Publications

The VOICE network shares the following remarks and recommendations with the EU Member States and the European Parliament on the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

This paper gathers a number of remarks on the European Commission’s proposal for the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Programme under the next financial period (2021-2027) which includes the integration of the EUAV into this larger EU Programme, building on the VOICE network’s positions over the last years.

VOICE and VENRO co-hosted a roundtable in Berlin discussing priorities for humanitarian aid in 2018/2019 and the humanitarian-development nexus.

The Report of the Grand Bargain workshop in Somalia organised by the 3 NGO networks: ICVA, VOICE and the Somalia NGO Consortium to inform Somali NGOs on the Grand Bargain progress and gather input directly from frontline responders.

On May 2, the European Commission(EC) released its Proposal for a Regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 and Communication ‘A Modern Budget for a Union that Protects, Empowers and Defends’ with its annex, followed on June 14 by a set of proposed regulations for external instruments. On May 23, the EC also presented its proposal for the EU budget 2019. In reaction to these proposals, the VOICE network shares the following remarks and recommendations with the EU Member States and the European Parliament.

On 23 May, VOICE hosted an event entitled “Do no harm and conflict sensitivity: two sides of the same coin?”. The event brought together VOICE members, leading practitioners from the humanitarian community as well as peacebuilding NGOs, academics and EU institutions’ representatives. The four panelists were Paul Murphy, Executive Director of Saferworld, Martina Zapf, Head of Programme Support at Interpeace, Peter van Sluijs, Senior Strategist at CORDAID and Michael Kühn, Senior Policy Advisor from Welthungerhilfe. The discussion was facilitated by Birte Hald, Brussels Representative of Danish Refugee Council.

This report is a summary of the key messages and main outcomes of the same workshop, organised by VOICE in the framework of its Grand Bargain project funded by the Belgian MFA. The event offered space for practitioners (including NGOs, the UN, the Red Cross, EU Member States, private sector officials, academics, and EU representatives) to exchange on best practices and share experiences. Participants explored the role and added value of NGOs in large scale cash transfer programmes all along the program cycle from needs-assessment to monitoring but also in relation to coordination.

This paper is designed to summarize the key feedback and recommendations identified through the group discussion between VOICE Grand Bargain Task Force & ICVA Humanitarian Financing Working Group, for ODI to consider as it prepares the final report.

VOICE, CONCORD, EPLO and HRDN joint reccomandations on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021 asking for strong external budget, separate instruments for humanitarian aid, humanRights, democracy and peacebuilding, more support to civilsociety and involvement of CSOs in MFF discussions

VOICE position paper on the post 2020 Multi Annual Financial Framework

Our report of the event on the humanitarian-development nexus and the humanitarian principles.

To celebrate this important statement for Humanitarian aid, we have highlighted the 10 main achievements of the Consensus implementation from an NGO perspective. 

The Localisation workstream in the Grand Bargain (GB) generates high expectations and enthusiasm and is expected to contribute significantly to the vision to “Leave No One Behind” as set in the Agenda for Humanity. Through this paper the Grand Bargain Task Force wishes to initiate a conversation with ECHO on localisation and to explore optimal approaches to achieving the 6 commitments of Workstream.

The purpose of this paper is to highlight through current practices and examples the interest for both ECHO and its partners in implementing a multiyear planning and funding approach and to demonstrate which current challenges could be overcome by doing so.

COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION’S HUMANITARIAN AID 2012-2016
OPEN PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Background elements to VOICE answers
This document represents a compilation of the VOICE network’s positions during the period covered by the evaluation (2012-2016), to complement the collective answers provided in the Open Public Consultation questionnaire.

The document with the joint messages to celebrate the 10 years of the Consensus on the occasion of the event the 11 of October 2017.

The Council will adopt conclusions on resilience: the VOICE secretariat has prepared recommendations, based on consultations with members, including in the workshop organised in cooperation with the Commission in February 2017.
In the paper, the importance of a community-based approach to resilience and the need for a context-specific approach are stressed again. The need for clear mandates to be defined for the different stakeholders involved in building resilience was also underlined.

This event was very topical and demonstrated that data, social media, and new technologies undoubtedly present many opportunities for data collection and innovation in the humanitarian sector. However, the event also highlighted the many challenges and questions presented by the rise of new technologies that need to be addressed.

The Grand Bargain Task Force organised the event "The Grand Bargain: implementing a humanitarian deal to leave no one behind" at the European Development Days 2017 on 8 June 2017. Here is the summary note of the session.

This study highlights DRR policies and programming of a selection of EU Member States and presents recommendations for the further elaboration of their policy work on Disaster Risk Reduction.

This paper highlights the opportunities and challenges NGOs perceive from the Grand Bargain implementation

In 2012 – 2013 VOICE engaged in the consultation organised by the European Commission when it developed its Resilience Communication as well as in the drafting of its Action Plan. Last year VOICE also contributed to the EU process leading to the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, bringing forward a perspective from humanitarian NGOs.
Today, the Global Strategy remains a political vision and the upcoming new Communication on Resilience, which will be developed under the leadership of the EEAS, is perceived as an essential step in its implementation.
NGOs from the humanitarian and development sectors welcomed the civil society consultation that was organised on February 17th around the upcoming Communication on Resilience.
This contribution is based on meetings held with members and key points raised by them, on VOICE positioning and contributions to the EU policies on resilience and the Global Strategy, as well on the outcomes of the three workshops held during the civil society consultation.

VOICE organised this event on 30 November 2016 to raise awareness of NGOs and other stakeholders about the impact of counter-terrorism laws and policies on humanitarian action. It was attended by 104 participants from civil society and European Institutions.

On 14 November 2016, VOICE and the Slovak NGO platform MVRO hosted a regional roundtable and workshops on "Working differently to end need".