In a recent panel session hosted by Fleet Forum at Aidex, representatives from Climate Action Accelarator, People in Need, UNHCR and the WREC gathered to discuss role of partnerships in driving change.
The Importance of Commitment and Leadership
Sonja Schmid from the Climate Action Accelerator (CAA) emphasized that fleet-related sustainability commitments are essential for leadership in the humanitarian sector. She pointed out that organiations need to break down their environmental targets into manageable actions, such as reducing the use of 4x4 vehicles and cutting fuel consumption. "Commitments together with strong leadership support are key" Sonja stated, underlining how these goals help organisations measure progress over time and align with broader Fleet Forum targets.
Dominic Grace from UNHCR stressed the importance of communication in securing buy-in from senior management. "In the humanitarian world, we don’t always communicate effectively," he noted, encouraging organisations to frame sustainability initiatives as cost-effective solutions to get leadership’s attention.
The Role of Donors and Private Sector Collaboration
The panel also explored how donors play a pivotal role in driving the adoption of sustainable practices. Large organisations like UNHCR are increasingly pushed by donors to show tangible results in reducing their environmental footprint. Business cases that demonstrate practical and scalable outcomes often lead to faster decision-making and stronger partnerships.
Sonja highlighted the importance of donors in fostering collaboration. "Donors can drive the ask for more sustainable products," she said, referencing a recent report on the role of donors in enabling change towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the humanitarian sector. (https://climateactionaccelerator.org/humanitarian-decarbonisation-roadmap/)
Overcoming Barriers to Partnership
Despite the benefits of collaboration, the panelists acknowledged several barriers. Zuzana Steppanova from People in Need pointed out that trust is often an issue, especially when there is resistance to partnership at different levels of an organisation.
She stressed the importance of addressing these trust issues to enable effective cooperation, citing the success of Alliance2015 as an example where organisations worked together on procurement and shared resources.
Annemarie Faustino from the WREC added that peer learning is crucial for overcoming these challenges. "There is so much happening, and bi-monthly engagement helps us learn from both successes and failures," she said, encouraging organisations to be open about their experiences.
Models for Sustainable Fleet Management
Dominic highlighted UN Fleet, a joint initiative friom UNHCR and WFP that came together under the OneUN reform. The objective of UN Fleet’s leasing scheme is to operate a more cost effective fleet and to offer the service throughout the UN. Dominic explained that to set up the project it requires 90% aspiration and 10% inspiration. In other words, a brilliant idea takes a lot of hard work to implement.
The idea of scaling NGO leasing and ridesharing was proposed as a potential future direction for the sector. "Ridesharing is a great way to reduce emissions, and NGO leasing might be the future," Dominic suggested, noting the increasing interest in more sustainable mobility solutions within the NGO space. Zuzana confirmed that, sharing insights of a vehicle sharing project in Lebanon in which 10 organisations are participating.
Call to Action: The Future of Fleet Management
The session ended with a strong call to action for humanitarian organisations. Sonja urged organisations to start taking steps toward sustainability. "It is a matter of getting started," she said, sharing in addition that a group of donors is currently consulting on common principles on greening humanitarian assistance. Annemarie encouraged organisations to collaborate in tackling fleet waste, while Dominic called on UN agencies to sign up for UN Fleet and NGOs to coordinate efforts through Fleet Forum.
This panel session underscored the importance of partnerships, communication, and shared learning in achieving sustainability goals. As the humanitarian sector continues to face pressure to reduce its environmental impact, platforms like the Climate Action Accelarator, the WREC and Fleet Forum and collaborative efforts between UN, NGOs and donors will be key to driving meaningful change.
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