11/9/2025
Qatar Charity (QC), in partnership with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), organized a high-level panel discussion titled “Building a Shared Vision for Humanitarian Accountability” on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha from 4 to 6 November.
Key Topics
The session underscored the critical importance of enhancing accountability in humanitarian work. Discussions focused on resource-conscious humanitarian response, ensuring that limited aid reaches the most vulnerable through transparent, people-centered approaches that uphold dignity and address real needs. The panel also emphasized the centrality of localization, empowering local actors and communities to lead humanitarian action, as a cornerstone for trust, relevance, and sustainability. It further explored ways to integrate development efforts into humanitarian response to support recovery and resilience, paving the way for a dignified life through principled humanitarian action.
This session took place at a pivotal moment, as the Humanitarian Impact Forum prepares for its first high-level meeting in 2026, which will be co-organized by Qatar Charity and OCHA. The forum seeks to redefine, measure, and achieve impact in humanitarian response.
Opening Remarks
The session opened with remarks from Mr. Yousuf bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Charity, and Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations.
Mr. Al-Kuwari emphasized the urgency of the topic, stating: "We gather at a time when the humanitarian landscape is facing unprecedented challenges. Crises are growing in number and complexity, while resources and trust are under increasing strain. In such circumstances, humanitarian accountability is no longer a principle, it is a collective responsibility that gives our work meaning and integrity."
He added that true impact begins by listening to the voices of those served—their hopes, priorities, and vision for a better future. "Dignity is restored when people are not merely recipients of aid, but active partners in shaping it. This is the essence of our joint initiative—the Humanitarian Impact Forum—with UNOCHA."
He described the forum as a space for reflection and renewal, where success is measured not by the scale of projects, but by the depth of change in people’s lives. This vision is anchored in three pillars: remaining accountable to affected communities, empowering local actors as leaders and partners, and building partnerships that inspire innovation and unite governments, organizations, and civil society around a shared purpose, which is humanity itself. He also highlighted Qatar’s leadership in promoting accountability, localization, and innovative partnerships in humanitarian work.
Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations, said: “We reaffirm our commitment at the United Nations to strengthening our partnership with Qatar Charity and supporting our shared vision that places people at the heart of humanitarian response. Qatar Charity has successfully transformed the deeply rooted culture of giving in Qatari society into tangible actions that make compassion drives both policy and delivery.”
She stressed that accountability must remain central to humanitarian efforts to ensure aid is delivered efficiently and equitably. She noted Qatar’s leadership in humanitarian diplomacy, highlighting how its culture of giving is deeply embedded in everyday life and reflected in community practices, homes, and friendships. “This is the essence of solidarity we must embed globally,” she stated.
Contributions
The session featured a series of valuable contributions from prominent senior government officials and key leaders representing international humanitarian organizations. Their insights enriched the discussion and added depth to the topic of humanitarian accountability. Among them were Ms. Sarah Hunt, Policy Director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland, Dr. Amal Emam, CEO of the Egyptian Red Crescent, a.i, Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at UNHCR; Ms. Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International; and Mr. Hossain Ishrath Adib, Senior Director at BRAC.
The session concluded with an interactive dialogue, where participants engaged in discussions around their understanding of accountability in humanitarian work and explored ways to make the humanitarian system more responsive to people’s needs.
The panel was held at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) on the final day of the summit.