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Within OCHA
CRD assists the Emergency Relief Coordinator in his work with the Secretary-General. The Division provides him with briefing notes and talking points for his meetings with Heads of State, Member States and representatives of the humanitarian community.
The Division works closely with both the Policy Development and Studies Branch and the Advocacy and Information Management Branch of OCHA. Together they provide strategic and operational advice to the ERC on responses to humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters. They also help to identify issues that require the ERC's engagement. In particular, the Division works closely with the Early Warning and Strategic Planning Section, to anticipate future crises, promote preparedness and form strategies for future actions.
CRD is the primary focal point within OCHA for bringing field-related issues, both at the country or regional level, to the attention of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and its Working Group (IASCWG). The Division facilitates and participates in Task Forces of the IASCWG and leads the Sub-Working Group on the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) in Geneva.
Security Council
CRD also monitors the deliberations of the Security Council on issues with humanitarian implications. The Division provides the ERC with background for his briefings to the Security Council on country-specific issues. CRD officers also brief the Security Council on relevant humanitarian issues prior to Security Council missions. They provide a monthly brief to the incoming President and his/her staff and participate in the annual briefing of incoming Security Council members.
Inter-Agency Coordination
The Division represents OCHA in inter-departmental and inter-agency working groups and task forces in both Geneva and New York. CRD works closely with humanitarian partners on a wide range of issues and country-specific topics.
Emergency Response and Coordination
In its emergency response functions, CRD plays a key supporting role to the ERC in his role as coordinator of the international response to complex emergencies and natural disasters. It serves as the principal channel to Resident or Humanitarian Coordinators and OCHA field offices by providing guidance and operational support and as their link with Headquarters.
CRD also works closely with the Emergency Services Branch (ESB) and the Displacement and Protection Services Section (DPSS) to mobilize and deploy support for field operations. In conjunction with the Field Support Section , CRD ensures the timely provision of personnel, administrative and logistical support to OCHA field offices. The Division also participates in inter-agency missions to review field operations and provides surge capacity and contingency planning at the request of Humanitarian Coordinators and UN Country Teams.
Priorities for the Future
In 2007, CRD will strive to structurally improve the day-to-day work of the Division within the overall context of the strategic goals of OCHA. CRD’s key challenges will include effectively absorbing additional responsibilities related to the Humanitarian Reform agenda, particularly supporting the CERF, clusters, Humanitarian Coordinators and partnerships; re-defining the analytical and operational desk functions and coordinating those with regional and field office responsibilities, re-balancing them between New York and Geneva, and harmonizing this with the overall UN system.
Another challenge will be to enhance OCHA’s inter-agency role in enabling and supporting multi sectoral assessment and analysis and preparedness planning activities. CRD will strive to strengthen its focus on linking disaster response and preparedness with both Disaster Risk Reduction, working with ISDR and partner agencies, as well as Transition to Early Recovery, working with UNDP and the Agencies in the UNDG.
CRD will take the lead role in determining OCHA’s operational planning parameters for all emergency response, and ensuring that an improved internal Information Management system is fully aligned with OCHA’s corporate approach. Additionally, CRD will work to systematically link early warning to early action and to mitigate the ongoing challenge of ensuring field security in an increasingly risky environment.
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