Introduction as senior WHO staff from the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt, WHO headquarters, Regional conflicts, often compounded by climate-related Geneva, Switzerland, and country offices in the Region. shocks, are more frequent and contribute to a cycle of vulnerability for populations in the Eastern Mediterra- Summary of discussions nean Region (1). Therefore, sustainable development and The first day of the meeting comprised presentations durable solutions to displacement are not possible with- by WHO representatives and senior WHO staff on the out peace (1). To reflect this understanding, the concept background context, current situation and needs in eight of a ‘humanitarian-development nexus’, or a ‘humanitar- countries experiencing emergencies in the Region, fol- ian-development-peace nexus’ has been developed. Such lowed by a question and answer session. The second day nexus focuses on the work needed to coherently address started with presentations by partner organizations on people’s vulnerability before, during and after crises (1,2). non-health sectors’ HDPNx initiatives from the Region As a reflection on this in its relation to public health, and beyond, and continued with plenary discussions on a three-day expert consultation to discuss a draft guide the different components of the guide, which contin- for implementing the humanitarian–development– ued into the third day of the consultation. The last ses- peace nexus (HDPNx) for health was held by the WHO sion was dedicated to discussing the way forward and Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean during how to support countries in implementing the HDPNx 10–12 February 2020 in Cairo, Egypt (3). for health. The key points raised during the meeting are The overall objective of the consultation was to refine summarized below. the draft guide, based on contributions from participants. This required bringing key actors and stakeholders Recommendations together to: To WHO · exchange their knowledge and experience of imple- · Ensuring that HDPNx implementation begins with menting the HDPNx for health, including challenges, a context analysis, which includes an analysis of the lessons learned and pragmatic or creative solutions; political economy and power dynamics among the different actors and stakeholders. · discuss and review components of the guide, including objectives, guiding principles and elements that are · Linking the Common Country Analysis and Human- important for the implementation of the HDPNx; and itarian Needs Overview, and ensuring the results are reflected in both the Humanitarian Response Plan · discuss how to operationalize the HDPNx approach and the UN Sustainable Development Framework. for health, particularly with regards to: leveraging each actor’s comparative advantage and working · Contributing to building the capacity of national sys- within a multi-year timeframe; the key steps, activi- tems when carrying out nexus activities. ties and best practice recommendations for undertak- · Linking health assessment, planning and program- ing joint assessment, deciding on priority actions and ming to a conflict analysis and addressing root causes. collective outcomes; coordinating, financing, imple- · Engaging the community to be accountable, includ- menting, and monitoring and evaluating activities; ing youth engagement. and the roles and responsibilities of different actors and stakeholders. · Engaging in and promoting multisectoral action to The meeting was attended by over 45 regional and improve the sustainability and effectiveness of inter- international experts, including officials from sister ventions. United Nations (UN) agencies, representatives of · Finding ways of bringing non-traditional donors humanitarian organizations, development partners and onboard to improve funding for the nexus. This could donors, academics from Lebanon, Netherlands, Qatar, include the private sector and other novel funding United Kingdom and United States of America, as well sources.
1 This report is based on the Summary Report on the Expert meeting on the guide for implementing the humanitarian–development–peace nexus (HDPNx) for health, 10–12 February 2020, Cairo, Egypt (https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/EMEHS002E.pdf?ua=1&ua=1).
755 WHO events addressing public health priorities EMHJ – Vol. 26 No. 6 – 2020
To Member States · Strengthening the section on monitoring and eval-
uation by developing a monitoring and evaluation · Developing a framework or tool for a joint country implementation plan that separates monitoring from assessment, or one which can be used to consolidate evaluation. the results of assessments by different actors. · Addressing the importance of data sensitivity and · Developing a planning template that is broad and the politicization of data, and how this can impact on flexible enough to be used in joint planning or that peace, in the section on conflict analysis. can aggregate the results of multiple assessments for · Developing a plan for disseminating the guide among joint planning. the different actors and stakeholders.
References 1. Oxfam. The humanitarian-development-peace nexus: what does it mean for multi-mandated organizations? Oxfam Discus- sion Paper June 2019 (https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10546/620820/dp-humanitarian-develop- ment-peace-nexus-260619-en.pdf?sequence=1). 2. World Health Organization. The new way of working: strengthening the Humanitarian, Development & Peace Nexus. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019 (http://origin.who.int/health-cluster/about/structure/HDN-concept.pdf). 3. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO/EMRO). Summary Report on the Expert meet- ing on the guide for implementing the humanitarian–development–peace nexus (HDPNx) for health. Cairo: WHO/EMRO; 2020 (https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/EMEHS002E.pdf?ua=1&ua=1).
