UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN

AFFAIRSAFFAIRS

OCHAOCHA

The United Nations System

OCHA

A Brief History of OCHAA Brief History of OCHA

In 1991, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 46/182, to strengthen the UN’s response to complex emergencies and natural disasters. The resolution also created the position of

Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC). 

Resolution 46/182 created the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) and the Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF) as key tools of the ERC. In 1997/8, DHA was reorganized during an SG’s reform program and OCHA established by GAR 52/12.

The UN Emergency Relief The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator …Coordinator …

• Is the United Nations’ Under-Secretary General (Is the United Nations’ Under-Secretary General (USGUSG) for ) for Humanitarian Affairs, and Head of OCHAHumanitarian Affairs, and Head of OCHA

• Processes Processes requestsrequests from Member States for emergency aid from Member States for emergency aid

• Responsible for early warning, inter-agency needs assessments Responsible for early warning, inter-agency needs assessments and keeping the international community and keeping the international community informedinformed

• Mobilizes Mobilizes international emergency relief capacityinternational emergency relief capacity

• Negotiates Negotiates accessaccess to populations in need of assistance to populations in need of assistance

• Chairs the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (Chairs the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASCIASC))

• Promotes the smooth Promotes the smooth transitiontransition from relief to recovery from relief to recovery

• Manages the world-wide network of Manages the world-wide network of Humanitarian CoordinatorsHumanitarian Coordinators

(According to General Assembly Resolution 46/182)(According to General Assembly Resolution 46/182)

OCHA

OCHA currently employs 1,980 staff members in New York, Geneva and in the field, 637

Internationals, 1,328 Nationals AND 15 UNVs. OCHA's budget for 2010 is US$ 253 million 6% of which is covered by the UN Regular Budget. This budget includes the costs of 5 regional offices, 25

country offices, 3 sub-regional offices 1 liaison office, and the headquarters in NY and Geneva.

OCHA TodayOCHA Today

OCHA

To mobilise and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian

action in partnership with national and international humanitarian

actors in order to:

• alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies

• advocate for the rights of people in need

• promote preparedness and prevention

• facilitate sustainable solutions

OCHA Mission StatementOCHA Mission Statement

Under-Secretary-General & Emergency Relief Coordinator

Assistant Secretary-General & Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator

OCHA Organizational Diagram – January 2011OCHA Organizational Diagram – January 2011OCHA Organizational Diagram – January 2011OCHA Organizational Diagram – January 2011

Regional, Sub-Regional & Country Offices• Africa: 2 RO, 1 SRO, 1 Liaison Office, 11 country offices• Asia & the Pacific: 1 RO, 1 SRO, 4 country offices• Latin America & the Caribbean: 1 RO, 2 country offices• Middle East: 1 RO, 1 SRO, 1 Liaison Office, 5 country offices

Executive OfficeAdministrative OfficeStrategic Planning Unit

Director, Geneva• IASC/ECHA Secretariat• Spokesperson’s

External Relations & Support Mobilization

Branch (ERSMB)• Consolidated Appeals Process• Donor Relations• Geographical Coordination & Monitoring• Humanitarian Coordination Support• Brussels Liaison Office• Humanitarian Leadership Strengthening

Emergency Services Branch

(ESB)• Civil-Military Coordination • Environmental Emergencies• Preparedness Support• Emergency Relief Coordination Centre • Field Coordination Support• Logistics Support• Surge Capacity

Director, New York• External Relations & Partnerships• Funding Coordination• Human Security

Coordination & Response

Division (CRD)• Geographical Sections• Early Warning and Contingency Planning

Policy Development & Studies Branch

(PDSB)•Evaluation & Guidance• Intergovernmental Support• Policy Planning & Analysis • Protection & DisplacementOther PDSB entities:•Assessment and Classification in Emergencies Project• Gender Advisory Team

Communications & Information

Services Branch (CISB)

• Communications Services• Information Technology• Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)• ReliefWeb• Technical Coordination & Partnerships • Information Services

CERF Secretariat

OCHA

The Disaster Risk Management CycleThe Disaster Risk Management Cycle

andand

The Disaster Relief CycleThe Disaster Relief Cycle

PREVENTION/MITIGATION

RESPONSE

RECOVERY

PREPAREDNESS

RECONSTRUCTION

DISASTER

Disaster Risk Management Cycle

Appeals & Requests for Assistance

Outstanding Requirements

Needs AssessmentIdentify Needs and Available

Capabilities & Resources

Needs AnalysisBasic Needs

Available ResourcesOutstanding Requirements

Relief / Donor ActionAid / Resource Delivery

INFORMATION

SHARINGNEEDS

DISASTER

The Disaster Relief Cycle

OCHA

HumanitarianHumanitarianCoordination Coordination

at theat the Strategic/Global LevelStrategic/Global Level

1414

OCHA & Humanitarian CoordinationOCHA & Humanitarian CoordinationOCHA & Humanitarian CoordinationOCHA & Humanitarian Coordination

OCHA

WFP

UNHCR

UNICEF

FAOUNFPA

WHO

ICRCIFRC

InterActionSCHRICVA

IOM

OHCHR

World Bank

UNDP

DPADPKO

Chaired by USG OCHA

DONORS

GOVERNMENTS

BENEFICIARIES

UN

Secre

taria

t

Red Cross Movement

NGOs

Executive Committee for Executive Committee for Humanitarian AffairsHumanitarian Affairs

[ECHA][ECHA]

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Hum

anita

rian

-Politica

l-Milita

ry C

oord

inatio

n

Humanitarian Coordination

Chaired by ERC

Inter-Agency Standing Committee [IASC] Inter-Agency Standing Committee [IASC]

CIVIL SOCIETYStrategic/Global Strategic/Global Humanitarian Humanitarian CoordinationCoordination

DSS

The IASC and the Cluster The IASC and the Cluster ApproachApproach

reformreformHUMANITARIAN

THREE PILLARS OF REFORMTHREE PILLARS OF REFORMAND THE FOUNDATIONAND THE FOUNDATION

CLUSTER APPROACH

Adequate capacity and predictable leadership in

all sectors

HUMANITARIAN COORDINATORS

Effective leadership and coordination in humanitarian emergencies

HUMANITARIAN FINANCING

Adequate, timely and flexible financing

PARTNERSHIP

Strong partnerships between UN and non-UN actors

Predictability & Accountability

PILLAR 3

CLUSTER APPROACH

Adequate capacity and predictable leadership in all

sectors

reformreformHUMANITARIAN

Responsibilities of Global Cluster LeadsResponsibilities of Global Cluster Leads

• Normative Normative - Standard setting and consolidation of ‘best Standard setting and consolidation of ‘best

practice’practice’

• Build response capacityBuild response capacity- Training and system development at local, Training and system development at local,

regional and international levelsregional and international levels- Surge capacity and standby rostersSurge capacity and standby rosters- Material stockpiles Material stockpiles

• Operational SupportOperational Support• Emergency preparednessEmergency preparedness• Advocacy and resource mobilizationAdvocacy and resource mobilization

reformreformHUMANITARIAN

Predictability, Predictability, Accountability Accountability and Partnership and Partnership in all response in all response sectors;sectors;

Better support Better support to national-led to national-led response efforts;response efforts;

Common Common standards and standards and tools.tools.

THE CLUSTERAPPROACH

OCHA

OCHAOCHA