The Cluster Approach: An Evolving InterAgency Humanitarian Reform Initiative

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The Cluster Approach An Evolving
Inter-Agency Humanitarian Reform Initiative

• Strengthening Needs Analysis Workshop
• Geneva, 30-31 March 2006

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What is the IASC ?

• The IASC was established in June 1992 in response
  to the 1991 General Assembly Resolution 46/182,
  designed to strengthen the United Nations
  response to both complex emergencies and natural
  disasters.
• The Resolution also created the high-level post
  of the ERC as a single UN focal point for
  emergency and disaster relief.
• The IASC is chaired by the ERC.

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IASC provides a good representation of todays
humanitarian community.

• Intergovernmental Organizations
• IOM (S.I.)
• WORLD BANK (S.I.)

Inter Agency Standing Committee
4
The IASC and theHumanitarian Reform

• Elements of the Reform (Humanitarian Response
  Review 2005)
• More predictable humanitarian financing (new
  CERF)
• Strengthened response capacity (Cluster Approach)
  and
• Strengthened Humanitarian Coordination system

5
Where does CA come from?

• IASC Principals Meeting 12 September 2005
• gt Agreed on the urgent need ( ) for building a
  stronger and more predictable standing response
  capacity in the areas where humanitarian
  operations too often fall short as described in
  the HRR witnessed in recent humanitarian
  operations.
• gt Agreed that the proposed clusters with the
  proposed leads should be the framework for
  humanitarian response in major new emergencies.

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Cluster Definition

• What is the difference between a sector and a
  cluster?
• gtA sector is a specific area of humanitarian
  activity
• gtA cluster is a group of organisations and
  other stakeholders working together to address
  needs in one of these specific response gap areas.

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Cluster Approach Aim Scope

• gt Goal To improve results on the ground by
  increasing accountabilities of the humanitarian
  community to the populations affected by
  humanitarian crises in response gap areas.
• gt Scope CA operates both at global country
  level
• Global level Aims to strengthen system-wide
  preparedness and technical capacity to respond to
  emergencies by designating global Cluster Lead
  Agencies who are accountable for ensuring
  predictable and effective inter-agency responses
  within sectors or areas of activity

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Cluster Approach Aim Scope

• At the country level, the CA aims to strengthen
  the coordination framework and response capacity
  by mobilizing clusters of agencies, organizations
  and NGOs to respond in particular sectors (or
  areas of activity), each cluster having a clearly
  designated Cluster Lead Agency, as agreed by the
  HC and the Country Team
• Note Cluster Lead Agencies at country level can
  be different from the global ones

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Implications on NAF

• The clusters have primary responsibility for the
  generation and use of strategic information
  related to emergencies
• Data required for the NAF should hence be
  requested from the clusters role of OCHA should
  be to consolidate the sectoral data and collate
  any missing data

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Implications on NAF

• NAF is an analysis framework and not a needs
  assessment. It does not replace or duplicate
  existing agencies or forthcoming inter-agency
  rapid assessment tools (e.g. nutrition)
• Pre-crisis data clusters are formed at the
  onset of the emergency then pre-crisis data
  ownership and maintenance of the database will
  need to be carefully thought through (i.e.
  respective agency leads or RCs office)

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Conclusion catching-up

• 1. Evolving process
• Inter-agency guidelines on CA due 31 March To be
  circulated to IASC teams in roll-out countries
  (DRC, Uganda, Liberia and Pakistan)
• 2. Funding of the CA at 2 levels
• CAP for global cluster capacity building (USD 38
  million)
• Updating of CAPs Workplans for roll-out
  countries
• New emergencies being clusterized e.g. Horn
  CAP