Day 1 - 12 June
* Session timings, topics and speakers subject to change
09:15-09:30 | Welcome
09:30-10:00 | Keynote - Mohammed Omer Mukhier, Regional Director for Africa, IFRC
Mohammed Omer Mukhier
Regional Director for Africa
IFRC
Mohammed Omer Mukhier-Abuzein has over 30 years’ experience in humanitarian operations management, development, representation and strategic leadership.
In his previous role as IFRC’s Deputy Regional Director in the Asia Pacific, he led programmes on disaster risk reduction, community resilience, climate change management, agriculture, food security, nutrition, community-driven development, livelihoods and National Society development. Mohammed has also held leadership roles in IFRC offices in Iran, Kenya, Pakistan and at our headquarters in Geneva.
Prior to joining the IFRC, Mohammed worked at the Ministry of Agriculture in Sudan, the Sudanese Red Crescent, Save the Children Canada, Action Aid UK, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the Cranfield Disaster Preparedness Centre.
10:00-11:00 | Innovation and systems thinking – How can it reshape humanitarian assistance in East Africa?
Julia Smith-Omomo
Development Finance Programme Coordinator
IOM UN Migration
Rahab Kariuki
Engagement Director
Busara Centre for Behavioral Economics
Shiferaw Dechasa Demissie
Project Director, Gavi REACH project
International Rescue Committee
Phylis Gichuhi
Innovation Executive
Brink
11:00-11:30 | Coffee Break
11:30-12:00 | Keynote - Reena Ghelani - United Nations Assistant Secretary-General - Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Niño Response
Reena Ghelani
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General - Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Niño Response
Mr. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator has designated Ms. Reena Ghelani as the Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Niño / La Niña Response, effective as of 15 January 2024.
Ms. Ghelani brings to the position more than 25 years of experience in international affairs, including in the fields of humanitarian, development and refugee assistance, as well as human rights. She has served with the United Nations in many countries, including Afghanistan, Kenya, Iran, Iraq, the occupied Palestinian territory, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka. Prior to taking up this position, she served as the United Nations Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator at the Assistant-Secretary-General level and as the Director of Operations and Advocacy for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). She previously worked with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Department of Peace Operations and the Australian Government.
12:00-13:00 | Reinvigorating the East African climate response – How can we implement long-term climate resilience programmes in conflict and non-conflict settings?
Laura Hendy
Climate and Resilience Programmes Manager
World Jewish Relief
Hajir Maalim
Regional Director, East Africa & Yemen
Norwegian Refugee Council
Madina Yunis
Gender and Health Coordinator
Pastoralist Girls Initiative
Diana Njeru
Project Director
BBC Media Action Kenya
Fati N'Zi-Hassane
Africa Director
Oxfam International
13:00-14:30 | Lunch & Networking Break
14:30-15:30 | Resilient Supply Chains in East Africa – How can we maintain sustainable and resilient supply chains to meet the growing East African demand?
Victoria Njunu
Regional Director East and Southern Africa
Help Logistics
Douglas Mose
Head of Supply Chain
International Rescue Committee
Allan Kilaka Masavah
Regional Head Global Humanitarian Services & Supply Chain Management, Africa
IFRC
Fatima Tafida
Regional Supply Chain Lead - Emergencies
WHO Africa
Joris Boon
CEO
AFRIpads Ltd
15:30-16:00 | Coffee Break
16:00-17:00 | Transboundary regulations for hazardous waste - Challenges and opportunities to reduce health and environmental hazards in East Africa
17:00-18:00 | The role of AI in East African Humanitarian Aid and International Development
Irini Albanti
Executive Director
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
Alexander Kjærum
Global Advisor - Senior Analyst
Danish Refugee Council
Sarah Spencer
Technical Advisor
UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH)
Stella Suge
Executive Director
FilmAid Kenya
Emmanuel Birech
Regional Lead Africa
Microsoft Tech for Social Impact (TSI)
18:00-19:30 | Drinks Reception