ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment 2023

About ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment 2023

Since 1998, the ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS) has been an essential platform for discussing the activities and issues related to strengthening the coordination and effectiveness of the humanitarian assistance of the United Nations. The HAS provides a key opportunity for Member States, the United Nations system, development actors, the private sector and other humanitarian partners to discuss current and emerging humanitarian challenges and priority themes and share experiences and lessons learned.

The 2023 HAS will take place from 21 to 23 June in Geneva. The HAS will be chaired by His Excellency Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in New York, in his capacity as the ECOSOC Vice-President for the HAS. On the basis of the ECOSOC decision agreed on 5 April, the theme for this year’s HAS is “Strengthening humanitarian assistance at a time of unprecedented global humanitarian needs: driving transformation and solutions to address the urgent challenges of rising food insecurity and the risk of famine, protection risks and climate change” (E/2023/L.11).

High-level Panel Discussions

Four high-level panel discussions will be held during the HAS under the following themes:

1. “Addressing the unprecedented global challenge of food insecurity and the risk of famine: scaling up prevention, response and resilience”;
2. “Addressing protection risks, needs and challenges in humanitarian emergencies, particularly the disproportionate impact on women and children”;
3. “Preparing for the future: reinforcing and expanding partnerships at the global, regional, national and local levels”;
4. “Strengthening humanitarian assistance in the face of climate change: humanitarian implications, lessons and recommendations for future action”

In addition to high-level panel discussions, the organization of the HAS will include opening and closing sessions, including a general discussion and action on the annual ECOSOC humanitarian resolution on Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations. A limited number of side events will be held on the margins of the HAS from 19 to 23 June.

ECOSOC Meeting

The ECOSOC meeting to discuss the transition from relief to development will be held immediately preceding the HAS on 20 June in Geneva, under the theme “Transition from relief to development: taking action to promote resilience, sustainable solutions and recovery in climate-related disasters and crisis contexts” (E/2023/L.10). The meeting will be co-chaired by His Excellency Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the United Nations in New York, in his capacity as the ECOSOC Vice-President for the Operational Activities for Development Segment, and Ambassador Maurizio Massari, in his capacity as the Vice-President for the HAS. The meeting will be held pursuant to General Assembly resolution 75/290 A.)

Side Events

A limited number of side events will be held on the margins of the HAS from 19 to 23 June. Below is a list of side events related to the environment.

• Monday 19 June, 13:00-14:30 | Disaster and climate-related displacement: Towards a global humanitarian response
• Monday, 19 June, 16:30-18:00 | How to get to a low carbon and resilient humanitarian sector?
• Tuesday, 20 June, 13:15-14:45 | The Global Food Crisis: What are the Most Impacted People and Communities Telling us at this Extraordinary Time? What are the Solutions?
• Wednesday, 21 June, 8:30-10:00 | Community-Informed Identification and Analysis of Protection Risks – Strengthening Humanitarian Assistance in Food Crises, Disasters and Conflict Settings
• Friday, 23 June, 8:30-10:00 | The role of local and national actors in anticipatory action to minimise and address climate induced disasters and crises