UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE
COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN
AFFAIRS
OCHA
The United Nations System
A 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.
OCHA
The UN Emergency Relief
Coordinator …
• Is the United Nations’ Under-Secretary General (USG) for
Humanitarian Affairs, and Head of OCHA
• Processes requests from Member States for emergency aid
• Responsible for early warning, inter-agency needs assessments
and keeping the international community informed
• Mobilizes international emergency relief capacity
• Negotiates access to populations in need of assistance
• Chairs the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
• Promotes the smooth transition from relief to recovery
• Manages the world-wide network of Humanitarian Coordinators
(According to General Assembly Resolution 46/182)
OCHA Today
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
OCHA Mission Statement
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
OCHA Organizational Diagram – January 2011
Strategic Planning Unit
Under-Secretary-General &
Emergency Relief Coordinator
Executive Office
Administrative Office
Assistant Secretary-General &
Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator
Director, New York
• External Relations &
Partnerships
• Funding Coordination
• Human Security
CERF
Secretariat
Director, Geneva
Coordination &
Response
Division (CRD)
• Geographical Sections
• Early Warning and
Contingency Planning
Policy
Development &
Studies Branch
Communications
& Information
Services Branch
(PDSB)
(CISB)
•Evaluation & Guidance
• Intergovernmental Support
• Policy Planning & Analysis
• Protection & Displacement
Other PDSB entities:
•Assessment and
Classification in
Emergencies Project
• Gender Advisory Team
• Communications Services
• Information Technology
• Integrated Regional
Information Networks (IRIN)
• ReliefWeb
• Technical Coordination &
Partnerships
• Information Services
• 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
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
Emergency
Services Branch
(ESB)
• Civil-Military
Coordination
• Environmental
Emergencies
• Preparedness Support
• Emergency Relief
Coordination Centre
• Field Coordination
Support
• Logistics Support
• Surge Capacity
The Disaster Risk Management Cycle
and
The Disaster Relief Cycle
OCHA
Disaster Risk Management Cycle
RESPONSE
RECOVERY
DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS
RECONSTRUCTION
PREVENTION/
MITIGATION
The Disaster Relief Cycle
Needs Analysis
Basic Needs
Available Resources
Outstanding Requirements
Needs Assessment
Identify Needs and Available
Capabilities & Resources
INFORMATION
SHARING
NEEDS
DISASTER
Relief / Donor Action
Aid / Resource Delivery
Appeals & Requests
for Assistance
Outstanding Requirements
Humanitarian
Coordination
at the
Strategic/Global Level
OCHA
OCHA & Humanitarian Coordination
14
UN Secretariat
Humanitarian-Political-Military Coordination
Executive Committee for
Humanitarian Affairs
[ECHA]
DPA
DPKO
DSS
OCHA
UNDP
Chaired by
ERC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee [IASC]
UNICEF
WHO
WFP
FAO
UNHCR
UNFPA
Strategic/Global
Humanitarian
Coordination
Chaired by
USG OCHA
Humanitarian Coordination
Red Cross Movement
IOM
OHCHR
World Bank
ICRC
IFRC
N
InterAction
G
SCHR
Os ICVA
BENEFICIARIES
DONORS
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
GOVERNMENTS CIVIL SOCIETY
The IASC and the Cluster
Approach
reform
HUMANITARIAN
THREE PILLARS OF REFORM
AND THE FOUNDATION
HUMANITARIAN
COORDINATORS
HUMANITARIAN
FINANCING
Effective leadership and
coordination in humanitarian
emergencies
Adequate, timely and
flexible financing
CLUSTER APPROACH
Adequate capacity and
predictable leadership in all
sectors
PARTNERSHIP
Strong partnerships between UN and non-UN actors
Predictability & Accountability
reform
HUMANITARIAN
PILLAR 3
CLUSTER APPROACH
Adequate capacity and predictable
leadership in all sectors
reform
HUMANITARIAN
Responsibilities of Global Cluster Leads
• Normative
-
Standard setting and consolidation of ‘best
practice’
• Build response capacity
-
-
Training and system development at local,
regional and international levels
Surge capacity and standby rosters
Material stockpiles
• Operational Support
•
•
Emergency preparedness
Advocacy and resource mobilization
THE CLUSTER
APPROACH
 Predictability,
Accountability
and Partnership
in all response
sectors;
 Better support
to national-led
response efforts;
 Common
standards and
tools.
OCHA
OCHA