More than 65 million people are forcibly displaced, for on average about ten years. That's the scale of the problem facing Mark Lowcock, the new UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs.
This is not only a short-term humanitarian problem but a development issue as well. How well equipped is the system to respond? What types of reform are needed to make it more fit for purpose?
That was the topic of conversation when Mark Lowcock joined CGD's president Masood Ahmed in Washington recently for his first public event since taking up his new role.
“I am particularly enthused by the work that’s going on to join the development and humanitarian systems up better, which is absolutely at the heart of the UN reform agenda,” Lowcock said. “The truth is there are very few humanitarian crises which are solved on their own by humanitarian interventions.”
Lowcock’s remarks echoed some of the work that CGD experts have been doing in this area, including reports on the potential for refugee compacts and private sector engagement.
Listen to the podcast to hear more, and check out the full event with Mark Lowcock on our website.
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CGD blog posts reflect the views of the authors, drawing on prior research and experience in their areas of expertise.
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