Advocacy and Information Management Branch

Advocacy Section

Information Analysis Section

Information and Communications Technology Section

Advocacy and Information Management Branch

ADVOCACY & INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Planned Staffing	Regular Budget	Extra-budgetary	Projects	Total
Professional	8	15	16	39
General Service	4	18	6	28
Total	12	33	22	67
Staff costs (US$)	1,717,680	4,639,637	4,406,237	10,763,554
Non-staff costs (US$)	47,800	1,340,067	1,727,544	3,115,411
Total costs (US$)	1,765,480	5,979,704	6,133,781	13,878,965
Total requested (US$)				12,113,485

NEW YORK

Planned Staffing	Regular Budget	Extra-budgetary	Projects	Total
Professional	6	9	12	27
General Service	3	13	3	19
Total	9	22	15	46
Staff costs (US$)	1,233,288	2,660,635	3,094,259	6,988,182
Non-staff costs (US$)	47,800	872,360	1,462,785	2,382,945
Total costs (US$)	1,281,088	3,532,995	4,557,044	9,371,127
Total requested (US$)				8,090,039

GENEVA

Planned Staffing	Regular Budget	Extra-budgetary	Projects	Total
Professional	2	6	4	12
General Service	1	5	3	9
Total	3	11	7	21
Staff costs (US$)	484,392	1,979,002	1,311,978	3,775,372
Non-staff costs (US$)	-	467,707	264,759	732,466
Total costs (US$)	484,392	2,446,709	1,576,737	4,507,838
Total requested (US$)				4,023,446

The Advocacy and Information Management Branch (AIMB) is responsible for providing support for Advocacy and Information Management in OCHA. To this end, the Branch provides advice, technical support and outreach in the areas of advocacy, external relations, public information, early warning, information management and information communications technology (ICT).

Advocacy, external relations and public information support is provided by the Advocacy and Public Information Section (New York), and the Advocacy and External Relations Section (Geneva); the Information Analysis Section is responsible for Early Warning, the ReliefWeb Project, the Field Information Support Section, and the Field Information Management Project; while the Information Technology Section is responsible for ICT.

In 2006, AIMB will enhance its advocacy, information and ICT activities to support and promote OCHA’s core aims and mandate. The Branch will increase its presence in the field, including its surge capacity, and support the effective implementation of humanitarian reforms.

Specifically, the Branch will focus on three key objectives: 1) advancing humanitarian advocacy by supporting the ERC and strengthening OCHA’s capacity both at headquarters and in the field; 2) developing and improving public information and information management tools to enhance early warning, preparedness and response; and 3) enhancing the use of ICT to improve the efficiency of OCHA’s operations and service delivery. Two cross-cutting themes for the year will be increased field focus and improved collaboration with internal and external partners.

Increasing demands for advocacy and information support and services will stretch AIMB’s ability to respond, and strain OCHA’s field administration resources and capacities. Competing global priorities and the negative projection of the UN by the media present another challenge for OCHA. However, the increasing visibility of OCHA and humanitarian issues, under the leadership of the ERC, may present countervailing opportunities to explore innovative ways of raising awareness of humanitarian priorities. On the information management side the main challenges are lacking or inconsistent standards and procedures for information sharing and keeping up with rapidly evolving information and communications technology.

As part of its effort to increase support to field activities, AIMB will strengthen surge capacity for public information, information management and ICT.

Promoting and implementing OCHA’s advocacy strategy will be a central activity in the advocacy area. In this context, strengthening advocacy efforts in relation to emerging and neglected emergencies, the protection of civilians and natural disasters will be of particular importance.

OCHA very much appreciates its humanitarian partnerships, and in 2006 AIMB will expand cooperation and outreach with Member States, regional organizations, non-traditional donors and the private sector, including through the solicitation of in-kind contributions such as the provision of equipment and services.