by James Shaw-Hamilton, Director, The Humanitarian Forum
The wave of social transformations across the Middle East and North Africa this year continues to amaze us all. The European Commission, its member states and civil society need to show commitment to these evolving societies, supporting them on their own terms. This means working with regional and local partners - building trust, helping a stronger sector of local non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) to emerge and encouraging cooperation amongst them.
Regionally, we need to support Arab humanitarian leadership by helping inter-governmental bodies like the League of Arab States and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to develop their humanitarian work. We also need to work with international NGOs based in the Gulf much more. They have sometimes-better access to those in need, experience and different funding sources. In this way, we can also refute the idea of a continuing “clash of civilisations”.
It is odd that there are few examples of international, cross-cultural collaboration, despite long-standing needs in Gaza, Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere. The Humanitarian Forum has been building bridges between different actors for several years. We are a unique transnational network of key humanitarian organizations from Muslim donor and recipient countries (Sunni and Shia), the West and the multilateral system. We use the common ground between religions and cultures – the strong heritage of charitable and humanitarian work – as a non-political foundation on which to build understanding, develop cooperation and agree joint outcomes.
As well as these international links, local NGOs need to be seen as equals, supported by our long-term commitment to building a strong NGO sector in different countries. The European Commission's Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean has an ambitious agenda. In particular, we welcome the ambition to create platforms for civil society across the region and encourage exchanges with peers in the European Union.
The Humanitarian Forum and Euclid have recommended that the European Commission develops this scheme through a series of consultations in the region to understand the needs, aspirations and potential of NGOs at the local level and explore how they can contribute to and gain from Europe's agenda.
Our current work for Libya illustrates The Humanitarian Forum's approach. On 8 May, I was in Cairo for our second conference with the League of Arab States and Organisation of the Islamic Conference. This (and a similar event on 24 March, as well as a teleconference on 16 March) brought together Western and Islamic international NGOs, UN agencies, the Red Crescent and Cross movement, and NGOs from Libya, Egypt and Tunisia. Through this, many organisations met each other for the first time. As well as sharing information and ideas, they are also sharing skills - several partnerships have been created because of these events. We have also trained local, emerging NGOs in eastern Libya in recent weeks, and are seeking funding to continue this work.
Internationally and nationally, three elements are important.
Firstly, we must build trust, recognising that this takes time and sustained effort. This is about more than welcoming newcomers to a table, but that is also vital. In the age of Iraq and Gaza, it is important to recognise the strength of feeling in organisations and individuals. As part of this, Governments' development and security departments should understand that NGOs are an opportunity rather than a threat.
The European Commission needs to encourage Governments everywhere, particularly those setting rules on international financial transfers, to relax formal and informal restrictions on Gulf-based NGOs raising and spending money. Another way to demonstrate trust – and maximise effectiveness – would be for western Governments to fund Islamic international NGOs in some areas.
Secondly, we must support the development of a larger, enabled NGO sector in each country and internationally; we need to invest in the future. Many NGOs in the region need skills, a strong volunteer base and access to funding. For example, in Yemen, The Humanitarian Forum gives grants, mentoring and training to national NGOs through a local network that we have helped to create, Humanitarian Forum Yemen. The legal framework in many countries also needs to improve, so that it nurtures NGOs rather than hindering them. Organisations like the European Centre for Non-profit Law and the Charity Commission's international programme are doing important work in this area.
Lastly, cooperation needs to be improved - between NGOs themselves and between NGOs and Governments. Part of this is to make existing coordination systems more inclusive and adaptable.
There is a new opportunity to help to build civil society and improve the efficiency of aid throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Together, we can grasp it.
The wave of social transformations across the Middle East and North Africa this year continues to amaze us all. The European Commission, its member states and civil society need to show commitment to these evolving societies, supporting them on their own terms. This means working with regional and local partners - building trust, helping a stronger sector of local non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) to emerge and encouraging cooperation amongst them.
Regionally, we need to support Arab humanitarian leadership by helping inter-governmental bodies like the League of Arab States and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to develop their humanitarian work. We also need to work with international NGOs based in the Gulf much more. They have sometimes-better access to those in need, experience and different funding sources. In this way, we can also refute the idea of a continuing “clash of civilisations”.
It is odd that there are few examples of international, cross-cultural collaboration, despite long-standing needs in Gaza, Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere. The Humanitarian Forum has been building bridges between different actors for several years. We are a unique transnational network of key humanitarian organizations from Muslim donor and recipient countries (Sunni and Shia), the West and the multilateral system. We use the common ground between religions and cultures – the strong heritage of charitable and humanitarian work – as a non-political foundation on which to build understanding, develop cooperation and agree joint outcomes.
As well as these international links, local NGOs need to be seen as equals, supported by our long-term commitment to building a strong NGO sector in different countries. The European Commission's Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean has an ambitious agenda. In particular, we welcome the ambition to create platforms for civil society across the region and encourage exchanges with peers in the European Union.
The Humanitarian Forum and Euclid have recommended that the European Commission develops this scheme through a series of consultations in the region to understand the needs, aspirations and potential of NGOs at the local level and explore how they can contribute to and gain from Europe's agenda.
Our current work for Libya illustrates The Humanitarian Forum's approach. On 8 May, I was in Cairo for our second conference with the League of Arab States and Organisation of the Islamic Conference. This (and a similar event on 24 March, as well as a teleconference on 16 March) brought together Western and Islamic international NGOs, UN agencies, the Red Crescent and Cross movement, and NGOs from Libya, Egypt and Tunisia. Through this, many organisations met each other for the first time. As well as sharing information and ideas, they are also sharing skills - several partnerships have been created because of these events. We have also trained local, emerging NGOs in eastern Libya in recent weeks, and are seeking funding to continue this work.
Internationally and nationally, three elements are important.
Firstly, we must build trust, recognising that this takes time and sustained effort. This is about more than welcoming newcomers to a table, but that is also vital. In the age of Iraq and Gaza, it is important to recognise the strength of feeling in organisations and individuals. As part of this, Governments' development and security departments should understand that NGOs are an opportunity rather than a threat.
The European Commission needs to encourage Governments everywhere, particularly those setting rules on international financial transfers, to relax formal and informal restrictions on Gulf-based NGOs raising and spending money. Another way to demonstrate trust – and maximise effectiveness – would be for western Governments to fund Islamic international NGOs in some areas.
Secondly, we must support the development of a larger, enabled NGO sector in each country and internationally; we need to invest in the future. Many NGOs in the region need skills, a strong volunteer base and access to funding. For example, in Yemen, The Humanitarian Forum gives grants, mentoring and training to national NGOs through a local network that we have helped to create, Humanitarian Forum Yemen. The legal framework in many countries also needs to improve, so that it nurtures NGOs rather than hindering them. Organisations like the European Centre for Non-profit Law and the Charity Commission's international programme are doing important work in this area.
Lastly, cooperation needs to be improved - between NGOs themselves and between NGOs and Governments. Part of this is to make existing coordination systems more inclusive and adaptable.
There is a new opportunity to help to build civil society and improve the efficiency of aid throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Together, we can grasp it.
