The 2025 Humanitarian Leadership Conference, held in partnership with the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, took place from April 8-9, 2025 in Doha, Qatar.
This panel discussion was chaired by Jan de Wagemaker (Head of Humanitarian Aid, Finn Church Aid) and moderated by Rozan Khalifeh, Country Director, Plan International Egypt.
Panellists:
- Amal Wagih Al-Hajj, Protection Programs Manager, Qotof Al Khair, Gaza
- Rita M. Lopidia, Co-founder and Executive Director, Eve Organisation for Women Development, South Sudan
- Sajid Ali Siddiqui, Executive Director, Banke UNESCO Club, Nepal
- Jennifer Dabis, Senior Policy Manager, Juzoor for Health and Social Development, West Bank
Recovery doesn’t start when the guns fall silent or the earth stops shaking — it starts with those who are already there. Are we ready to follow, not just direct? To listen, not just prescribe?
Rozan Khalifeh, Country Director, Plan International Egypt
Together, they explored what genuine recovery looks like when led by local actors — women, youth, and community organisations — who respond first, rebuild with courage, and lead despite persistent structural neglect. The conversation challenged the humanitarian sector to reframe localisation not as a future goal, but as a current reality that must be funded, centred, and respected.
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Downloads
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When Guns Fall Silent and Earth Stops Shaking: Local Ownership and Leadership in Rebuilding Lives, Communities, and Hope
