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1) I reflect a lot on #WorldHumanitarianDay. I never did before because when I was abroad I didn’t think much of it other than not liking it.
2) I’d be dishonest to say the country/sub office to HQ transition hasn’t been rough on me. But I’ve used some of that time to think about issues like #WHD2020 and how to do better by it rather than simply ignoring it.
3) These are just a few rules I’ve begun to compile that I’d encourage any org talking about #WorldHumanitarianDay to take into consideration.
4) Rule 1: DON’T fundraise off the backs of frontline workers, they are not a marketing gimmick. Don’t martyr or aggrandize you’re frontline teams or your local partner. That’s not recognition.
5) Rule 2: DO Hold space for remembrance, a lot of us have lost colleagues and friends
6) Rule 3: DO Have open conversations with teams about safety, security and duty of care. They don’t get a lot of time for that. Come with something to offer.
7) Rule 4: DO Say thanks. This work is thankless sometimes.
8) Rule 5: DO, In saying “thanks”, give a “gift” of an actual resource that frontline teams need. Do your frontline teams (including your partners!) in Nigeria and CAR need LifeStraws for safe drinking water?….
9) …Rule 5 con’t: Then, mobilize your private givers to resource this for them. Same goes for Thorayas, “safety” swag, and radios or whatever else.
10) Rule 6.: DO collectively have designated conversations about safety and security, and the systemic challenges associated with funding it adequately, with donors in country and HQs.
11) Rule 7: If you are an organization that programs through partnership you have an obligation to recognize your partner in your ability to deliver. DO NOT overstate relevance, operational presence , or “humanitarianess”, at the expense of your partner.
