On 20-21st January 2014, 80 senior staff of international and Arab humanitarian NGOs and multi-lateral organisations met to discuss challenges and opportunities for improved humanitarian action in the Arab region.

Speakers included the HRH Prince Turki ben Talal of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Rashid bin El Hassan of Jordan, Ambassador Atta el Mannan, the Assistant Secretary General of the Humanitarian Department in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Ms Gwi-Yeop Son, the Director of Corporate Programmes at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA). The meeting was co-sponsored by ECHO and Islamic Relief in Germany.

Jointly organised by the Humanitarian Forum (THF), the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) at the Overseas Development Institute, UN OCHA, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO), the meeting included a working dinner to examine country-specific challenges and lessons learned in responding to crises in the Arab region, keynote speeches by HRH Prince Turki ben Talal of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Rashid bin El Hassan of Jordan and Dr Sara Pantuliano of HPG, as well as thematic working groups.