Geneva, Switzerland – October 21, 2026

Tamdeen Youth Foundation (TYF) strengthened the presence of Yemeni organizations in international discussions on the future of humanitarian action through the participation of Mr. Abdulqawi Hajib, Director of the Localization Programme and Coordinator of the Yemen National Reference Group (NRG), as a keynote speaker in three high-level sessions held on the first day of AidEx Geneva 2026 at the Palexpo exhibition and convention centre in Switzerland.

As the host organization of the Yemen Localisation Initiative and the Yemen National Reference Group (NRG), the Foundation’s participation aimed to bring the perspectives and challenges of local responders to international humanitarian dialogue and contribute to advancing practical reforms that strengthen local leadership and support more equitable partnerships.

Humanitarian Reform: From Commitments to Implementation

During the Humanitarian Reform session, the Foundation joined representatives from the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), Oxfam, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The session examined a decade of implementation of the Grand Bargain, the challenges that have limited progress in certain areas of reform, and the priorities that should be addressed through the anticipated Humanitarian Reset to ensure a shift from commitments to tangible changes at the country level.

Humanitarian Access: Community Trust and Local Legitimacy

During the Humanitarian Access session, co-hosted by the Foundation alongside HEKS/EPER and Oxfam, discussions focused on balancing the expansion of humanitarian response with the depth of its impact. Contributions emphasized the importance of moving beyond approaches focused solely on logistics and working to build trust with communities and strengthen the role of local actors, as both are essential to sustaining humanitarian access in conflict and crisis-affected areas.

Middle East Partnerships: Challenges Facing Local Responders

On the main stage of the exhibition, Tamdeen Youth Foundation participated in the Middle East Partner Perspectives session, moderated by ALNAP, highlighting the operational challenges faced by local organizations in crisis-affected settings, including Yemen and Lebanon.

The Foundation shed light on disparities in access to funding, the burdens associated with compliance requirements, and the disproportionate risks borne by local actors. It called for more equitable partnerships, improved funding mechanisms, and a fairer distribution of risks and responsibilities among the different stakeholders involved in the humanitarian response.

Digital Technology in Support of Local Leadership

On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Foundation held bilateral discussions with several stakeholders, including Dimagi, the developer of the CommCare platform, to explore opportunities to use digital tools and offline data-collection solutions to strengthen the capacities of local organizations to manage information, enhance the independence of their operations, and develop responses that are more closely aligned with community needs.

This participation builds on Tamdeen Youth Foundation’s efforts to advance the localization agenda, amplify the voices of Yemeni organizations in international dialogue platforms, and promote a more equitable and accountable humanitarian system based on meaningful partnerships, local leadership, and responses to the actual needs of affected communities.

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