Stefania Piccinelli has joined the Board of VOICE (Voluntary Organisations in Cooperation in Emergencies), as Head of International Programmes at WeWorld, member of ChildFund Alliance, she will be working together with other members to increase collective efforts in the humanitarian aid field, with many challenges ahead.
VOICE is the largest network of humanitarian NGOs in Europe, bringing together 93 organisations that operate globally to coordinate responses to crises caused by conflict, extreme events, and systemic fragility. VOICE is also the main NGO interlocutor with the European Union on emergency action. At a time when international crises are intensifying and economic resources are becoming increasingly scarce, VOICE's role is more vital than ever. Over the past year, we’ve witnessed drastic funding cuts to humanitarian aid globally including by several European countries.
These developments have a direct impact on the ability to support the world’s most marginalised communities. The reduction in humanitarian funding risks undermining years of progress in development and deepening the crises themselves, leading to increased migration, instability, poverty, and security challenges.
In light of these growing needs, VOICE and its member organisations have released a Policy Resolution urging EU countries to adopt a coordinated, long-term, and multi-sectoral approach in fragile contexts such as Yemen, the Sahel, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. The aim is to go beyond emergency aid and address the root causes of vulnerability.
We believe that Stefania Piccinelli’s experience will be an asset in achieving these goals, as she explained in her remarks upon joining the Board:
“I joined the Board because I believe I can offer a grounded, field-based perspective shaped by years of humanitarian work in fragile contexts”, said Piccinelli. “I also bring the point of view of a mid-sized organisation: large enough to make an impact and deliver results, but constantly navigating complex environments with limited resources. At a time when humanitarian budgets are shrinking and needs are growing, we’ve had to adopt funding diversification strategies and I’m happy to share this experience within VOICE”.
Through its Policy Resolution, VOICE calls on EU member states to develop strategies rooted in three core principles — the same that guide WeWorld’s own work in the field. First, it calls for a people-centered approach that involves affected communities directly and strengthens local civil society, with a strong focus on protection, gender equality, and inclusion. Second, it recommends the implementation of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus approach, to improve coordination among local actors and across sectors — including humanitarian aid, development, climate, and peace — and to overcome the fragmentation of interventions. Finally, it urges long-term, flexible engagement in fragile settings, ensuring integrated funding mechanisms and contingency plans that allow for rapid responses to new shocks and crises.
“In this context - Piccinelli added - I want to support VOICE in shaping our collective positioning, not only with EU-level donors, but also at the level of individual Member States, where key political decisions are made and funding priorities are set. I’d also like to focus on raising VOICE’s visibility and influence in countries like Italy, where we have both an operational presence and strong potential to strengthen advocacy around humanitarian priorities”.
