Increasing the Effectiveness of Humanitarian Action by Canadian Non-Governmental Organizations

This project aims to strengthen the quality and effectiveness of humanitarian action by Canadian non-governmental organizations. The project supports the Policy Action Group on Emergency Response (PAGER) a unique forum for Canadian humanitarian non-governmental organizations to share information coordinate humanitarian responses and build organizational knowledge and skills. Some project activities include: (1) conducting teleconferences and face-to-face meetings as needed to share information and coordinate activities in response to major humanitarian crises as well as to discuss best practices and lessons learned; (2) holding at least two formal training workshops for PAGER members and other humanitarian stakeholders; (3) organizing a one-day conference on humanitarian action in collaboration with a Canadian university and/or research institution; (4) creating a PAGER website to profile members’ humanitarian responses and share information with the public; and (5) using social media to raise awareness of key humanitarian crises/issues.

The expected outputs for this project include: (1) more effective coordination learning and information sharing among members of the Canadian humanitarian community; (2) increased professional and technical capacity of the broader Canadian humanitarian community to carry out more effective responses and engage in discussions around key humanitarian policy and practice issues; and (3) greater overall public awareness of the work undertaken by Canadian humanitarian agencies. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.