Key issues on Humanitarian Programming and Engagement in Fragile Contexts

1. Key issues on Humanitarian Programming and Engagement in Fragile Contexts New York 24 January 2013

2. Humanitarian Programming

3. Total ODA and Humanitarian Assistance, 1990-2011 ODA HA Source: Global Humanitarian Assistance Data 2012, based on OECD-DAC data

4. Humanitarian Programming in UNFPA 2nd Gen Humanitarian Response Strategy • Supported by and implemented through UNFPA’s Second Generation Humanitarian Response Strategy (2012-13). • It aims to: • - mainstream humanitarian preparedness & response, • - delineate roles and responsibilities in humanitarian programming within UNFPA - to avoid duplication. • However, mainstreaming imperative has not yet been sufficiently internalized by UNFPA organizational units. • So far little change in taking on new roles, leading to persisting “underdevelopment” of national / regional aspects in humanitarian programming.

5. Humanitarian Programming: What are the opportunities? • Transformative Agendaof Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC): primary mechanism for coordination of humanitarian assistance. 3 focus areas: (i) better leadership, improved (ii) accountability and (iii) coordination. • Innovative approaches such as Disaster-Risk Reduction (DRR) and resilience-building strategies inclusive of Climate Change Adaptation & Hyogo Framework for Action. • Strategic focus: recognized leadership in coordinating the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) AoR(shared with UNICEF) within Humanitarian Cluster Approach. Need to foster and expand this high-profile role. GBV is rapidly growing area attracting substantial donor funding.

6. Humanitarian Programming – How to reflect in next Strategic Plan ? Key Issue / Question: • How to reflect humanitarian programming in next Strategic Plan? 1stoption:separate, stand-alone outcome OR 2ndoption: integrated as cross-cutting throughout the Strategic Plan.

7. Engagement in Fragile Contexts

8. Engagement in Fragile Contexts: How to define the term? • Generally: questions arise as to “fragile contexts” being “all too potentially contentious” • OECD Definition: “A fragile region or state has weak capacity to carry out basic governance functions, and lacks the ability to develop mutually constructive relations with society. Fragile states are also more vulnerable to internal or external shocks such as economic crises or natural disasters.” • UNFPA: preferred term is “fragile context” to recognize that fragility can exist at both the national and the subnational levels. While involved in a full range of programmatic activities, key focus on service delivery.

9. The MDG deficit is concentrated in fragile states Source: Fragile States factsheet 2013 (OECD), based on World Development Report 2011 Global poverty increasingly concentrated in fragile states. There is slow progress in achieving MDGs in fragile contexts. Serious challenges in implementing the ICPD agenda in these countries call for increased attention to engagement in these contexts - now and beyond 2014.

10. Fragile states are critical for addressing UNFPA’s mandate Fragile states have a high proportion of youth Source: Fragile States report 2013 (OECD); internal analysis using WHO Health Statistics 2013

11. Fragile states are not “one size fits all”, and some have seen important progress Source: Fragile States report 2013 (OECD)

12. List of fragile states in OECD “Fragile States 2013” report • Afghanistan • Angola • Bangladesh • Bosnia & Herzegovina • Burundi • Cameroon • Central African Republic • Chad • Comoros • Congo, Dem. Rep. • Congo, Rep. • Côte d'Ivoire • Eritrea • Ethiopia • Georgia • Guinea • Guinea-Bissau • Haiti • Iran, Islamic Rep. • Iraq • Kenya • Kiribati • Korea, Dem. Rep. • Kosovo • Kyrgyz Republic • Liberia • Libya • Malawi • Marshall Islands • Micronesia, Fed. States • Myanmar • Nepal • Niger • Nigeria • Pakistan • Rwanda • Sierra Leone • Solomon Islands • Somalia • South Sudan • Sri Lanka • Sudan • Syrian Arab Republic • Timor-Leste • Togo • Tuvalu • Uganda • West Bank and Gaza • Yemen, Rep. • Zimbabwe

13. Engagement in Fragile Contexts – Defining the parameters General view that both development and humanitarian programming are necessary in fragile contexts, based on the particular issues confronting each setting.

14. Engagement in Fragile Contexts Defining the parameters • Questions arise as to the usefulness of the term “fragile contexts”. • Therefore: Should “fragile contexts” focus be maintained in the next Strategic Plan or would a focus on “fragile contexts” be politically too sensitive? • Option 1: UNFPA gives specific attention to Fragile Contexts.The term may be helpful in highlighting common features related to weak governance and inadequate state capacity that UNFPA would need to respond to in common ways across “fragile contexts”. • Option 2: Fragile Contexts are not specifically singled-out. Countries included in global lists of “fragile states” (such as that of OECD) are a very diverse group, ranging from those with a very weak central government to those with a functioning government but pockets of instability, to those that have an excessively strong (e.g., authoritarian) central government. Additionally, the term “fragile” is controversial and disliked by some countries.

15. Fragile Contexts: How to handle it in SP In case option 1 is chosen: What could be the key features UNFPA should strategically focus on in fragile contexts? (In order to answer this question please weigh the pros and cons of singling out “fragile contexts” in UNFPA’s next Strategic Plan and reach agreement on the best way to handle the issue in the Strategic Plan.)