GENEVA — Saudi Arabia participated in the meeting of the advisory group of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting began with a comprehensive review of the Fund's 2024 results. Detailed data was presented on geographic allocations, target sectors, and alignment with humanitarian principles. Progress in the climate action portfolio and proactive response were also discussed. On the Saudi side, the General Supervisor of Planning and Development at the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), Dr. Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, participated, along with members of the Fund's advisory team, senior leaders and officials from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), officials from UN agencies, and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher. Dr. Aqeel Al-Ghamdi emphasized the importance of investing in building the capacity of local communities to respond to humanitarian disasters, noting that developing early warning systems and taking proactive measures are priorities that must be included in humanitarian funding mechanisms, especially in areas exposed to recurring risks. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening the principles of transparency and accountability, improving evaluation tools, and highlighting the impact of funding on the lives of beneficiaries. In the session dedicated to the "Resetting Humanitarian Action" initiative, an in-depth discussion took place on the need to adopt simpler and more flexible models of humanitarian response, along with reducing fragmentation and improving coordination of efforts between donors and implementing agencies. The meeting discussed financial mobilization and strategic communication strategies, in light of the pressures facing humanitarian resources globally. Dr. Al-Ghamdi highlighted the importance of developing innovative mechanisms to attract funding and expanding partnerships with non-traditional sectors, including private sector institutions and donors outside of traditional frameworks, with a focus on highlighting the results and impact of funding as a tool to enhance trust and credibility. The meeting concluded with a special dialogue session with Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, who reviewed the outcomes of the concurrent Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) meeting and addressed ways to improve humanitarian coordination and develop collective response tools to global crises. Al-Ghamdi emphasized Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening partnerships and effective coordination with all active humanitarian actors, contributing to the development of collective responses and enhancing their efficiency in confronting multiple humanitarian crises. Saudi Arabia's participation in this meeting complements a long history of multilateral humanitarian action, embodying the Kingdom's vision to enhance the impact of humanitarian funding through fairer tools, a more effective response, and more comprehensive partnerships. It also affirms the Kingdom's international standing as a key player in supporting the global humanitarian response, through its unique initiatives, most notably the tangible contributions made by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) and its close cooperation with United Nations institutions and international partners.
