Every year at our Annual Forum, we bring together committed individuals who can make a difference towards overcoming key humanitarian concerns. The event takes place in Geneva each summer in the month of June and is attended by leaders from governments, the military, business, academia, science, media and civil society organizations, including entrepreneurs of all kinds. Our agenda is to connect people who do not usually work side-by-side into powerful partnerships. The event focuses on evolving policies that enable the greater humanitarian community to better meet challenges faced today and tomorrow. Current debates relate to our strategic focus - the devastating human effects of climate change.

The 2009 Forum will be held in Geneva on 23 and 24 June 2009.

In response to key issues raised at the Forum’s main annual events, we initiate collaborative programmes that harness the power of partnerships and networks to deal with specific humanitarian concerns. A fundamental component of the Forum’s overall work, these initiatives provide tangible contributions that build on our other efforts.

Our main practical initiative is Weather Info for All – a project mobilizing public and private partners to ensure availability of reliable weather information and services to vulnerable communities affected by climate change.

Other initiatives include The Drylands: Climate Change and Development – a research initiative for mobilizing adaptation projects in fragile areas of the Drylands Belt of North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, one of the most climate stressed regions of the planet – and a Global Study on Energy for the Poor, to sustainably address the needs of the 1.6 billion people on our planet who lack access to any modern forms of energy whatsoever.