About OCHA

Internally Displaced in DRC [Photo: IRIN]
OCHA is the arm of the UN Secretariat that is responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.

OCHA's mission is to mobilise and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate for the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention; and facilitate sustainable solutions. [Organizational Structure of OCHA] [OCHA Flagship Publications]


History of OCHA

In 1991 the General Assembly passed Resolution 46/182 [English version  -  All official languages]. The Resolution aimed to strengthen the international community’s collective effort, particularly the United Nations System, and to make emergency response more effective. [More on the History of OCHA]

Resolution 46/182 is still in force today and serves as the basis of the OCHA mandate. It outlines fundamental principles governing humanitarian relief. Three important principles are listed below:

  • Responsibility for people affected by emergency lies – first and foremost - with their respective states
  • States in need are expected to facilitate the work of responding organizations
  • Humanitarian assistance must be linked to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality (the fourth principle of independence was added later). 


OCHA's Coordinating role

OCHA mobilizes and coordinates humanitarian assistance delivered by international and national partners to populations and communities in need.

Coordination is not one type of action or actions involving one set of actors.  Coordination for OCHA means various types of actions involving different set of actors, providing different types of support, using many different tools and mechanisms.

Read More: Coordination Tools and Mechanisms  -  UNDAC  -  OSOCC  -  INSARAG  - Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination  -  Logistics Support  -  Environmental Emergencies
 

USG Holmes briefs Media on Haiti on 20 Jan 2010 [Photo: UN/Eskinder Debebe]

The Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator

The USG-ERC is responsible for oversight of all emergencies requiring United Nations humanitarian assistance. He also acts as the central focal point for Governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental relief activities.

The ERC also leads the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), a unique inter-agency forum for coordination, policy development and decision-making involving the key UN and non-UN humanitarian partners. The IASC was established in June 1992 in response to Resolution 46/182. General Assembly Resolution 48/57 affirmed its role as the primary mechanism for inter-agency coordination of humanitarian assistance.

[More on the role of the USG] [More on the IASC]


OCHA and Gender Equality

Understanding how conflicts and disasters affect women and men, girls and boys is critical to the overall effectiveness of our humanitarian response. Women, men, girls and boys experience war, floods, earthquakes and displacement differently: they have different priorities, responsibilities and protection needs. All OCHA's field and regional offices are required to develop, implement and report on a Gender Action Plan (GAP). These are based on the office workplan, and outline activities and indicators related to gender.  [Read more on Gender Equality]


Evaluation of OCHA's work

Evaluation plays an important role as a key management and learning tool in OCHA. The main objectives of the evaluation function in OCHA are to evaluate efficiency, appropriateness, relevance, value-added, effectiveness and impact of OCHA’s services; document lessons learned in humanitarian coordination arrangements; achieve greater institutional learning and knowledge sharing; provide accountability in the use of resources; and partner with other humanitarian agencies to evaluate joint efforts and to promote joint learning and action.  [Read more on OCHA Evaluations]


Careers in OCHA

View all OCHA Vacancies (source: ReliefWeb). Hear from OCHA staff about the challenges and opportunities of working for OCHA.