What’s wrong with the humanitarian aid system and how to fix it

Remarks by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, at the Center for Global Development on Proposal for an Independent Commission for Voices in Crisis.

I am thrilled to have this discussion at the CGD because a lot of the most interesting ideas on how to deal with this accountability problem have been generated by CGD colleagues in recent years. I know we’ll have a well-informed, challenging and well-motivated discussion. I’m also thrilled that we have As Sy with us. As and I worked very closely together in his last period as the Secretary-General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. There’s almost nobody I’ve worked with in the humanitarian world over recent years who I’ve admired as much as I’ve admired As. I’m sure we’ll hear a very honest and well-informed and insightful contribution from him. I’m very thrilled As is able to join us.