Partnerships for Humanitarian Action

COLLABORATIVE ACTION IN HEALTH

International Medical Corps continues its collaborative work with key agencies and actors in the international health arena.  A member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Global Health Cluster since its inception in 2006, our organization served this year as co-chair, together with World Health Organization (WHO), of its Policy and Strategy Team. This opportunity provided an avenue for contributing to the strategic vision for the cluster and to the development of position papers on critical issues surrounding health response to emergencies and humanitarian crises.  International Medical Corp’s Official Relationship Status with the WHO allows for further consultation and collaboration on a broad range of international health interventions, and our membership in the Global Health Workforce Alliance reinforces International Medical Corps’ commitment to addressing the critical global shortage of health care providers.

GLOBAL AGREEMENT WITH UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND

International Medical Corps has formalized its longstanding working relationship with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding which establishes a framework for coordination and collaboration in promoting an integrated and holistic approach to reproductive health (RH) and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). As part of this agreement the two organizations will respond to acute and chronic emergencies and develop technical capacity, while strengthening best practices through multi-country research and advancing access to and use of RH technologies.

A PLATFORM FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE

International Medical Corps participated in the fourth convening of the Global Humanitarian Platform, a forum which brings together three key pillars of the humanitarian community – NGOs, the United Nations, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement—to discuss the pressing issues surrounding our work and advance the agenda of humanitarian action.  The 2009 discussion focused on the challenges presented by the shrinking of humanitarian space and examined a new business model, designed to strengthen partnerships between international and national actors engaged in humanitarian endeavors.

COLLECTIVE HUMANITARIAN ADVOCACY

Recognizing the benefits of working together around common goals and approaches, International Medical Corps is an active member of NGO coalitions, networks and alliances.   As a chair of key committees within InterAction, the largest alliance of US-based non-governmental, international development and humanitarian organizations, we help to lead in the development of strategy and action in key areas of humanitarian work.  Our membership in the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), a global association of NGOs, provides a voice to promote human rights and to advocate a humanitarian perspective in global debates together with our international NGO partners.  As co-founder and co-chair of the Humanitarian Health Caucus of the Global Health Council, the world’s largest membership alliance dedicated to improving health throughout the world, International Medical Corps works to highlight the specific health issues, challenges and concerns that surface in emergency and humanitarian settings.

HAITI EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE

The devastating earthquake in Haiti resulted in approximately 230,000 deaths, hundreds of thousands of injuries and massive population displacement.  It also severely impacted the country’s health infrastructure and health workforce.  International Medical Corps responded within the first 22 hours of the quake to provide a health surge capacity in support of the Haitian government and Haitian people. Mobilizing expert medical teams comprised of emergency medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons and nurses, we were able to extend treatment and services to those most impacted by the disaster.  Our teams were assisted by hundreds of dedicated volunteers, many of whom were placed through our partnerships with institutions including: Stanford, Columbia, UCLA, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, The University of Illinois, The University of Chicago, Rush University, The University of Connecticut, Highland Hospital of Oakland California, and the Service Employees International Union. International Medical Corps also received generous early support from corporations including Amgen and Oaktree Capital Management, as well as tens of millions of dollars in Gift-in-Kind donations of medicines, supplies and equipment from AmeriCares, Bridge Foundation, Child First Meds, Heart to Heart International, Henry Schein Cares, International Health Partners, International Relief Teams, Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen/Aviation without Borders, Medicines for Humanity, and Operation USA.