Biannual IHP Focal Point meeting hosted by Estonian Rescue Board in Tallinn, Estonia

Published: 2019-11-26

Every spring and autumn, the IHP Focal Points and the partners to IHP meet to discuss current issues and decide on these as well as the way forward. This time IHP members and most of the partners (OCHA, ECHO, WFP, UNHCR, IOM and MapAction) met 19 and 20 November in Tallinn.

In the introduction to the meeting IHP Chairman Mati Raidma, who began work on the first of July this year, outlined his priorities for the next period, addressing mission capabilities, communications, training, security, visibility, and organizational development. Participants were also briefed on recent developments and changes in the UN OCHA structures, where the Emergency Response Section (ERS), through its Emergency Response Support Branch (ERSB), also carries the IHP Secretariat's support function. Focal Points continued discussions from previous meetings on the potential challenges of IHP with protracted and complex emergencies, as well as closer cooperation between ECHO and IHP, for which it was decided to organize a workshop on the subject. It was emphasized that the HNPW in Geneva (3 - 7 February 2020) has become a very good communication platform, where IHP also plans to organize a FP and partner meeting as well as to be represented this time in the exhibition area.

The next IHP Focal Point biannual meeting will be in Norway in June 2020 hosted by The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (NSB).