(openPR) - Chief of Policy and Development Branch at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), Hansjoerg Strohmeyer, will be addressing attendees at this year’s Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. on Thursday July 22.

This is the second time that Mr. Strohmeyer has attended AIDF. Speaking at last year’s event, he said: "I am surrounded here by a lot of private sector entrepreneurs with fantastic new innovations which are important for operations, search and rescue, conflict related issues, natural disasters, all of which, even technically require different responses and different tools. This is a fair in a way that doesn't only talk about the politics but also brings together very practical solutions with the policy and the politics and those different communities, and that is why we will definitely stay engaged in this."

Mr. Strohmeyer is the principal policy advisor to the Emergency Relief Coordinator on enhancing effective humanitarian action through adherence to humanitarian norms and principles, developing strategies and tools in support of humanitarian field operations, and advocating for humanitarian concerns in all areas of the United Nations' work. He has served in several United Nations missions, including most recently as Chief of Staff and Senior Political Adviser to the United Nations Independent International Inquiry Commission (UNIIIC), based in Beirut, where he was responsible, inter alia, for cooperation matters with Syria. From August 2004 until May 2005 he was Chief of Staff of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), and, in 2003, he served in Liberia as Chief of Staff and Special Advisor for Protection to the Special Humanitarian Coordinator.

Mr. Strohmeyer has also previously served as a trial judge in Germany and was a legal advisor to the Offices of the High Representative (OHR) and the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Now in its fifth year, this event is a valuable opportunity for the aid, relief and development sector to network, build partnerships and address global humanitarian and development challenges, as well as showcasing goods and services to those who are responsible for delivery.

Registration is free to non-commercial organizations. More information, including the workshop agenda, speaker and exhibitor lists and registration details can be found at www.aidforumonline.org

Aid & International Development Forum 2010 partners include InterAction, IPOA, World Bank Publications and RedR UK.

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Information for Editors about the Aid & International Development Forum

The Aid & International Development Forum (previously International Aid & Trade) has been the world's leading forum for humanitarian relief professionals to cement relationships, build partnerships, gain understanding and share experiences. Having been acquired by Henley Media Group in 2005, International Aid & Trade ran in Geneva in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2009 the event moved to Washington D.C., in partnership with InterAction, the largest coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

Facts & Figures

There will be over 1600 visitors and in the region of 120 exhibitors, 100 of which will be businesses, 20 of which will be NGOs, UN and Government stands.

For lists of speakers, exhibitors and the workshop agenda, please use the following links:

Speakers: www.aidforumonline.org/event_guide/speakers/category/even...
Workshop Agenda:
www.aidforumonline.org/event_guide/workshops/
Exhibitors: www.aidforumonline.org/event_guide/exhibitors/category/ev...

Aid and International Development Forum
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place Northwest
Washington, DC 20001-3614
USA

Contacts
Diva Rodriguez, Communications. Email: drodriguez@aidforumonline.org
Andrew Matthewson, Sales Manager. Email: sales@aidforumonline.org
Telephone +44 (0) 20 7871 0188