The UN is currently undergoing reforms concerning its development, peace, and humanitarian work. On 8 June, PHAP and ICVA organized an online event exploring the various UN reforms that are currently being rolled out in relation to the humanitarian-development-peace nexus – including the repositioning of the UN development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, the restructuring of the UN peace and security pillar, and the shifting of the management paradigm in the UN.

This third session of the learning stream on the "nexus" featured Stanlake Samkange from the World Food Programme (WFP), who provided an overview of current UN reforms and how they relate to WFP's work. Mario Samaja, UN Resident Coordinator in Mauritania, will gave his views on how these reforms impact work at the country level and provide an update on the changes to the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) system. Following these two presentations, Gareth Price-Jones from CARE International provided an analysis of the current changes and the possible implications for NGOs. 

Follow-up responses

Read the written responses to the follow-up questions by the guest experts

Recommended resources

• Lebada, Ana Maria “An Annotated Guide to the UN Secretary-General’s Reform Proposals”. IISD, January 2018.
• Lebada, Ana Maria “UN Secretary-General Presents 12 Priorities for 2018”. IISD, February 2018.
• ICVA, "The “New Way of Working” Examined: An ICVA Briefing Paper”. International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), September 2017.
• Bernstein, Tanja. "Reforming the United Nations’ Peace and Security Pillar". Centre for International Peace Operations, 2017.
• Cliffe, Sara. “The SG’s report of UN Development System reform - 5 key ideas and 5 questions”. Centre on International Cooperation, 10 July 2017.
• ICVA & PHAP, Topic Five – The New Way of Working: What is it? What does it mean for NGOs? ICVA-PHAP Learning Stream on Humanitarian Coordination, webinar recording on YouTube, 5 October 2017.
• Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, “Repositioning the United Nations development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda: ensuring a better future for all.” General Assembly Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), July 2017.
• Jenks, Bruce and Jennifer Topping. “Financing the UN Development System: Pathways to Reposition for Agenda 2030,” Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and United Nations MPTF Office, September 2017.
• Baumann, Max-Otto “Reforming the UN Development System: Can North and South Overcome their Political Differences in Making the UN fit for Purpose?,” German Development Institute, July 2016.

Target audience and event access

This event is relevant for anyone working in crisis response contexts seeking a stronger understanding of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, but is particularly targeted to those working in international and national NGOs. The event is also open to the public.

Learning stream on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus

As part of the learning stream on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, this event will be the third session of five live interactive online learning events that ICVA and PHAP will be organizing in the coming months. The purpose of these sessions is to provide NGOs and aid workers with a stronger understanding of the efforts to overcome the divide between the humanitarian, development, and – when appropriate – peace communities.