Russian Federation

OCHA opened its Office in the Russian Federation in 1998 to coordinate the inter-agency operation providing assistance and protection to civilians affected by the Chechen conflict which displaced hundreds of thousands of people, destroyed housing and basic infrastructure, and caused the loss of livelihoods. This period saw a breakdown of the rule of law and citizens had little protection from violence and human rights violations. The violence spread beyond the boundaries of the Chechen republic, and the economy and social services in the North Caucasus region continue to struggle through the processes of post-Soviet reform and reorganization. This has created other sources of vulnerability, enhancing the impact of the Chechen conflict.

Although violence remains widespread and infrastructure is destroyed, overall conditions in Chechnya have improved in the past two years. In 2006, participating agencies replaced and expanded their Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) to reflect the evolving situation and their intent to focus on recovery assistance alongside traditional humanitarian interventions. The new CAP-plus is called the Inter-Agency Transitional Workplan for the North Caucasus. It maintains the existing framework for humanitarian action and adds recovery-oriented action to address the root causes of vulnerability. OCHA manages the Transitional Workplan process and facilitates the coordination framework under which its program is carried out.

During the 2006 Mid-Year Review, the humanitarian component of the Transitional Workplan was reduced for the first time ever in the North Caucasus. The major partners for humanitarian assistance and protection – government, civil society groups, NGOs, and others – are unanimous about the continuing significance of humanitarian needs. However, most also see newly opened opportunities for capacity building, training, and technical assistance that can effectively reduce the need.

In the Russian Federation, the United Nations acts as a strategic partner to the government, instigating early recovery and catalyzing longer-term reconstruction and development. The UN and NGOs participating in the Transitional Workplan conduct humanitarian needs assessments, plan and implement targeted projects, and advocate with government, local communities, and international partners for appropriate humanitarian and recovery initiatives.

In 2007, the OCHA Office will be challenged to provide quality secretariat support to the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and a wide range of partners in transition, while quickly handing over its primary coordination support role. The OCHA Office has reduced its staffing and budget by 40% in 2007, with the goal of Office closure in mid-2008.

Against this background, OCHA's key objectives for 2007 are as follows:

Strengthened in-country coordination: OCHA will work closely with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and UNCT to ensure the capacity for coordination support after an OCHA exit. The OCHA Head of Office will reach agreement with the RC on 2008 coordination staff and the plan for OCHA Office closure. OCHA will also draft guidelines and train RC Office staff to ensure humanitarian coordination in the future.

Improved, and publicly profiled, analysis of global and country humanitarian trends and issues: The UN and NGOs have a much greater presence in Chechnya than any time before, and the 2006 UN Security Phase change opened the prospect of establishing a UN office in Grozny. This greater access enables a more thorough analysis of humanitarian need in Chechnya, which will be reflected in inter-agency reports and planning documents. OCHA will prioritize support to UNHCR, as the sector lead in Protection, to finalize and begin implementing a protection strategy for transition.

Proactive action on UN humanitarian reform, including appeals processes: Planning and implementation of a recovery-oriented transitional assistance program in the North Caucasus has been carried out systematically and relatively smoothly. The OCHA Office will document and disseminate to HQ lessons learned from the Russian Federation that can contribute to CAP and transitional planning policy.

Key indicators for 2007

• Number of OCHA tools and services transferred to the RC Office
• Number and percentage of vulnerable civilians in Chechnya identified and referred to assistance and protection partners by third quarter
• Endorsement of the Protection Strategy for Transition by the IASC Field Team by end of second quarter