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Humanitarian coordination is based on the belief that a coherent approach to emergency response will maximize its benefits and minimize its potential pitfalls - in short, that the whole will be greater that the sum of its parts.
Through approved structures and policies set out by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, OCHA carries out its coordination role by:
- Developing common strategies - Humanitarian assistance is most effective when the actors involved are able to define common priorities, share goals, agree on tactics and jointly monitor progress. OCHA works with its partners both within and outside the UN system to develop a strategy known as the Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP), and to establish a clear division of responsibility for addressing humanitarian needs.
- Assessing situations and needs - Ongoing analysis of the political, social, economic and military environment and the periodic assessment of humanitarian needs are critical to understanding the causes, dynamics and impact of any crisis. As emergencies evolve and needs change, relief agencies and other actors come and go, focusing on their respective areas and particular programmes. Throughout a crisis, it is OCHA's job to: 1) identify overall humanitarian needs; 2) develop a realistic plan of action for meeting these needs that avoids duplication; and 3) monitor progress, adjust programmes if necessary and analyze their impact.
- Convening coordination forums - Meetings are important tools for analyzing relief situations, sharing lessons learned and networking among colleagues. Meetings also build trust, respect, transparency and accountability among actors and encourage problem solving. Part of OCHA's coordination function is to convene meetings - from small, sectoral meetings to broad planning forums to gatherings with donors - to discuss and map out response activities and address issues of common concern.
- Mobilizing resources - A consolidated and cost-effective approach to fundraising improves access to funding and ensures a more efficient allocation of resources. As part of its mandate, OCHA leads the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) for resource mobilization.
- Addressing common problems - During a crisis, problems arise that affect many agencies and NGOs, but do not fall squarely within any particular agency's mandate. OCHA addresses problems common to humanitarian actors, such as negotiating with warring parties to gain access to civilians in need or working with UN security officials to support preparedness and response measures in changing security situations.
- Administering coordination mechanisms and tools - OCHA serves as the secretariat for critical inter-agency coordination mechanisms such as the IASC; rapid-response tools, such as the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Teams (UNDAC) and the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG); and for smaller forums such as the Geographic Information Support Team (GIST). OCHA also ensures the most efficient use of military and civil defence assets in humanitarian operations by facilitating the relationship between the humanitarian and military components of a relief operation.
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