Building

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently traveled to Dubai for the launch of a new report released by the Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing. The High-Level Panel was co-chaired by HE Kristalina Georgieva of Bulgaria, vice-president of the European Commission for Budgetary and Human Resources Affairs, and HRH Sultan Nazrin Shah, Ruler of Perak, Malaysia.

Entitled "Too Important to Fail: Addressing the Humanitarian Financing Gap," the report is intended as a working paper to help shape priorities in preparation for the UN-sponsored World Humanitarian Summit to be held in Istanbul in May 2016. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the report as "critical to our global mission of leaving no one behind, which is a main theme of the Sustainable Development Goals."

The report was launched at Dubai's International Humanitarian City (IHC), established in 2003 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as an international logistics hub for humanitarian aid with nine UN agencies and nearly 50 NGOs and commercial entities as members. Taking advantage of Dubai's strategic location, within eight hours by air of two-thirds of the world's population, and its expertise in transport and logistics, the IHC helps deliver assistance in the midst of humanitarian crises and provides extensive opportunities for networking and training.

"Globally," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon observed, "the world is shattering records we would never wish to break. Since the UN was founded, the world has the most ever people in need of humanitarian assistance and the highest ever amount of funding appeals. We also face the biggest ever appeal shortfalls. Last year nearly half the UN's appeals were unmet." Mr. Ban Ki-moon was quick to add that, "The humanitarian challenge is more than a financial issue. It is a matter of our common future. It is a matter of global solidarity."

Report co-chair Georgieva noted that the High-Level Panel's "starting point was the stark facts and figures: 125 million people in need; a record $25 billion a year going to aid them; but, in spite of that, the needs continue to outpace resources." That funding gap is currently estimated at more than $15 billion annually. The report also warns that the cost of humanitarian assistance is expected to rise to $50 billion by 2030.

The report points to three key elements needed to move toward closing the humanitarian aid funding gap: mobilizing additional funds, particularly from the private sector; shrinking the need for aid through prevention and quicker solution of the crises that provoke humanitarian needs; and improving the efficiency of assistance to reflect the needs of people rather than the needs of organizations.

Additionally, the report suggests that humanitarian aid should follow people in need and not be limited by international boundaries. It also calls for a "grand bargain" between aid donors and recipient organizations to make the aid delivery process more transparent and efficient. Perhaps more controversially, the report also calls upon governments to consider a small voluntary "social levy" earmarked for humanitarian assistance to be placed on airline tickets and event tickets for soccer games and concerts.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also used the occasion to commend the United Arab Emirates for its contributions to humanitarian assistance efforts. "The UAE," he acknowledged, "has topped the list of donor countries in the world compared to its national income. Through its humanitarian missions and innovative initiatives, the country has proven its capacity to take up international causes that make a difference to people around the world."

Accepting the Secretary-General's commendation on behalf of UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, extended appreciation to Mr. Ban Ki-moon for his efforts to address this critical international issue. They also expressed thanks to the UN for its decision to launch the report in their country.

"To bridge the gap in humanitarian aid," noted Sheikh Mohammed, "it is necessary to consolidate international efforts, improve the efficiency of humanitarian work, involve the private sector and establish good governance in the countries that need help."