ZIF meets UN humanitarian partner organizations in Geneva

ZIF Executive Director Dr. Astrid Irrgang and Analysis Team Lead Dr. Annika Hansen travelled to Geneva from 6 to 7 March 2024 to meet important ZIF partners from the humanitarian aid and security sectors. In light of the great humanitarian needs worldwide, the exchange with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) was particularly important.

Discussions with the representatives of these organizations focused on the possibility of ZIF providing more support through seconded staff. For several years now, ZIF has not only provided qualified personnel for peace operations, but has also built up a humanitarian personnel pool and supports the United Nations (UN) by sending experts. In addition to WHO, UNICEF and UNHCR, ZIF also has secondment agreements with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

There were also meetings with other ZIF partners such as the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP). Such think tanks and implementing organizations are valuable contacts when it comes to strengthening the policy impact of our work.

"We are delighted to have received so much positive feedback for our work and the efforts of our secondees," says Irrgang. "Improving local approaches was a key topic: How can we better anchor peacebuilding work in local contexts and with local partners in the future? The trip to Geneva confirmed once again that we want to focus even more on these issues at all levels."