Introduction

The National Humanitarian Network (NHN) is a network of National Local NGOs in Pakistan, led by an elected Chair and Central Executive Committee nationally, with provincial chapters in five provinces (Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan) and regional chapters in Islamabad and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

Founded in 2010 as a result of interactive dialogue in National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). NHN was established to act as an independent and vibrant voice to engage with stakeholders throughout Pakistan for promotion of humanitarian values by influencing policies and building capacities to ensure right based humanitarian response.B The network has since decentralized and established provincial chapters and has taken up a formal representational role for the NNGO community in Pakistan at high-level coordination meetings. NHN has a key representation and significant role in humanitarian architecture of Pakistan. NHN is representing Pakistani Civil Society at Disaster Management Authorities’ forums, Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), National Assessment and Monitoring Working Group (NAWG), Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF), National Humanitarian Coordination Mechanism (NHCM), Accountability Learning Working Group (ALWG) and Gender task Force (GTF). NHN is having its representation in Advisory and Review boards of Pakistan Humanitarian Pooled Fund (PHPF). Beside NHN is representing national civil society in working groups and review committees of disaster management authorities at all level. NHN is present in key Technical Working Groups established by UN and INGOs. NHN is also member of Advisory Group on strategic Review on Food Security & Nutrition. As of January 2023 NHN has 189 members across Pakistan and it is open for all national and local organizations engaged in humanitarian assistance or disaster management advocacy. NHN is continually improving its capacity to act as an effective institution for raising voice of national civil society in Pakistan.

Objectives

  • To act as an institution that engages with all stakeholders that represent National / local NGOs/Civil Society through efficient and effective coordination mechanism
  • To conduct evidence based policy advocacy for pre, during and post Humanitarian crisis (disaster preparedness/ mitigation / management issues)
  • Facilitate all stakeholders in capacity building to promote community based disaster risk management, emergency response and action.
  • To help in organizing and facilitating to make responsive and accountable civil society for humanitarian response and disaster risk management.
  • Advocate for and promote the empowered partnership, based on GHPbs agreed principles of partnership and new business model to develop local capacities in humanitarian action.