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The Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs at Fordham University hosts its first in-person quality, social, and environmental items procurement conference with IOM-UN Migration Agency. 

Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs l 2546 Belmont Ave l Bronx, NY, 10458 l (718) 817-5734

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs
Fordham University
Manhattan, New York
12th Floor Lounge
June 10-11, 2024

For two days, sixty-five representatives from interagencies, INGOs, and NGOs gathered to share updates on relief items such as tarpaulins, jerry cans, and mosquito nets - all essential shelter items for those displaced by a crisis. These items are not only necessary for survival but need to be sustainable in order to limit waste. In 2021, it was determined that NFI (non-food items) were only distributed to 32% of the 47.8 million people in need, mainly due to underfunding. The QSE Sub Group sets out to find solutions to this ever growing need that is worldwide. 

“We are using our research and development capacity to design new products that are more sustainable by having a different approach on the technical specification, trying to use less resources, adjust our product specification to the result, and to extend the durability of the product to achieve better results.” - Patrick Oger, head of QSE Sub Group and ICRC Project Manager.

Since its founding in 2010, the QSE Sub Group has expanded to six interagencies: ICRC, IFRC, IOM, MSF, UNHCR, and UNICEF. The reason for coming together originated from a factory visit in China by UNHCR and ICRC. 

Mr. Oger recalls the visit, “ we found out that we were doing the same job. And we concluded that this requires more collaboration. So, we started this group as a collaborative approach of the supply chain together, UNHCR and ICRC. Then rapidly we included our colleagues. The ICRC stands for the International Committee of the Red Cross and the IFRC, the International Federation of Red Cross at Red Crescent and UNICEF. After some years, we extended the group to MSF, Doctors Without Borders, and IOM, the International Office for Migration, because they were also doing the same work as us with the same type of product.” 

The first-of-its-kind-conference included presentations by representatives from the QSE Sub Group, USAID, and Oxfam with a special introduction by Brendan Cahill, Executive Director of the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA) at Fordham University. In December of 2023, Mr. Cahill and Joseph Ashmore, head of QSE Sub Group and Head Preparedness and Response Coordination Support Unit at IOM, met to discuss the possibility of working together on the topic of shelter and hosting a conference this spring. One of the goals of the Sub Group is to involve academia and students, and the IIHA was ultimately selected as an academic partner. Mr. Cahill, expressed the institute’s interest in shelter in his opening remarks, “ At the heart of standards is equal dignity. Human dignity. We're talking about human rights. We're talking about protection in all of its forms and that sits at the very center of the Institute’s mission.” 

Although summer break has kicked off for Fordham University’s almost 17,000 students, a group of ten students,  alumni, and faculty attended the conference like Lauren Larsen, an International Political Economy and Humanitarian Studies Senior: 

“This week, I was privileged to attend “Twenty-five years of Experimentation and Innovation: Quality, Social, and Environmental Concerns in Relief Items Procurement. I learned a tremendous amount about technical specification and harmonization, emerging research and development of new products (like the geodesic tent), sustainability and social considerations to goods manufacturing, benefits and challenges of local purchase, and the importance of quality inspection services. I was grateful for the chance to speak directly with people from various organizations, including those outside of the working group like Catholic Relief Services, USAID, and CARE who have a wealth of experience in the humanitarian sector.”

Throughout the two-day conference, the agenda highlighted unified technical specifications, research and development, sustainability, local purchase, and also five breakout sessions for sharing updates and knowledge and brainstorming solutions to common procurement issues. 

While the conference has concluded with many takeaways, the work has yet to finish. A report based on the conference presentations and discussions as well as a video with interviews will be disseminated within the next two weeks. 

Brendan Cahill, gives opening remarks Monday, June 10, 2024

 

Lauren Larsen,  Connor Larson, and Ruby Schloss are current Fordham students who attended the conference. Mr. Larson served as the  note taker for the QSE report. 

Stella Rose, International studies and theology student at Fordham University and Intern  at the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

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The Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA) acts as a bridge between academia and humanitarian practice, hosts lectures and symposia on a regular basis, and regularly participates in and publishes research on today’s global humanitarian issues. The IIHA at 2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, New York also provides space for undergrad and graduate students and gallery showings. Follow: IG l FB l LinkedIn l X  Subscribe: Humanitarian Fault Lines Podcast Read: A Skein of Thought Media Inquiries: S. Lily Egan.

Fordham Humanitarian Studies graduate student invited to speak at UN Youth Panel, 79th UN General Assembly.

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2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, NY, 10458
Rose Hill campus
October 2, 2024

Stella Rose missed class for a good reason last week. She was invited to speak on the Youth for Disarmament and Denuclearization panel during the 79th UN General Assembly. 

Stella was excited to reference her MSHS class notes during her preparation and used them throughout her talk. She is currently a dual graduate student (Master of Science in Humanitarian Studies and International Relations and Affairs and Theology) at Fordham University.  

From her LinkedIn prior to the event: 

“Looking forward to high-level week at the United Nations next week has me feeling nostalgic! Reflecting on my statement during the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the 7th session of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Open-ended working group.

It is always such a surreal feeling to actualize my dream of contributing my thoughts at the UN from the youth perspective. Attached below is a copy of my statement stressing that in the Nuclear Age, cybersecurity is critical: not just for the right to privacy but for the safeguards of our weapons systems. In my deliverance, I hoped to highlight pressing issues like cyber warfare, the vulnerabilities of security networks, and the necessary application of the UN Charter and International Humanitarian Law to the possibility of use of ICTs during armed conflicts.

"The threat of nuclear war is subject to the sophistication of security systems that protect weapons software from hacking. These systems are fallible. Softwares for the most sophisticated institutions have endured continued breaches. Relying on luck to prevent accidental nuclear weapons launches is a strategy that continually threatens our existence. I excitedly anticipate this year’s discussions at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly surrounding the global effort to accelerate progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the Summit of the Future.” 

During the Event this year at the 79th UNGA: 

Stella kicks things off at 6:25 with the basics of nuclear disarmament and the costs our world faces: 

“ The cost of maintenance of the nuclear weapons is $91.4 billion. Nuclear weapons are not just an existential threat but a monetary drain.” 

On sustainable development: 

“So long as the U.S. is going to partake in our modernization efforts throughout the next decade…we are going to see excess amounts of nuclear waste. Nuclear waste is not something we know how to deal with.”  

Humanitarian Advocacy and nuclear disarmament: 

“We’re putting a much larger emphasis on weaponry than we are on the planet and the people.” 

“Making it a public concern is somewhere we can start.” 

More on Stella:

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The Institute acts as a bridge between the University and humanitarian practice, hosts lectures and symposia on a regular basis, and is the US partner for NOHA, a consortium of 12 European universities offering humanitarian education. The IIHA at 2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, New York also provides space for undergrad and graduate students to bond during meetings and gallery showings. In addition to our courses, the IIHA publishes on a wide range of humanitarian topics, such as A Skein of Thought. Follow: IG l FB l LinkedIn l X  Subscribe: Humanitarian Fault Lines Podcast Media Inquiries: S. Lily Egan.