversations. Our Advisory Board Chair and former Foreign Secretary, the UK, Rt. Hon. Jack Straw, focuses on WHF’s theme for 2020, “From Hope to Possibility”. Meanwhile, in a very candid and passionate interview, charming First Lady of Sierra Leone, H.E. Fatima Bio, talks about women’s rights and empowerment.
Funding remains an issue in the sector and NGOs are seeking new models to raise funds. Richard Hawkes, CEO of the British Asian Trust, shares his expertise on launching education bonds in India.
One of the areas that the WHF focuses is technology and WHFTalks’ ‘tech for good’ section highlights new and impactful innovations in the sector.
You will find a strong focus on humanitarian and development policies, innovation in the sector, successful case studies from the field and inspirational interviews with influencers and change-makers under the title of ‘Hero Pathfinders’. This month we are profiling Michael Wamaya who is brining ballet to the slum kids of Kibera. We kindly invite you to be part of this to start conversations, amplify new voices, and forge stronger bonds between change-makers.
I believe that one of the key focus areas for the sector must be to bridge the gap between emergency humanitarian aid and long-term development aid. We will discuss this and more in the coming months as well. I hope you enjoy our inaugural talks and join the conversations in the following editions.
Thanks for being part of this journey.
Welcome to WHFtalks.
Sincerely,
Feraye Ozfescioglu
CEO, WHF
