RSIS co-organised the 3rd Humanitarian Futures Forum (HFF) 2024 with the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (RHCC). Held on 29 October 2024, the Forum focused on discussions to strengthen support systems for policy planners and decision-makers with a focus on futures-thinking to better anticipate, prepare for, and respond to humanitarian challenges.
The 3rd Humanitarian Futures Forum was opened by Colonel Fredie Tan, Director of Changi RHCC, who spoke on the importance of improving humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mechanisms through the fostering of partnerships and innovation, while adapting to climate change and preparing for future challenges. Mr Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International, delivered the keynote address. He highlighted how humanitarianism is more than medical efficiency or technical competence but that it is defined by an active choice of solidarity.
The first panel on the “Humanitarian Impacts of Climate Crisis and Disasters” brought together Ms Nguyen Ngoc Ly, Founder, Chairman of Management Board, Centre for Environment and Community Outreach of Vietnam; Dr Chin Ruamps, Assistant Professor, Department of Organizational Studies and Ethics, Audencia Business School, France; LTC (Dr) Suriya Prakaash, Head of Soldier Development Branch in the Centre of Excellence for Soldier Performance of the Singapore Armed Forces; and Dr Luis C. Rodriguez, Thematic Lead, Climate and Environmental Crises, IFRC Asia-Pacific Regional Office. Moderated by Professor May Tan-Mullins, SkilledIn Green, they discussed the challenges posed to the humanitarian community by the ever-evolving climate crisis and ongoing natural hazards, addressing how we might strategically future-proof our contingencies and preparedness measures.
The second panel focused on the development of “Digital Humanitarianism” and was moderated by Ms Lynette Tan, Chief Executive Officer of Space Faculty. The panel brought together Dr Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, Professor Fleur Johns, Faculty of Law and Justice, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Ms Pauline Paillé, Senior Analyst, Defence and Security, RAND Europe; Mr Ahmed El Saeed, Regional Head of UN Global Pulse, Asia Pacific; and Professor Andrej Zwitter, Chair of Governance and Innovation, University of Groningen, Netherlands. The speakers explored how the humanitarian community can effectively harness technological developments in crisis response and management, whilst also being mindful of the contemporary risks that have emerged in the digital age.
The third panel discussed the “Emerging Humanitarian Landscape” and was moderated by Dr Alistair D. B. Cook, Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Programme, NTS Centre, RSIS. The speakers on this panel were Dr Adam Lupel, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the International Peace Institute, USA; Mr Arbie Baguios, Founder of Aid Re-imagined, United Kingdom; Ms Ece Ceren Doğar, Head of External Relations and Partnerships, Türk Kızılay (Türkiye Red Crescent); Dr Michael Moran, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Melbourne University, Australia; and Ms Moutushi Sengupta, Chief of Capital Mobilisation, Executive Director, Gender Equality and South Asia Coordinator, Asia Venture Philanthropy Network. They discussed emerging issues, dilemmas, and trends that are shaping the humanitarian landscape in the face of an increasingly unpredictable global environment.
The forum closed with remarks from Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, Executive Deputy Chairman of RSIS. Ambassador Ong mentioned the importance of three essential elements in preparing for evolving natural hazards and future risks—adaptation, balance, and innovation. Together with Colonel Tan, they officially launched the commemorative book on 20 years since the Indian Ocean Tsunami and Earthquake, “Disasters and Humanitarian Action: Dynamics Shifts, Reflections and Anticipating Future Directions”.
The aim of the forum is to inform humanitarian preparedness, planning, and response to crises in our immediate and long-term future. The forum brought together 150 participants and speakers, including local and overseas participants from militaries, international organisations, government agencies, Non-Government Organisations, academia, civil society, as well as the philanthropic and private sectors. Throughout the course of the one-day event, participants and speakers shared their experiences and overall, contributed towards the development of an anticipatory, adaptive, and innovative humanitarian sector in the region. The Forum was followed by a one-day closed-door roundtable for international participants to reflect upon the forum topics, share views, exchange ideas and build a stronger humanitarian network.
