Qatar Charity (QC) has announced that it is all set to hold the Start Network Assembly Meeting 2019 today and tomorrow.
The annual gathering is being organised for the first time in the Middle East with the participation of some 87 dignitaries representing 42 organisations, comprising major international and regional humanitarian NGOs.
The Start Network is made up of 42 aid agencies across five continents, ranging from large international organisations to national NGOs. It aims to change the current international system of humanitarian aid and deliver more effective aid to support people affected by crises.
It develops innovative ways for aid agencies to work together, with new forms of financing and methods to give local organisations greater decision-making power and funding. Start Network’s “impartial approach is grounded in its commitment to universally shared humanitarian ideals, such as those enshrined in international humanitarian law,” QC has said in a statement.
The two-day annual meeting, chaired by Christina Bennett, CEO of Start Network, will discuss the network strategy and the proposed action plan as well as many issues related to its effectiveness, capabilities and co-operation among its members on humanitarian issues.
“The hosting of this significant event by our organisation affirms its humanitarian role worldwide, the importance of its global presence and its major humanitarian interventions,” said Yousuf bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Charity, pointing out that it has a presence on the ground in more than 50 countries through 28 field offices in 24 countries. He also underlined the importance of QC as an organisation playing a vital role in addressing issues affecting humanitarian work globally, noting that Qatar Charity was welcomed into the membership of Start Network in 2017.
Considering this membership as a significant milestone, he said, QC has the observer membership of the International Organisation For Migration and is in a consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, in addition to joining the CHS Alliance.
Joining such humanitarian alliances constitutes a significant recognition of the vital role QC plays, and the capabilities and expertise it has regionally and globally, al-Kuwari added.
On the sidelines of the meeting, QC will organise a dinner party in co-operation with a number of bodies in the country at National Museum of Qatar, where the guests can learn about the Qatari identity, heritage and history, in addition to providing them with an opportunity to know about Qatar Charity’s humanitarian efforts across the world. QC joined Start Network in February 2016 as observers and, in November 2017, it was granted full membership by the Start Network board of directors on the basis that all membership conditions are met.
