Forum discusses facets of humanitarian efforts

The two-day virtual Humanitarian Work Forum 2021 organised by Qatar Charity (QC), in co-operation with Qatar University (QU), concluded on Thursday, marking this year’s World Humanitarian Day. Several United Nations, international and local humanitarian organisations, as well as academic institutions, participated in the forum held on August 18 and 19. An elite group of specialists and experts in various fields of humanitarian work gave presentations during the forum and took part in its panel discussions. After extensive discussion and deliberation, the forum issued many important recommendations that would advance humanitarian work in its various fields and aspects. The forum, which is considered to be the first initiative of its kind in Qatar, highlighted the challenges facing humanitarian organisations, their workers and volunteers, and sought to find solutions to these challenges to deliver humanitarian services to the needy and those affected by the humanitarian crisis globally. Many high-ranking international figures, specialists, experts and guests attended the forum virtually and presented their papers.The opening session of the forum’s second day started with the speech of Faisal Rashid al-Fahida, CEO’s assistant for the Programmes and Community Development sector at Qatar Charity, who spoke on ‘Attracting competent youth and talents to humanitarian work’. In his speech, he touched on Qatar Charity’s internal training initiative, which comes as part of Qatar Charity’s keenness to attract highly qualified and skilled trainees, aiming to contribute to the rehabilitation of young people and upskilling them. Ibrahim al-Malki, CEO of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), spoke on ‘The importance of attracting volunteers and humanitarian workers and the criteria used’, noting the QRCS’s attention towards the human element in its humanitarian work locally and internationally. In addition to the opening session, several sessions were held during the second day of the Humanitarian Work Forum 2021. During the first session titled ‘Attracting and training workers and volunteers in humanitarian work’, many presentations were delivered. Mubarak Jeaithin al-Dosari, senior Community Programme specialist, Volunteering and Community Service Centre, QU, delivered a presentation on ‘The Role of Qatar University Volunteer Centre in Attracting Volunteers and Training Volunteers’. Abdel Fattah Adam, programme manager at QC’s Somalia office, gave a presentation on the office’s volunteering experience in the country. The presentation of Ahmad Yousef Fakhroo, CEO’s assistant for the Resources Development and Media Sector at Qatar Charity, was about ‘Media role in acquiring volunteers and workers in the humanitarian field’. The second session was titled ‘Training and attracting humanitarian workers and volunteers’.  Under the theme ‘Specialised academic qualification and its role in developing the skills of workers in humanitarian work’, Dr Abdelhamid Ahmed, co-ordinator, Innovation, Leadership & Civic Engagement (UNIV 200) Course, Core Curriculum Programme, Deanship of General Studies, Qatar University, and Dr Ghassan Elkahlout, head of the MA Programme in Conflict Management and Humanitarian Action, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, participated in the second session.  Under the theme ‘Employees and Volunteers training using Field-work simulation training programmes’, Mona al-Sulaiti, executive director of the Volunteering and Local Development Sector at QRCS, took part. The presentation of Fatima AlTaweel, executive vice-president, Tomoh for Community Development, was about attracting youth locally.  During the third session titled ‘Glimpse of a humanitarian worker’s life’, Abdulrahman Almutawa, deputy general manager of Projects, International Islamic Charitable Organisation, presented his humanitarian experience. The fourth season was titled ‘Sharing Experience’, in which Aisha al-Kuwari, a volunteer work expert, reviewed her experience in volunteer work. The fifth session, which was about parallel workshops, discussed ‘Improving Technology use in Attracting National Youth’, ‘Values of humanitarian and volunteering work’ and ‘Role of new media’. The sixth session came under the theme ‘Youth opportunities in supporting humanitarian caused internationally’. During the closing remarks, al-Fahida thanked all the supporters, speakers, volunteers and participants, expressing his pride in organising this important event in partnership with QU as the first initiative of its kind in Qatar.