26 September 2023| Oslo, Norway [Tor Tjeransen]
On September 26, 2023, the European Union hosted a Humanitarian Senior Officials Meeting in Oslo, Norway, bringing together key humanitarian partners, donors, and institutions operating in Ukraine. Representatives of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) network attended the meeting dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of humanitarian aid for those most vulnerable due to the ongoing war.
Thomas Petracek, Head of Programs & Emergency Response at the ADRA Europe office, foresees a significant expansion of ADRA’s operations in the coming months, considering the discussions held during this meeting.
Addressing Humanitarian Needs in Ukraine
This third Humanitarian Senior Officials Meeting marked the first anniversary of the inaugural gathering held in Brussels. In his opening address, European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, underscored the importance of sustaining humanitarian funding, fostering partnerships with local actors, addressing humanitarian mine action, and striking a balance between humanitarian aid and recovery.
Lenarčič expressed, “We are now in the second year of this horrendous war, which continues to bring suffering to the Ukrainian people. As a leading humanitarian donor in Ukraine, the EU has invited key humanitarian stakeholders to discuss the most pressing needs of the Ukrainian people.”¹
ADRA’s Commitment
The current ADRA operation in Ukraine is valued at USD 18 million and receives support from various government agencies. It was evident from the Officials Meeting that the international community is determined to increase its funding to aid Ukraine. ADRA is poised to play a pivotal role in this endeavour and will seek funding for aid projects that ADRA Ukraine will execute.
Petracek noted, “Most likely, ADRA will concentrate on three to four areas near the front lines, with a particular focus on health and education, alongside the initiation of rehabilitation efforts,” after the meeting.
He also highlighted a growing trend in the aid sector where local non-governmental organisations assume a more significant role in aid implementation, stating, “As a national NGO, ADRA Ukraine is well-suited to fulfil this role, with approximately 300 employees and hundreds of volunteers across the country.”
ADRA Europe donor offices, including ADRA Czech Republic, ADRA Denmark, ADRA Germany, and ADRA Slovakia, are currently in discussions with their respective governments and are likely to secure funding for aid projects in Ukraine. To be eligible for EU funding through the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO), ADRA offices must be certified. ADRA Czech Republic, ADRA Denmark, and ADRA Germany have already obtained certification, while ADRA Norway is in the process of becoming certified.
[Photos: Tor Tjeransen/Adventist Media Exchange, CC BY 4.0]. Featured picture: Thomas Petracek (left), with Elidon Bardhi, Programme Director, ADRA Norway, after the Humanitarian Senior Officials Meeting. The original version of this story was first published on the website of the Norwegian Union.
¹ Ukraine: EU and Norway host high-level meeting to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian aid, European Commission Daily News, 26 Sep. 2023.
