WHO WE ARE - The Libya INGO forum

The Libya INGO Forum (LIF) is an independent network of over 30 INGO members operating in Libya, with headquarters spread across over 8 different countries and who deliver a broad range of humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding programs in Libya. Established in 2016, It is led by a Director and an Advocacy Coordinator, who support and promote the voices of INGOs to ensure collective, joint approaches to addressing key issues of common interest allowing for coherent and effective program delivery in Libya.
The Forum Secretariat supports its members to work jointly on collective initiatives and focuses its efforts through four main areas: information-sharing and knowledge management, coordination, advocacy and collective engagement, and capacity development.

The LIF Secretariat team

The Forum Secretariat consists of four staff: a Forum Director, an Advocacy Adviser, Localization Coordinator and sr.administrative & IM Officer, safety adviser.

Matthew Chrastek

LIF Director

Edith Gumut

LIF Advocacy Adviser

Ghaida Rishmawi

LIF Localization Coordinator

Ikhlas Ben Maallem

LIF Sr.Admin & IM Officer

The LIF Steering Committee members

The Forum includes a Steering Committee (SC) composed of five members, all of whom are Country Directors (or equivalent) from full-member organizations, who guide the strategic direction of the Forum and advise on key priorities and represent all members at external meetings. Current representatives are:

Sam Buckley

(CESVI)

Andrew Merat

(Danish Refugee Council (DRC))

Evelyn Lernout

(INTERSOS)

Jared Rowell

(International Rescue Committee)

Thomas Whitworth

(Norwegian Refugee Council)

The LIF and its members are guided by and dedicated to upholding the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence:

Humanity: Human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found. The purpose of humanitarian action is to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings.

Neutrality: Humanitarian actors must not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious, or ideological nature

Impartiality: Assistance is provided based on need alone and making no distinctions based on nationality, race, gender, religious belief, class, or political opinions

Independence: Aid is delivered independently from political, economic, military, or other objectives that any actor may hold regarding areas where humanitarian action is being implemented

The members and observers of LIF also prioritize the well-being of the people they aim to assist. They acknowledge that any project they undertake can have both positive and negative effects on the surrounding environment. By following the principle of “do no harm,” LIF members are committed to thoroughly understanding the contexts in which they operate. This understanding enables them to anticipate and evaluate all potential impacts of their interventions. Consequently, the concept of “Do No Harm” means that LIF members carefully consider the interactions between their planned interventions and the context before initiating any project. They strive to anticipate any unintended harm that may arise from providing aid as well as the harm that may result from not providing aid. Based on this analysis, members can adjust their programming to ensure the ethical provision of aid.