Conferences
The sharing of experiences is a cornerstone of sector-wide learning. We therefore regularly organise and take part in conferences.
Groupe URD’s annual Autumn School on Humanitarian Aid provides an opportunity for humanitarian and development actors to discuss issues and share experiences. Since 2003, representatives from NGOs, UN agencies, donors, governmental bodies, etc. have gathered at our headquarters to debate fundamental and topical issues affecting the aid sector.
The Autumn School takes place during the second half of September and lasts two and a half days. A number of presentations are given by specialists, some to introduce the general theme and prepare the ground for debate and others during workshops on particular subjects. The Open Space method, a highly participatory method, which increases participants’ ownership of the subjects discussed, is sometimes used. After each Autumn School, a detailed report is produced and made available to participants and other humanitarian actors.
Every year, we also co-organise conferences on different subjects, such as “Civilian health in armed conflict situations” with the Henry Dunant Association, “Water and sanitation in post-crisis contexts” with the French Development Agency and “The Dynamics of Afghan Society” with the French NGOs in Afghanistan collective.
For the fourth year running, Groupe URD will be involved in organising the Salon des Solidarités Internationales as part of its consultative committee. The next edition is due to take place on 4-6 June 2010 at the Parc des Expositions in Versailles.
We also take part in many conferences in France and abroad in connection with our areas of work (IHL, Urbanism, Water and sanitation, the Environment, Health, etc.).
Previous Autumn Schools have focused on the following topics:
- Cities and crises: urban fragility, humanitarian action and the challenges of reconstruction in cities, 2011
- Mainstreaming the environment in humanitarian action - rising to the challenge , 2009
- The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid: putting fine principles into practice, 2008
- Security and protection: mission impossible?, 2007
- Humanitarian space in danger, 2006
- Accreditation: a threat or an opportunity for humanitarian agencies?, 2005
- Linking relief and development – what’s new?, 2004
- Humanitarian aid after 9/11, 2003
