The changes of the 21st century are complex and inter-related. The current shifts in technology, climate, population movements, demography and urbanization are shaping the world we live in. They unavoidably impact millions of people across the world, bearing new opportunities, but also creating new vulnerabilities. These trends are changing the fabric of societies and the humanitarian landscape, to the extent that traditional assumptions and ways of working might not be effective in addressing the challenges presented.
New approaches are needed to meet these challenges. The Movement’s presence at local level and the proximity to communities enables it to better understand, prevent, prepare and respond to these shifting vulnerabilities, and to drive global change.
New approaches are needed to meet these challenges. The Movement’s presence at local level and the proximity to communities enables it to better understand, prevent, prepare and respond to these shifting vulnerabilities, and to drive global change.
This Commission will take place during the second day of the Conference. It will consist of two main plenaries (opening and closing) and six thematic spotlight sessions:
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1. The role of volunteers in community health
This session will focus on the changing role of volunteers in community health. It will look at their vital role in addressing emerging health needs, including epidemic and pandemic detection and response, making the case for increasing support and for shifting the focus from formal health systems to community health systems.
Related draft resolution: “Time to Act: working Together to Prevent and Respond to Epidemics and Pandemics”.
• Responding to the second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history (available in English only)
• From words to action: Towards a community-centred approach to preparedness and response in health emergencies (available in English only) -
2. Addressing the humanitarian consequences of the climate crisis
This session will seek to explore the humanitarian impacts of climate change, draw attention to key challenges and opportunities, and identify what can be done now to scale up joint action and foster commitment, including through partnerships.
Related draft resolution: “Climate-smart disaster laws and policies that leave no one behind”
• IFRC Framework for Climate Action towards 2020 (full document available in English only)
Summary in French
Summary in Spanish
• Cost of Doing Nothing Report, IFRC, 2019 (available in English only)
• REAP: The IFRC commitments for the Climate Summit, 2019 (available in English only) -
3. Building safe and inclusive urban communities through urban humanitarian action
Going from the global level to a community perspective, this spotlight session will explore the humanitarian consequences of rapid urbanization, as well as the implications that this has on the Movement’s humanitarian action.
• Building Urban Resilience Guide, IFRC, 2017 (available in English only)
• Coalition Building in Cities, Global Disaster Preparedness Center (available in English only)
• Urban Services during Protracted Armed Conflict: a call for a better approach to assisting affected people, ICRC, 2015 -
4. Scaling up mental health and psychosocial support for emergency affected populations
This session aims to increase a collective sense of urgency to motivate states and National Societies to intensify their efforts on this issue. It also aims at showing the consequences of the stigma (discrimination and exclusion) and at identifying avenues to strengthen the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of humanitarian responders.
Related draft resolution: “Addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies”
• WHO fact sheet: mental health in emergencies, 2019
• Guide to Psychological First Aid, IFRC, 2018 (available in
• ICRC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, 2018 -
5. Humanitarian action in the digital era
This session aims to explain the importance and transformative impact of digital transformation and of the use of new technologies for humanitarian action. It will discuss how the Movement components, States and other relevant actors can adopt and maintain a principled approach in the digital era, with an emphasis around issues of digital responsibility, digital inclusion and digital literacy.
Related draft resolution: “Restoring family Links while respecting the right to privacy, including as it relates to personal data protection”.
• Data Playbook (available in English only)
• Handbook on Data Protection in Humanitarian Action (available in English only) -
6. Migration and internal displacement: upholding humanity
• IFRC Strategy on Migration, 2018
• Displaced in Cities: experiencing and responding to urban internal displacement outside camps, ICRC, 2018
• ICRC Internal Displacement Strategy 2016-2019, 2016 (available in English only)
• Adopting a Movement Statement on Migrants and our Common Humanity (Draft resolution of the 2017 Council of Delegates)
• Strengthening IFRC responses to international displacement in disasters: challenges and opportunities
• Strengthening IFRC responses to internal displacement in disasters: challenges and opportunities
• Briefing note for national societies on internal displacement for the 2019 statutory meetings
• Briefing note for national societies on migration for the 2019 statutory meetings
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