UN Country Teams

In the initial stages of a complex emergency or natural disaster, the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) plays a critical role in coordinating the policies, programmes and actions in all countries with a UN presence.  The RC is typically the most senior UN representative in-country.  He or she is appointed by the Secretary-General and represents all organizations of the UN unless they have a presence on the ground.  As such, the RC often represents OCHA in the early warning and initial response phase of an emergency.  The RC is also typically the resident representative for UNDP and usually in place and familiar with the nature of the crisis when an emergency occurs.

In his or her coordinating role, the RC convenes regular meetings of the UN Country Team (UNCT), composed of the representatives of the operational UN agencies on the ground.  In a crisis, the RC will also organize broader coordination forums comprised of NGOs, the Red Cross Movement, donors and international organizations, including sub-committees that help coordinate humanitarian relief in a particular sector or region.

In countries prone to natural disasters, the UN country team also functions as a disaster management (DMT).  As such, it is responsible for overseeing contingency planning and preparedness exercises in advance, as well as for the emergency response once a disaster strikes.  In the event of a sudden-onset disaster, the DMT is often the first to respond to the crisis, before other international relief workers arrive.  In these cases, the RC acts as OCHA's representative on-site, reporting directly to the Under-Secretary-General/Emergency Relief Coordinator.