UNDAC Concept

The UNDAC System consists of four components:

1. Staff: experienced emergency managers made available for UNDAC missions by their respective governments or organizations, together with OCHA staff. UNDAC Team members are specially trained and equipped for their task
2. Methodology: predefined methods for the collection and management of information, assessment as well as structures for coordination support during the first phase of a sudden-onset disaster or emergency;
3. Procedures: proven systems to mobilize and deploy an UNDAC team, so that it can arrive within 24 hours at any disaster or emergency site anywhere in the world.
4. Equipment: adequate personal and mission equipment for UNDAC teams to be self-sufficient in the field when deployed for disasters/emergencies.

The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system is a part of OCHA, and is deployed pursuant to a request from an affected Government, the ERC, or the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC).  It supports the Resident Coordinator /Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) and the UNCT by providing technical services, principally in the field of on-site coordination and information dissemination.  It aims to facilitate close links between country-level, regional and international response efforts.  It assists in meeting international needs for early and qualified information on the situation and, when necessary, in the coordination of international relief at the site of the emergency.  UNDAC teams work in close consultation and coordination with the UN Country Team (UNCT)/Disaster Management Team (DMT) and the IASC.

The following are generic terms of reference for the mission of an UNDAC Team, which establish the overall framework for UNDAC deployments. The ERC may, within this framework, modify the TORs of an UNDAC mission, consulting with the RC/HC and UNCT in the field, depending on the requirements of a given emergency situation.

When on mission, the UNDAC team:

1. Assists and works under the authority of the RC/HC, who in turn reports to the ERC when responding to disasters and emergencies. Supports and facilitates the work of the affected Government and the UNCT/DMT in country, in the initial response phase of an emergency.

2. Reports to the RC/HC and informs him/her and the UNCT/DMT of developments in the emergency situation.

3. The UNDAC team may provide and disseminate initial information on the material and human dimensions of an emergency with the aim of giving host Governments and the international community a broad understanding of the nature and magnitude of an emergency.  The UNDAC team will not issue appeals. Any UN appeal will be managed by the RC/HC and the UNCT.

4. While substantive multi-sectoral assessments will normally be made by the host Government, UN agencies or qualified members of the IASC, within the framework of RC-UNCT coordination, UNDAC aims to support the host Government and UNCT/DMT in facilitating the coordination of initial assessments of both the emergency situation and the international relief requirements stemming from it, with a particular view to ensuring:

   • The consistency of any preliminary information regarding the nature and scale of the emergency, the preliminary needs assessed and the relief interventions required; and,

   • The coordination of the infrastructure and logistics, including in relation to a possible deployment of UNJLCs;

5. During earthquakes and other emergencies involving collapsed structures where international urban search and rescue teams are deployed, UNDAC may, when requested by the affected Government, ERC, RC/HC or INSARAG, establish a specialized On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) with the local emergency management authorities to enable them to meet the technical needs of coordination of the international urban search and rescue teams;

6. When requested by the affected Government, ERC or RC/HC, UNDAC may establish an OSOCC for the effective integration and use of international relief assets in support of the appropriate national emergency management authority;

7. When requested by the affected Government, ERC, RC/HC and UNCT to operate in complex emergencies, UNDAC normally deploys and functions with the context of OCHA’s surge capacity and operates in close consultation and coordination with the UN operational agencies;

8. The UNDAC team maintains links with and regularly reports on the progress of its mission to the ERC, UNCT/DMT and IASC partners throughout the duration of its mission;

9. As part of a joint effort to enhance system-wide coordination, OCHA will provide regular reports on UNDAC  missions and field deployments to the UNDAC Advisory Board and the IASC-WG as required.