Gender, power & innovation in humanitarian response

Who leads the response?

The systems built to respond to crises are not reaching enough people quickly enough and often not those who need help most. Across the Arab region, feminist organizations, community-led networks, and independent practitioners are proving that a different kind of response is possible where local actors hold real authority.

Yet the funding does not follow the evidence. Women-led and local organizations remain severely under-resourced even on the frontlines.

Join the Arab Foundations Forum (AFF) for an online panel discussion bringing together practitioners, funders, and movement leaders to look honestly at what works, what doesn’t -  and what it would take to make community-led and feminist response the norm rather than the exception.

This session will explore on-the-ground realities, unpack structural power dynamics between INGOs and local groups, address maintaining core feminist principles under acute operational pressure, and define what funders must change to properly resource community-led leadership.

Speakers

• Naila Farouky (Moderator)
  CEO, Arab Foundations Forum (AFF)
• Sherine Ibrahim
  Regional VP, MENA & Ukraine, International Rescue Committee (IRC)
• Amanda Lane
  President & CEO, Collateral Repair Project (CRP)
• Zeina Abdel Khalik
  Executive Director, Doria Feminist Fund
• Dr. Tareq Emtairah
  Director General, Taawon

Notes

This event is being hosted by Arab Foundations Forum 4-5.30pm (UAE) // 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM EDT (New York). Register here.