OCHA Executive Management
John Holmes
Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC)
As Head of OCHA, the USG/ERC has responsibility for all aspects of the functioning of OCHA in New York, Geneva and the field and acts as the principal advisor to the Secretary-General on humanitarian affairs. The USG/ERC provides regular briefings to the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Member States and partners (link to PDSB page) on issues with humanitarian consequences. The main functions of the USG/ERC are to:
1. coordinate the response of humanitarian agencies, particularly those of the UN system, in emergencies;
2. work with governments of affected countries, donors and other interested states in advocating humanitarian initiatives;
3. chair the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs (ECHA), and oversee the implementation of their recommendations;
4. mobilize resources and support for humanitarian programs; and
5. catalyze better public support for humanitarian issues.
The USG also has responsibility for overseeing the inter-agency secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) and chairing the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction (IATF/DR). Together with the other members of the Senior Management Team, the ERC ensures effective cooperation with field-based humanitarian, development, political and peacekeeping components of the UN system and travels to countries with prospective or ongoing humanitarian crises to undertake negotiations or review coordination arrangements.
Catherine Bragg
Assistant Secretary General/Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator (ASG/DERC)
The Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator (DERC) supports the Under-Secretary-General/Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC) in the discharge of his responsibilities. The DERC is the principal advisor to the USG/ERC, with an emphasis on key policy and management issues.
The DERC also exercises a managerial overview of OCHA, ensuring effective cooperation between New York, Geneva and the field. The DERC coordinates the Senior Management Team (SMT) work process.
Rashid Khalikov
Director of OCHA-New York
The Director of OCHA New York has OCHA-wide functional management responsibility for all financial management, administrative and personnel issues. He supervises both the Policy Development and Studies Branch (PDBS) and the Advocacy and Information Management Branch (AIMB), as well as the Executive Office. He also oversees the coordination and people management responsibilities of the Coordination and Response Division.
The Office of the Director has been playing a key role in the process that culminated in March 2006 in the establishment of the upgraded Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), as well as in addressing internal improvements that led to the development of a pre-approved Roster system and a Rotation Policy, the implementation of which started in June 2006. Additionally, delegation of authority for OCHA to recruit, deploy and administer its field staff was approved in principle by Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) as of 1 January 2007. Consequently, management moved to increase administrative capacity for the field by 26 HQ posts.
Kasidis Rochanakorn
Director of OCHA-GVA
The Director of OCHA Geneva is responsible for the day-to-day management of the OCHA office in Geneva. He provides substantive input and guidance on overarching OCHA policy and activities and represents the OCHA senior management in meetings both in Europe and elsewhere.
In line with the Office’s central location, the Director is responsible for relations with European donor capitals and ensuring OCHA representation to European institutions. Geneva is also the primary location for OCHA resources for natural disaster response and preparedness, including surge capacity and staff rosters.
While the ERC is the Chair of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the Director of OCHA Geneva chairs the IASC Working Group where most of the “leg work” is done. The IASC Secretariat is therefore also based in Geneva.