The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Recommendation on the HumanitarianDevelopment-Peace Nexus was adopted by the DAC at its Senior Level Meeting on 22 February 2019. At the centre of strengthening the coherence between humanitarian, development and peace efforts, is the aim of effectively reducing people’s needs, risks and vulnerabilities, supporting prevention efforts and thus, shifting from delivering humanitarian assistance to ending need. This will be critical in reducing the humanitarian caseload, and ensuring that we meet our collective pledge of “leaving no-one behind”. This requires the engagement of a diverse range of actors, based on their respective comparative advantage, a shared understanding of risk and vulnerability and an approach that prioritises ‘prevention always, development wherever possible, humanitarian action when necessary’. This approach should also be supported by the right kind of financing, drawing from diverse funding sources to ensure that the right resources are in the right place at the right time.
Since its adoption, the DAC Recommendation has seen a growing number of UN agencies adhere. As of March 2024, seven United Nations (UN) entities have adhered to the DAC Recommendation, in addition to all DAC members totalling 39 Adherents. The 2024 Report on the implementation, dissemination and continued relevance of the DAC Recommendation on the HumanitarianDevelopment-Peace Nexus (hereafter the “2024 Report”) concludes that, overall, Adherents have undertaken significant efforts to disseminate the DAC Recommendation at multiple levels and through various channels, including discussions and meetings relating to DAC peer reviews, dedicated policy exchanges and/or trainings. Adherents have also contributed to the dissemination of the DAC Recommendation in other policy fora that have taken up nexus approaches. In parallel, the DAC/INCAF Secretariat has also taken specific actions to raise the profile of the DAC Recommendation and enhance knowledge around its content, including through the organisation of and participation in various events, including several high-level international events. The DAC-UN Dialogue is also considered by Adherents as an important, useful and valued unique platform to share and disseminate experience and good practice concerning the implementation of the DAC Recommendation, although it could further contribute to enabling HDP nexus approaches to achieve their full potential in country contexts. A summary of the main findings of the 2024 Report and ways forward has been developed to inform discussions at the DAC-UN Dialogue meeting on “Effective Approaches to Crisis Response” to be held in Paris on 4-5 April 2024.