Advocacy and Information Management Branch

The Advocacy and Information Management Branch (AIMB) supports OCHA's overall mission to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with international and national actors. The branch advocates on behalf of people in need, including on rights related to key humanitarian issues at the global, regional and national levels. The branch provides timely, relevant and reliable information services to the humanitarian community to strengthen coordination and inform decision makers, and it maximises the use of information and communications technology to provide these services both internally and to external partners.

The Advocacy and Public Information Section (APIS) assists and supports the USG/ASG and the Senior Management Team, Humanitarian Coordinators and OCHA colleagues by developing and providing comprehensive media tools and services, including press releases, media alerts, interviews, public briefings, Op Eds, crisis communication and advocacy strategies. APIS promotes key humanitarian issues and works for the inclusion of humanitarian concerns in UN decisions and communications, as well as with UN Member States in their decision-making. It also highlights forgotten emergencies and natural disasters by issuing information to the national and international media and the Office of the Spokesman of the Secretary-General, including via OCHA Online and by working with NGOs, civil society groups and academic institutions.

The Information Analysis Section (IAS)ensures that information support to humanitarian decision makers meets strategic and operational planning needs for OCHA and that the information collected and disseminated adds value for all humanitarian actors, both globally and in the field. Information services include:

OCHA's Information Technology Section (ITS) is responsible for providing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) support within the Office, including the development and maintenance of applications (web sites and databases); the provision of internal information management support (advice, guidance, standards and policies) and coordination of inter-agency emergency ICT activities.

Highlights of AIMB activities for 2007:

To consolidate humanitarian reform, AIMB will lead the building of inter-agency consensus through the IASC to define a new framework for the management of humanitarian information and data to support the reform process, including helping to define the analytical scope. Further, AIMB will continue to coordinate the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster mechanism.

To build a more coherent international community of practice around humanitarian information management issues, principles and practices, AIMB will host the global "Symposium Plus 5 on Best Practices in Humanitarian Information Management and Exchange" building on regional workshops held in Bangkok, Panama and Nairobi. Further, the Symposium will act as a forum to endorse an inter-agency and humanitarian community-wide approach to information exchange to support the humanitarian reform process.

To strengthen regional and field capacity for humanitarian advocacy, including for sudden onset emergencies, AIMB will collaboratively develop strategies and finalize guidelines on field based advocacy and crisis communications, supported by training, and will offer public information surge capacity as required.

To support a fully functioning CERF, AIMB will provide advocacy and public information services, including supporting advocacy campaigns, developing success stories and preparing online content to raise awareness and international support for the CERF mechanism. AIMB will further reinforce the CERF by utilizing OCHA Online, ReliefWeb and IRIN as platforms to raise awareness.

Advocacy and Public Information Section

The primary function of OCHA's Advocacy and Public Information Section (APIS) is to assist and support the USG/ASG and Senior Management Team, Humanitarian Coordinators and OCHA itself to advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action at the global, regional and country levels. APIS highlights forgotten emergencies and natural disasters by reminding national and international media of their existence and impact and working with the Office of the Spokesman of the Secretary-General to ensure relevant messages are included in UN communications. Additionally, APIS advocates independently and jointly with NGOs, civil society groups and academic institutions to highlight humanitarian crises. The Section provides numerous services to strengthen OCHA's overall humanitarian advocacy, including comprehensive media outreach, crisis communication, and advocacy strategy and design.

Major challenges in advocacy will be linked to highlighting the critical importance of safety and security for humanitarian workers, and encouraging greater adherence to humanitarian principles. Increased media coverage of and funding for forgotten emergencies, natural disasters, complex emergencies and emerging crises, including in the Middle East and Africa, will remain a crucial challenge in 2007.

As the humanitarian reforms proposed by the Secretary-General are implemented, the challenge of ensuring effective advocacy for the CERF and the cluster approach, and for strengthened humanitarian coordination on the ground will be paramount. Given the coming changes in UN senior management in 2007, it will be important for OCHA to remain focused, build upon its strengths, and maintain its role and profile as an effective advocate for humanitarian action and a voice for the voiceless.

Against this background, APIS's key objectives in 2007 will be as follows:

Properly functioning and supported CERF: APIS will provide public information support through the development of success stories, press releases, Op Eds, and other services, including that of information management, to further the development of the CERF website, and expand knowledge of the CERF and its importance for humanitarian action. Public information support will also be provided for the CERF donor conference.

Strengthened in-country coordination: Advocacy, crisis communication and strategic communications strategies will be developed for UNCTs. Public information support will be provided to ensure that surge deployment is in place. Training will help strengthen advocacy and PI capacities for improved coordination.

Improved tools and services to adapt to humanitarian reform outcomes: APIS will provide advocacy support to OCHA ROs/field offices, ensure the OCHA Intranet reflects the humanitarian reform process, and develop a media database for editors and journalists in the Middle East. PI and advocacy manuals will be prepared, along with templates and guidelines for crisis communication strategies.

Improved, and publicly profiled, analysis of global and country humanitarian trends and issues: Public information/advocacy will be undertaken through press releases, media interviews/interactions/story pitching, public briefings, ensuring media coverage of missions of senior management, Op Eds, articles, campaigns and other PI products.

Increased and strengthened partnerships for humanitarian action: Public information/advocacy will be undertaken through Op Eds, articles and other PI products, advocacy meetings with IASC and other NGO fora and organizations. Support will be provided to OCHA regional offices in the mobilization of donors.

Key indicators for 2007

• Number of Op Eds, press releases, success stories and other PI products produced
• Percent of increase in number of PI surge missions
• Media database for editors/journalists in Middle East functioning by end 2007
• Number of requests for advocacy meetings with the IASC and other NGO fora and organizations
• Number of requests for support from RSOs mobilizing non-traditional donors