The Annual CCCM Global Retreat was held on October 13^th & 14^th in Geneva, Switzerland. This year we were fortunate enough to have a great turn out of field staff coming from diverse countries such as South Sudan, Myanmar, Jordan, Lebanon, the Philippines, DRC and many more. Donors were also present, along with several partners, who had the chance to present their latest projects and initiatives at the Retreat’s marketplace.

Key elements of the Retreat discussions on Day 1 were the CCCM Cluster’s commitments to promoting gender mainstreaming initiatives. These included participation, to ensure women have an equal voice; identifying vulnerability criteria of particular groups; Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and collaboration with national authorities to build their capacity to address gender issues. The role of the CCCM Cluster in this is to make sure that gender analysis is implemented and coordinated across all sectors.

On Day 2 we explored key issues from today’s L3 emergencies and how these challenges can be met in the coming years. The case study concerning the Central African Republic highlighted the need for CCCM to be involved in preparedness in the pre-emergency phase of a disaster. Following this, the case study regarding the Philippines identified the need for organizations to have an understanding of the dynamics of the country and the existing frameworks. The penultimate session of the Retreat shared the CCCM Clusters Global Strategic Vision.

We will be sharing the Retreat Report soon.