The first-ever World Humanitarian Summit is to be held in Istanbul on 23 and 24 May 2016, on the initiative of the UN Secretary-General. 

Faced with the terrible humanitarian cost of the conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, South Sudan, DRC, Afghanistan and elsewhere, the increasing shortfalls in contributions to UN humanitarian appeals, and the risk that the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be unattainable in countries embroiled in long-term conflict, the Summit is expected to focus the attention of world leaders on the plight of the most vulnerable people in the world. 

Sara Pantuliano, Director of the Humanitarian Policy Group at the Overseas Development Institute and Martin Barber, who has been working as an advisor to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the Summit, have kindly offered speak at our next meeting on Thursday 12th May 2016, when they will be assessing expectations for the Summit.