To mark the launch of the International Rescue Committee’s 2025 Emergency Watchlist, please join us for a high-level discussion on a holistic EU approach to addressing fragility, at a time of compounding crises unfolding globally.  

The IRC’s 2025 Watchlist, which highlights the 20 countries most at risk of new or worsened humanitarian emergencies, reveals a world increasingly out of balance. Humanitarian needs, displacement, and food insecurity have spiralled over the past decade, and have become increasingly concentrated in a small number of places. Despite comprising only 11% of the global population, the 20 countries on the IRC’s 2025 Emergency Watchlist bear a disproportionate burden of crisis – accounting for 82% of people in humanitarian need, 73% of people affected by hunger and 77% of displaced people globally. Similarly, extreme poverty is on the rise in these 20 countries, even as it falls elsewhere.  

In response to this changing face of crisis, the time is ripe for the EU to adopt fresh thinking. Over the coming five years, the new EU mandate provides a major opportunity for renewed EU leadership to prevent and respond to crises and fragility. In light of the announcement of a forthcoming EC-wide approach to fragility, this event hosted by the IRC and the Egmont Institute will focus on solutions to address the financing and delivery gap in conflict-affected states at the intersection of humanitarian action, development cooperation and peacebuilding.  

Please join us for a discussion led by David Miliband, CEO and President of the International Rescue Committee and Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, alongside a panel of expert speakers. 

Please register by Monday, February 10^th to confirm your attendance. Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.  

A detailed programme will be shared closer to the event.