Dubai International Humanitarian City celebrates 20 years of shaping the future of humanitarian action at a panel discussion in Geneva

In April, Geneva was host to a panel discussion organised by Dubai’s International Humanitarian City (IHC) to mark the organisation’s impact over the past 20 years in supporting the global humanitarian community.

The event took place during the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW 2023), an annual three-week forum that brings together participants from the UN, non-profit organisations, Member States, the private sector, military, academia and beyond to discuss common challenges in humanitarian affairs.

This year’s panellists included Nadia Jbour, former Head of UNHCR Office in UAE, Mario Stephan, former Executive Director of Doctors Without Borders in UAE (MSF), Paul Molinaro, Director of Strategic Health Operations at the World Health Organization (WHO), Simon Missiri, Director of Logistics for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Walid Ibrahim, WFP-UNHRD Network Coordinator, and Giuseppe Saba, CEO of the Dubai International Humanitarian City.

Founded in 2003 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the IHC has served millions of people around the world. Throughout the years, its work has focused on facilitating the delivery of aid and relief, improving emergency preparedness, and promoting partnerships to find sustainable solutions to global humanitarian challenges.

At the panel discussion, UAE Permanent Representative to the UN, HE Ambassador Ahmed Al Jarman took to the stand to praise the IHC’s notable efforts, describing it as “one of the most important icons of the humanitarian work,” and emphasised the UAE and Dubai’s commitment in supporting the global humanitarian community and its challenges.

During the session, IHC CEO Giuseppe Saba also spoke of the organisation’s achievements and future plans, stating that "the IHC has evolved into a dynamic and innovative platform that supports the global humanitarian community. We are committed to continuing to proactively enhance humanitarian emergency preparedness and response, innovation, and sustainability. We look forward to continuing to work together with our partners and stakeholders to shape the future of humanitarian action."

The discussion went on to highlight the IHC's development over time, as well as some of its most significant milestones and accomplishments. It also addressed the IHC's role in enabling the distribution of humanitarian supplies and immediate relief, the difficulties it encountered in doing so, including the COVID-19 epidemic, and how it overcame these difficulties, along with the organisation’s future roles and its ongoing mission to connect humanitarian hubs and cities.

During the HNPW, the IHC also organised a separate session with humanitarians, private sector representatives, government agencies and stakeholders involved in emergency response to discuss key digital platforms pertinent to relief stocks.

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