Who We Are

Founded in 1972, SCHR brings together nine of the world’s leading humanitarian organisations to share analysis and learning, and promote greater accountability and impact of humanitarian actions. SCHR currently has nine members:

VISION & MISSION

We aspire to, and will actively promote, a world in which local communities, civil society, governments and regional institutions can respond effectively to humanitarian emergencies, based on universally accepted humanitarian principles. As leading international humanitarian organisations, we put disaster-affected people at the centre of our responses. Our imperative is to save lives, reduce human suffering and preserve human dignity.

HOW SCHR FUNCTIONS

SCHR has a small secretariat, managed by the Executive Secretary, which is based in Geneva. The main body driving discussions are the SCHR Principals, the CEOs of each member organisation, who meet at least once year face-to-face (Global Pandemics permitting!) and have quarterly telephone conferences. The Chair and Vice-Chair are appointed on a rotating basis for two-year periods.

To support the Principals, a Working Group, comprised of the members’ Humanitarian or Policy Directors, provides advice and expertise on operational and policy issues. The Working Group meets face-to-face two or three times a year.

SCHR Principals:

  • Sofia Sprechmann, CARE International and Chair of SCHR

  • Andrew Morley, World Vision International and Vice Chair of SCHR

  • Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, ACT Alliance

  • Alistair Dutton, Caritas Internationalis

  • Jagan Chapagain, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

  • Pierre Krähenbühl, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

  • Maria Immonen, Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

  • Abby Maxman, Oxfam

  • Inger Ashing, Save the Children International

SCHR Working Group members:

  • Niall O’Rourke, ACT Alliance

  • Deepmala Mahla, CARE International

  • Christian Modino Hok, Caritas Internationalis

  • Filipa Schmitz Guinote, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

  • Petra Demarin, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

  • Allan Calma, Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

  • Marta Valdés García, Oxfam International

  • Gabriella Waaijman, Save the Children International

  • Amanda Rives, World Vision International

SCHR Executive Secretary:

  • Gareth Price-Jones

SCHR'S WORK

As a voluntary alliance, SCHR members maintain their independence and autonomy, but come together with a commitment to leverage the knowledge, experience and network of each to find solutions to issues and challenges facing humanitarian action. SCHR does not form joint positions and members are not bound by the collective, but rather share practical frontline humanitarian experience to support positive change in the sector as a whole.

 

In 2019 SCHR agreed five Key Areas of work for the 2019-2022 period. These were focused further to four in 2022-2025. Click the relevant button to learn more