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Drought, famine and food insecurity solutions for East Africa to be revealed at Nairobi conference

Innovative ways to prevent and respond to major humanitarian crises top of the agenda at #HPC2014

Nairobi, 14 September 2014

Innovative solutions to prevent and tackle drought, famine and other major humanitarian crises will be top of the agenda at this week’s Humanitarian Partnership Conference 2014 (#HPC2014), which comes as food insecurity grips Kenya and the wider East and Horn of Africa region in general.

The high-level conference brings together humanitarian experts and leading academics from across the region for three days of intensive debate, discussion and presentations on how best to deal with recurring and new environmental and humanitarian challenges under the banner of “Addressing Humanitarian Crisis in Africa Through Partnerships”.

The conference’s findings and decisions will be put into practice to help end humanitarian crises in Africa over the next two years through stronger partnerships and will also be presented at the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in 2016. The WHS, to be led by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, will address humanitarian challenges related to natural hazards and conflicts.

“Effective humanitarian response can only be achieved through effective partnerships. HPC 2014 will expand networks between universities and the humanitarian world to better tackle Africa’s humanitarian crises though those partnerships,” said Sheila Waruhiu, People Development Manager at Save the Children’s Capacity Building Centre in Nairobi and the conference organiser. “At a time of increasing needs and costs, it is critical that humanitarians work in ways that reduce and manage the risks of humanitarian crises as well as responding to their impact,” she added.

Key speakers at the event, which takes place at the Boma Inn, South C, Nairobi, from 16 to 18 September, include James Oduor-CEO of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Kenya Red Cross CEO-Dr Abbas Gullet, Head of ICRC Regional Delegation Thierry Meyrat and representatives of regional body IGAD.

A total of five parallel discussions will be held over three days that will review the role that partnerships play in mitigating drought and preventing famine; reducing vulnerability to climactic shocks; serving the needs of people in conflict; humanitarian effectiveness; humanitarian education and sustainable pastoralism development. Presentations include the ground-breaking use of GIS to reduce drought, innovative approaches to education in emergencies and using the latest technology to make education accessible to children in pastoral and nomadic communities. The last day of the gathering will provide a unique opportunity for participants to informally interact to cement ideas arising from debate.

Follow the conference on twitter: #HPC2014, #ReShapeAid, #Humanitarian #Partnership #WHS2016
Further info/ interview opps : Sheila Waruhiu +254 (0)733716452 s.waruhiu@savethechildren.org.uk
Website: https://humanitarianpartnershipconference.wordpress.com