Tools and Services

Photo: OCHA/Muktar Ali Farah

As a coordinating body, free from day-

to-day operational challenges, OCHA focuses on the full spectrum of issues associated with humanitarian assistance. This includes anticipating changes in operational environments and setting the agenda for common international humanitarian actions even before crises occur.

OCHA plays a key role in examining and addressing the immediate challenges to humanitarian assistance.  It also plays a role in identifying, monitoring and providing technical and policy support both before and after a crisis. This means working on behalf of, and in consultation with, the larger humanitarian community to seek out ways to predict and possibly avert crises, and to ensure that relief programmes contribute to the larger goals of sustainable development and peace.

To do so, OCHA has a wide range of flexible mechanisms and tools at its disposal.  We have grouped them together under the headings Emergency Response Tools and Services, Information Management Tools and Services and Management Tools and Services.