The international development and humanitarian sector is facing a turning point. The collapse of USAID funding combined with structural budget cuts by several European governments has created an unprecedented challenge. For organisations that aim to remain relevant in the next five years, business as usual is no longer an option. While some actors are still in shock or denial, others have started to explore the only viable path forward: internal reform, accelerating localisation, cutting costs in (international) operations, and tapping into new markets.
One of the most promising emerging donor regions is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The United Nations, several (mostly US-based) INGOs, and the ICRC have been working with partners in the GCC for decades. The Dutch development sector, however, has been slow or absent in exploring these opportunities.
In this session, two speakers — who have worked together for over 16 years on building partnerships in the region — will share their journey, including the many challenges they faced and how they eventually developed a successful model that enabled their organisation to raise around half of its funding from the four main GCC states.
Join us to gain insight into the practical realities, opportunities, and potential pitfalls of working in and with the GCC — and how this could be a vital step in future-proofing your organisation.
To sign up for this session, please send an email to: kuno@kuno-platform.nl.
Annual Waqf/ Family Endowment gathering in Damman, Saudi Arabia where Glocalshift explored cooperation
This session is part of a series organised by KUNO, preceeding a senior level working conference (on invitation only) in June, organised by KUNO, Clingendael and the Hague Humanitarian Studies Centre.
