Oslo: The Donor Support Group for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) held its high-level meeting in Oslo under the chairmanship of Norway, with the participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by Assistant Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) for Planning and Development Dr. Aqeel bin Jumaan Al-Ghamdi. The meeting was also attended by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Dr. Al-Ghamdi emphasized the Kingdom's commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of humanitarian response through constructive partnerships and joint planning, highlighting the importance of upholding humanitarian principles and achieving sustainable impact that meets the needs of affected communities through field-based evaluation.
The meeting featured discussions on the 'Resetting Humanitarian Action' initiative, one of the key reform directions in the current phase. Dr. Al-Ghamdi stated that Saudi Arabia supports the initiative as a pivotal step toward refocusing humanitarian action on empowering local communities, building resilience, and fostering long-term, evidence-based responses. He underscored the significance of linking strategic planning with field implementation to achieve lasting impact.
During the discussions, the Kingdom outlined its vision for developing its partnership with OCHA, calling for expanded coordination mechanisms and increased transparency. This vision-centered on multi-year planning and collective accountability-was welcomed by several donor countries, which stressed its value in improving the quality of humanitarian response and boosting trust among stakeholders.
On the issue of funding, Dr. Al-Ghamdi stressed the need to ensure sustainability by diversifying funding sources and adopting flexible and innovative models. He noted that, as one of OCHA's leading donors, Saudi Arabia supports tools that enable rapid response, such as flexible and direct funding, particularly in light of growing crises and competing humanitarian priorities.
In deliberations focused on civilian protection and humanitarian principles, the Kingdom reaffirmed its respect for international humanitarian law, which is a core pillar of its humanitarian approach. The Kingdom also highlighted several notable initiatives launched by KSrelief in conflict-affected areas to enhance humanitarian access and support the most vulnerable, demonstrating a practical commitment to protection and human dignity.
The meeting concluded with the handover of the Donor Support Group chairmanship from Norway to Germany. On this occasion, Dr. Al-Ghamdi expressed the Kingdom's appreciation for Norway's active role and congratulated Germany on assuming the chairmanship. He affirmed Saudi Arabia's eagerness to enhance cooperation with the new leadership and international partners to further advance the multilateral humanitarian ecosystem.