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WHO events addressing public health priorities

Citation: Guide for implementing the humanitarian–development–peace nexus (HDPNx) for health. East Mediterr Health J. 2020;26(6):755–756. https://doi.org/10.26719/2020.26.6.755

Copyright © World Health Organization (WHO) 2020. Open Access. Some rights reserved. This work is available under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo).

¹ This report is based on the Summary Report on the Expert meeting on the guide for implementing the humanitarian–development–peace nexus (HDPNx) for health, 10–12 February 2020, Cairo, Egypt (https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/EMEHS002E.pdf?ua=1&ua=1).

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Introduction

Regional conflicts, often compounded by climate-related shocks, are more frequent and contribute to a cycle of vulnerability for populations in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (1). Therefore, sustainable development and durable solutions to displacement are not possible without peace (1). To reflect this understanding, the concept of a ‘humanitarian-development nexus’, or a ‘humanitarian-development-peace nexus’ has been developed. Such nexus focuses on the work needed to coherently address people’s vulnerability before, during and after crises (1,2).

As a reflection on this in its relation to public health, a three-day expert consultation to discuss a draft guide for implementing the humanitarian–development–peace nexus (HDPNx) for health was held by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean during 10–12 February 2020 in Cairo, Egypt (3).

The overall objective of the consultation was to refine the draft guide, based on contributions from participants. This required bringing key actors and stakeholders together to:

exchange their knowledge and experience of implementing the HDPNx for health, including challenges, lessons learned and pragmatic or creative solutions;

discuss and review components of the guide, including objectives, guiding principles and elements that are important for the implementation of the HDPNx; and

discuss how to operationalize the HDPNx approach for health, particularly with regards to: leveraging each actor’s comparative advantage and working within a multi-year timeframe; the key steps, activities and best practice recommendations for undertaking joint assessment, deciding on priority actions and collective outcomes; coordinating, financing, implementing, and monitoring and evaluating activities; and the roles and responsibilities of different actors and stakeholders.

The meeting was attended by over 45 regional and international experts, including officials from sister United Nations (UN) agencies, representatives of humanitarian organizations, development partners and donors, academics from Lebanon, Netherlands, Qatar, United Kingdom and United States of America, as well as senior WHO staff from the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt, WHO headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, and country offices in the Region.

Summary of discussions

The first day of the meeting comprised presentations by WHO representatives and senior WHO staff on the background context, current situation and needs in eight countries experiencing emergencies in the Region, followed by a question and answer session. The second day started with presentations by partner organizations on non-health sectors’ HDPNx initiatives from the Region and beyond, and continued with plenary discussions on the different components of the guide, which continued into the third day of the consultation. The last session was dedicated to discussing the way forward and how to support countries in implementing the HDPNx for health. The key points raised during the meeting are summarized below.

Recommendations

To WHO

Ensuring that HDPNx implementation begins with a context analysis, which includes an analysis of the political economy and power dynamics among the different actors and stakeholders.

Linking the Common Country Analysis and Humanitarian Needs Overview, and ensuring the results are reflected in both the Humanitarian Response Plan and the UN Sustainable Development Framework.

Contributing to building the capacity of national systems when carrying out nexus activities.

Linking health assessment, planning and programming to a conflict analysis and addressing root causes.

Engaging the community to be accountable, including youth engagement.

Engaging in and promoting multisectoral action to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of interventions.

Finding ways of bringing non-traditional donors onboard to improve funding for the nexus. This could include the private sector and other novel funding sources.

To Member States

Developing a framework or tool for a joint country assessment, or one which can be used to consolidate the results of assessments by different actors.

Developing a planning template that is broad and flexible enough to be used in joint planning or that can aggregate the results of multiple assessments for joint planning.

Strengthening the section on monitoring and evaluation by developing a monitoring and evaluation implementation plan that separates monitoring from evaluation.

Addressing the importance of data sensitivity and the politicization of data, and how this can impact on peace, in the section on conflict analysis.

Developing a plan for disseminating the guide among the different actors and stakeholders.

References

1. Oxfam. The humanitarian-development-peace nexus: what does it mean for multi-mandated organizations? Oxfam Discussion Paper June 2019 (https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10546/620820/dp-humanitarian-development-peace-nexus-260619-en.pdf?sequence=1).
2. World Health Organization. The new way of working: strengthening the Humanitarian, Development & Peace Nexus. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019 (http://origin.who.int/health-cluster/about/structure/HDN-concept.pdf).
3. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO/EMRO). Summary Report on the Expert meeting on the guide for implementing the humanitarian–development–peace nexus (HDPNx) for health. Cairo: WHO/EMRO; 2020 (https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/EMEHS002E.pdf?ua=1&ua=1).