R e p o r t 2 0 1 1

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The eighth edition of the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference and Exhibition was held from 28 -30 March 2011, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The event was inaugurated by The UN Messenger of Peace HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Opening Ceremony Keynote speakers:

UN MesseNger of Peace HrH PriNcess Haya BiNt al HUsseiNWife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

He aHMed HUMaid al MazroUiChairman, UAE Red Crescent Authority

He iBraHiM BUMelHaChairman, DIHAD Higher Committee and President, DISAB

Ms. Valerie aMosEmergency Relief Coordinator and United Nations Under Secretary-General For Humanitarian Affairs

Mr. filiPPo graNdiCommissioner-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)

dr. MUkesH kaPilaUnder Secretary-General (National Society and Knowledge Development), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Mr. Maxwell gaylardDeputy Special Coordinator (and United Nations Resident/ Humanitarian Coordinator), United Nations Special Coordinator’s Office for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO)

The conference was based on the theme “New Technologies: How these Impact on Humanitarian and Development Operations”. In particular, the conference looked at the manner in which new technologies are affecting and changing the way humanitarian and development organizations collectively operate and, also, the extent to which these changes are benefiting populations in need of assistance. With an ever-accelerating development of technological instruments, and know-how, with which humanitarian responders and development workers are provided. The session’s panels of the DIHAD 2011 event attempted to examine some of the consequences of what amounts, in many instances, to new methods and new methodologies.

28 - 30 March 2011

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2011 Highlighted Topics :

• The impact of new technologies on coordination and information management.• How new technologies are enabling enhanced diagnosis of needs of affected

population groups, thereby improving response actions.• How new technologies impact on the manner in which all concerned

collectively deal with the crucial issue of “FOOD SECURITY”• New Technologies and Communications, also as these relate to Food Security

Issues. • Did new technologies make a difference in the international community’s

support of the Government of Pakistan’s response activities?• How new technologies are assisting disaster-prone countries with capacity-

building and preparedness• Satellite technology and how related applications are utilized in both

humanitarian and development assistance

Closing Address

Ms. Makiya al HaJiriCEO, International Humanitarian City, Dubai

dr. sergio PiazziSecretary-General, Paliamentary Assembly Of The Mediterranean, Malta

dr. HaMadoUN i. toUreSecretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (Itu), Geneva

2011 Speakers:H.e. aMBassador daNiel staUffacHerChairman, ICT4Peace Foundation

Mr. roBiN scHofieldPrincipal, Linksbridge, Seattle, WA., USA

coMMissioNer Peter liM (Singapore Civil Defence Forces), Chair, ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management

dr. JoHaN VoN scHreeBMD, PhD; Surgeon And Health Emergency Analyst, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm

Mr. lars-Peter NisseNDirector, Assessment Capacities (ACAPS) Project, Geneva

Ms. sHagUfta JeelaNiDesign, Monitoring And Evaluation Country Manager, Mercy Corps, Islamabad, Pakistan

Mr. Nigel woofChief Executive, Mapaction, United Kingdom

Ms. Valerie gUarNieriDirector Of Programmes, World Food Programme (WFP)

dr. kHalid alrwisProfessor Of Agricultural Economics, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA

Mr. yVes MaNgHardtChairman and CEO, Nestle Middle East FZE, Dubai

Mr. laUreNt tHoMasDirector, Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome

Mr. MaHMoUd al-sHarifDirector-General, Tkiyet Um Ali, Jordan

Ms. cHristiNe VaN NieUweNHUyseWorld Food Programme (WFP) Country Director Occupied Palestinian Territories

Mr. giaNPietro BordiNgoNWorld Food Programme(WFP) Country Director Egypt

Mr. erNesto BacaChief Information Officer, World Food Programme, Rome

Mr. cosMas zaVazaVaChief, Emergency Telecommunications, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Geneva

Mr. oisiN waltoNRepresentative For Asia And The Pacific, Telecoms-Sans-Frontieres, Bangkok

H.e. Mr. Marc BicHlerDirector Of Development Cooperation, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Luxembourg

Mr.JereMy fosterHead, Government/Industry Relations, Ericsson Region Middle East

Mr. walter aMMaNNPresident and CEO, Global Risk Forum, Davos, Switzerland

dr. toNy redMoNdProfessor of Emergency Medicine And Co-Director, Humanitarian And Conflict Research Institute, University Of Manchester

Mr. edward HaPPHead Of Information Systems And Technology, International Federation Of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies

Mr. fraNcesco PisaNoUNOSAT Manager, UNITAR, Geneva

dr. fraNce laMyProgram Manager, Google, Mountain View, USA

Mr. tHoMas keMPerGlobal Security and Crises Management Unit European Commission Joint Research Center ISPRA, Italy

Mr. adriaN zeVeNBergeNManaging Director, European Space Imaging, Munich, Germany

DIHAD has a particular place in the international calendar in terms of bringing people together to talk about international humanitarian issues, particularly this year against the backdrop of what is happening in N. Africa, Japan. It’s a particular moment and period in history.

Ms. Valerie Amos - Emergency Relief Coordinator and United Nations Under Secretary-General For Humanitarian Affairs

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B2B Meetings:

Special initiatives were taken to attract decision makers and procurement officials and encourage meetings. DIHAD registered around 900 pre-arranged meetings between members of the networking forum.

Featured Sessions:

• Floods In Pakistan

• New technologies; always an

improvement?

• Innovation in Humanitarian

Response

Exhibition:

The exhibition attracted organiza-tions that represented NGOs (In-ternational and Local), UN Agen-cies, Donors, Charities, Suppliers & Manufacturers of Relief items, Special Project Vehicles, Water Purification & Sanitation, Telecom-munications, Temporary Shelters.

Report Launch:

Disaster Relief 2.0; the Future of Information-sharing in Humanitarian Emergencies” was launched by Under Secretary-General Ms. Valerie Amos, jointly with Ms. Adele Waugaman (United Nations Foundation) and Mr. John Crowley (Harvard Humanitarian Initiative)

Quick Facts:

Excellent

Quality of Speakers

44%

10%

17%

48%

50%

40%

31%

26%26%

51%

46%

5%

2%

2%

2%

Quality of Visitors

Exhibition Success Rate

Establishing New Contacts

GoodAveragePoor

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Under the patronage of H. H. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid

Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the 8th Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) took place, from 28 to 30 March 2011, in Dubai, UAE. Organized by Index Conferences and Exhibitions and duly supported by its strategic, humanitarian and corporate partners, DIHAD has again lived up to its growing reputation as a unique, authoritative and international event.

The conference was opened by UN Messenger of Peace H.R.H Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, HE Mr. Ahmed Humaid Al Mazroui, Chairman, UAE Red Crescent Authority, H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Bumelha President of DISAB, Ms. Valerie Amos, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator and Mr. Fillipo Grandi, Commissioner-General, UNRWA. Distinguished keynote speakers Dr. Mukesh Kapila (Under Secretary-General, IFRC) and Mr. Maxwell Gaylard (Deputy Special Coordinator, UNSCO) set the tone for the constructive sessions and presentations that followed by providing an overview of the theoretical and practical considerations that underpin effective technology use.

The conference reviewed the impact of new technologies on coordination and information management. In this connection, it was pointed out that information and communication technologies are as such instruments, needing to be duly tailored to the information management needs of humanitarian actors.

The conference reviewed methods and methodologies whereby available new technologies can be capitalized on in regard to the accurate and rapid diagnosis of the needs of population groups affected by crises and disasters, an absolute necessity in the pursuit of improving response actions.

A three hour session was devoted to the impact of new technologies on the manner in which all concerned deal with the issue of food security. High level experts from the United Nations (FAO and WFP), academia, the NGO community and the private sector presented examples of best practices, innovative solutions, and suggestions in regard to how partnerships and

improved knowledge-sharing could make appropriate technologies available to a larger number of those requiring assistance.

A session was conducted on the topic of new technologies and communications in humanitarian and development operations. In this context, complementary presentations were made in regard to the importance and role of communications in emergencies, both for the affected and

for the responders, from an operational as well as from a normative perspective.

A special session on the floods in Pakistan highlighted the utilization of new technologies (including remote sensing, GIS and GPS) in the overall response effort .Examples of new food technology and cash-for-food transfer mechanisms (also mentioned in the session on food security) were provided in this context.

The last day got underway with a session on the manner in which new technologies are assisting disaster-prone countries with preparedness and capacity building. It was pointed out, inter alia, that information should be actionable and that whereas the most vulnerable should receive the instruments they require, we should manage expectations and

that knowledge-sharing (including telemedicine) is essential, also at the preparedness stage.

The conference was then addressed by a panel consisting of experts from UNITAR/UNOSAT, Google, the EU Joint Research Centre and European Space Imaging, on satellite technology and how related applications are utilized in both humanitarian and development assistance activities. The session illustrated the availability of actionable information for the purpose of determining the impact of disasters as well as for the coordinated response to these and for subsequent recovery. In this context, innovative web-based applications were highlighted, as were various interfaces and the importance of content-based programmes for satellite analysis in support of humanitarian relief. As satellite-derived mapping has had a tangible impact on the conduct of relief, the need for further standards and validation procedures was clarified.

A special presentation answered the question as to whether new technologies are always an improvement, thereby providing the required nuances in terms of needs, utilization, processes and cost/benefit analyses.

A last special session was devoted to innovation in Humanitarian Response, thereby highlighting the need for the humanitarian system to update and upgrade its approaches in view of prevailing challenges. In this context, the main conclusions of the independent review of the UK humanitarian emergency response report (HERR) were provided, in particular its future focus on building resilience, leadership, partnership and accountability.

In the margin of the conference, on 28 March, the Report “Disaster Relief 2.0; the Future of Information-sharing in Humanitarian Emergencies” was launched by Under Secretary-General Valerie Amos, jointly with Ms. Adele Waugaman (United Nations Foundation) and Mr. John Crowley (Harvard Humanitarian Initiative)

Closing addresses, ably reflecting a number of the conference’s conclusions were delivered by Ms. Makiya Al Hajiri, CEO, International Humanitarian City, Dubai; Dr. Sergio Piazzi, Secretary-General, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean; and Dr. Hamadoun Toure, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union.

New Technologies; How these Impact Humanitarian and Development Operations

Chairman’s Summary:

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It is very important for us to participate in DIHAD every year. It is that time of the year when we meet all our partners whether from the private sector or the humanitarian community, exchange ideas and expose what we are doing and learn from the others. It is also an opportunity for us to nurture relationships.Ms. Abeer Etefa – Spokesperson, WFP

We have been exhibiting at DIHAD for the last 2 years and this year DIHAD is very interesting and well attended with more visitors than previous years, who are either customers or suppliers. We were able to meet a lot of potential customers.Mr. Frank Merks - Director Business Developement Humanitarian Aid, Losberger

As an UN Agency working exclusively in the Middle East it is very important for us to stay in touch with developments in the humanitarian debates in this region and DIHAD has become one of the highlights of the humanitarian year in the Middle East. DIHAD is a mix of many things. An opportunity for organizations to showcase their work and raise some important issues, request support (including

organizations and government in this region that are present at DIHAD and a wonderful networking opportunity.Mr. Filippo Grandi - Commissioner-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

2012 1-3 April