Pacific Humanitarian Team Overview

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Pacific Humanitarian Team 8 October 2010

KEY MILE STONES

2005 HUMANITARIAN REFORM 2007 SOLOMON ISLANDS TSUNAMI 2008 PHT & PACIFIC CLUSTERS

AGREED 2009 CYCLONE SEASON,

TONGA/SAMOA TSUNAMI, IA CONTINGENCY PLANNING

2009 2ND PHT REGIONAL MEETING 2010 CYCLONE SEASON, INTER-

AGENCY CONT. PLANNING, CLUSTER WORK

PACIFIC HUMANITARIAN TEAM (PHT)

Composed of all regional humanitarian response organizations, including UN, NGOs, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, donors

organized around humanitarian “clusters”

Chaired by UN Resident Coordinator

A GLOBAL MODEL FOR COORDINATING INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

“CLUSTERS” ARE MADE UP OF ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WORKING IN A SPECIFIC HUMANITARIAN FIELD OF WORK

EACH CLUSTER IS LEAD BY AN AGENCY AS AGREED BY THE PHT

CLUSTER APPROACHWHAT IS IT?

PACIFIC CLUSTERS &LEAD AGENCIES

Seven clusters exist in the Pacific region and can be rolled out in affected countries immediately if needed

Inter-ClusterCoordination

PACIFIC HUMANITARIAN TEAM

Inter-ClusterCoordination

• 791 People• 149 different organizations (165 including national govts)• 7 clusters• Based in 27 countries• Covering 15 Pacific Island countries

EMERGENCIES & PHT RESPONSE 2008-2010

High Sea Swells: RMI, FSM, Solomon Islands (Dec 08)

Fiji Floods (Jan 09)

Guadalcanal floods (Feb 09)

Ambrym Volcano and Flood (Apr 09)

Samoa & Tonga Tsunami (Sep/Oct 09)

TC Mick in Fiji (Dec 09)

Gaua Volcano (Dec 09 – ongoing)

Rendova Tsunami - Solomon Islands

(Jan 10) TC Pat in Aitutaki –

Cooks (Feb 10)

TC Tomas in Fiji (Mar 10)

TC Ului in Solomon Islands (Mar 10)

INTER-AGENCY CONTINGENCY PLANNING

Solomon Islands (March 09)

Samoa (April 09)

Vanuatu (September 09)

Gaua Volcano (March 10)

Cook Islands (May 10)

Tonga (September 10)

CLUSTER ACTIVITIES – UPDATE 2010 Emergency Shelter:

activities to take off from 2010 PHT meeting WASH:

mapping of key actors, govt counterparts and pre-positioned supplies

Harmonizing WASH Coalition and WASH Cluster Increased coordinated response (Fiji) WASH workshop postponed to May 2011

Protection: workshops in Samoa, Fiji and Vanuatu to raise awareness on

human rights of disaster affected persons and integration into DM Pacific Protection Toolkit

Logistics: WFP expanded logistics cluster activities into the Pacific. LCAs for

PNG, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Log cluster support cell established in Malaysia

Preparedness activities to take off in 2011

CLUSTER ACTIVITIES – UPDATE 2010 Emergency education:

support focused on support to MoEd. to develop emergency education plans

Health: coordinated response TC Tomas in Fiji Volcano affected communities in Vanuatu Training Coordinates closely with WASH More focus on mental health and PS support (MHPSS)

Early Recovery: UNDP expanding (coordination) activities in ER (Tonga,

Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji) Using PHT 2010 as guidance

IDENTIFIED KEY ISSUES FOR PHT CLARIFICATION OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN PHT MORE INVOLVEMENT PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES INVESTMENT IN PREPAREDNESS AND CONTINGENCY

PLANNING, PARTICULARLY BY CLUSTERS CLUSTER LEAD AGENCIES INVEST IN LEAD/COORDINATION

ROLE CLUSTER PLANNING AND RESPONSE WITH IN-COUNTRY

COUNTERPARTS AGREED STANDARDS IN AND AMONG CLUSTERS IN KEY

HUMANITARIAN AREAS (HEALTH/NUTRITION, WASH, SHELTER, LOGISTICS, PROTECTION, ER)

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, PARTICULARLY BASELINE DATASETS AND JOINT ASSESSMENTS, ANALYSIS AND INFORMATION SHARING

INCLUSIVE COORDINATION MECHANISMS (REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL), PARTICULARLY FOR CLUSTER LEADS, OCHA, NDMOS

IDENTIFIED KEY ISSUES NDMOS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (GENERAL MANAGEMENT, STRATEGIC

POLICY DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT) RESOURCE MOBILIZATION, INTERNATIONAL DONOR AND PARTNER

LIAISON PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND COORDINATION OF RESOURCES, IN-

COUNTRY STAKEHOLDERS, PROGRAMS INFORMATION MANAGEMENT:

Improve access to more accurate baseline data and information to support DM, DRR and CCA

Assessments Information technology and competence

NEW MECHANISMS TO SUPPORT INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO NDMOS, OTHER KEY NATIONAL AGENCIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRIVATE SECTOR

DEVELOPING SOPS, SIMULATION EXERCISES

NDMO REFLECTIONS ON PHT CLUSTER APPROACH USEFUL FOR COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY

WHEN IT IS FLEXIBLE AND LINKS WITH NATIONAL DM ARRANGEMENTS

CAN MOBILIZE EXTERNAL SUPPORT QUICKLY ALLOWS COORDINATION OF EXTERNAL/DONOR RESOURCES SUPPORTIVE TO LINE MINISTRIES TO IDENTIFY AND

FORMULATE HUMANITARIAN NEEDS AND RESPONSE TOGETHER

LINK UP WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND TAP INTO LOCAL KNOWLEDGE (VIA NDMOS)

PHT HAS TO AGREE ON STANDARDS AND WHAT IS RELEVANT RELIEF FOR PICS

FOCUS ON RESPONSE – EARLY RECOVERY TO COME INTO THE PICTURE

CLUSTERS CAN SUPPORT PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS AND CAPACITY BUILDING (SECTOR AND CROSS-CUTTING)

QUESTIONS SO FAR?

CLARIFYING THE PHT: TORS

A swift emergency response requires that clearly defined roles and responsibilities are commonly understood and accepted.

Each decision-making body needs to understand their specific role in the chronology of a crisis response, and these decision points need to be made explicit to all major stakeholders.

CLARIFYING THE PHT: TORS (CONT’D)

3 decision-making bodies of the PHT and their responsibilities and functions.

They are: The PHT Heads of

Organisations Group (HOO) The PHT Inter-cluster

Coordination Group (ICCG) The PHT Clusters

PHT CLUSTERS

Clusters(7 Pacific Clusters)

PHTInter-ClusterCoordination

Group

• Chair: OCHA• Members: Cluster Leads• Leads inter-agency Preparedness and Response planning• Maintains overview of response and gaps• Ensures cross-cutting issues are reflected in cluster plans• Coordinates inter-agency multi-sector assessments• Monitors cluster performance

PHTHeads of

Organisations Group

• Chair: UN Resident coordinators• Members: Cluster Leads• Members: Heads of key humanitarian organizations active in the Pacific• Agrees on common policies and strategic response• Reviews and approve Preparedness and Response plans• Promotes adherence to principles, guidelines and policies

• Chair: Cluster Lead• Members: Humanitarian practitioners based on sector of activity• Maintains sectoral coordination mechanisms at regional, national and sub-national levels• Secures commitments from humanitarian partners in responding to needs and filling gaps• Ensures appropriate coordination and information exchange regarding sectoral activities

with national and local authorities• Ensures cluster members identify and address distinct needs of women, girls, boys and

men and identifiable vulnerable groups

PHT CLUSTERSRole

Ensure coordination among organisations working in a specific sector

Composition Each cluster is lead (convened) by an agency as agreed

by the PHT Cluster members are self-selecting – cluster lead agencies

are required to ensure the cluster is comprehensive

Interface with other coordination mechanisms E.g. country coordination, FRANZ During an emergency response, government counterpart

become part of the cluster

RESPONSIBILITIES Respond jointly

Commonly identify needs (assessments)

Develop appropriate strategic response plans with shared objectives addressing gender and other differentiated needs

Application of standards

Joint advocacy and resource mobilization

Coordinate amongst themselves & with national authorities in order to avoid gaps and duplications and ensure quality of humanitarian assistance

PHT HEADS OF ORGANISATIONS GROUP

Clusters(7 Pacific Clusters)

PHTInter-ClusterCoordination

Group

• Chair: OCHA• Members: Cluster Leads• Leads inter-agency Preparedness and Response planning• Maintains overview of response and gaps• Ensures cross-cutting issues are reflected in cluster plans• Coordinates inter-agency multi-sector assessments• Monitors cluster performance

PHTHeads of

Organisations Group

• Chair: UN Resident Coordinators• Members: Heads of key humanitarian organizations active in the Pacific• Agrees on common policies and strategic response• Reviews and approve Preparedness and Response plans• Promotes adherence to principles, guidelines and policies

• Chair: Cluster Lead• Members: Humanitarian practitioners based on sector of activity• Maintains sectoral coordination mechanisms at regional, national and sub-national levels• Secures commitments from humanitarian partners in responding to needs and filling gaps• Ensures appropriate coordination and information exchange regarding sectoral activities with

national and local authorities• Ensures cluster members identify and address distinct needs of women, girls, boys and men

and identifiable vulnerable groups

PHT HEADS OF ORGANISATIONS GROUP

Role A body to provide strategic guidance and oversight for

humanitarian action in the region

Timing The PHT HoO will meet within 12 hours of an event; in

order to develop a common operating picture and centralise decision-making, particularly by determining the likely level of the humanitarian response.

COMPOSITION Composed of heads/ highest level representatives of the key

organizations Cluster coordinators Relevant donor agencies will be invited of the discretion of

the RC or OCHA. Decisions made in PHT Leaders meetings will be followed-up

by the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group members.

During an emergency response: High-level representatives from the affected Government will

be invited to attend

RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic guidance and oversight for humanitarian action, including

setting common objectives and priorities (humanitarian action plans) and resource mobilization in both preparedness and response phases.

During an emergency, the PHT HoO decides which clusters will be activated, and which human and/or financial resources need to be mobilised

Provides guidance to cluster lead agencies and developing solutions to strategic problems coming out of the PHT Inter-Cluster Coordination Group or specific clusters.

Advocating adherence by responding humanitarian organizations and national governments to humanitarian principles

PHT INTER-CLUSTER COORDINATION GROUP

Clusters(7 Pacific Clusters)

PHTInter-ClusterCoordination

Group

• Chair: OCHA• Members: Cluster Leads• Leads inter-agency Preparedness and Response planning• Maintains overview of response and gaps• Ensures cross-cutting issues are reflected in cluster plans• Coordinates inter-agency multi-sector assessments• Monitors cluster performance

PHTHeads of

Organisations Group

• Chair: UN Resident Coordinators• Members: Cluster Leads• Members: Heads of key humanitarian organizations active in the Pacific• Agrees on common policies and strategic response• Reviews and approve Preparedness and Response plans• Promotes adherence to principles, guidelines and policies

• Chair: Cluster Lead• Members: Humanitarian practitioners based on sector of activity• Maintains sectoral coordination mechanisms at regional, national and sub-national levels• Secures commitments from humanitarian partners in responding to needs and filling gaps• Ensures appropriate coordination and information exchange regarding sectoral activities with

national and local authorities• Ensures cluster members identify and address distinct needs of women, girls, boys and men

and identifiable vulnerable groups

PHT INTER-CLUSTER COORDINATION GROUP

Role The PHT-ICCG ensures that the strategic priorities agreed

to by the PHT Leaders group inform the operational decision-making of the response

Timing 12 – 24 hours after event and further. The PHT ICCG will meet as soon as practicable after the

PHT leaders meeting to ensure key messages are conveyed to cluster members and response activities are coordinated.

COMPOSITION

Cluster leads and focal points for cross-cutting issues (e.g. gender)

In response, relevant country counterparts and relevant other (in-country) coordination mechanisms

Donors and other organizations whenever relevant

Chaired by OCHA

RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop clearly articulated cross-sectoral humanitarian response plans based on shared analysis

Ensure resources are appropriately prioritized across

clusters

Ensure gaps and duplications are avoided

Ensure perspectives & needs of women, men, and members of disadvantaged groups are equally addressed in all sectors

PHT BODIES: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Chair:OCHA

UN agencies

Key NGOs

Red Cross mvt

IFRC

Chair:Resident Coordinator

Health and NutritionWASHShelter and Camp ManagementLogisticsProtectionEarly RecoveryEmergency Education

WHOUNICEFWorld VisionADRAOXFAMRed Cross mvtEtc…

WFPIOMWHORed Cross mvtNational CapacitiesWorld VisionEtc..

Donors

Donors UNICEFHealth & NutritionProjects

Red Crossactivities in

Health & Nutrition

sector

Cluster representatives

Strategy,Resource

mobilization

Operationalization,Coordination across sectors

Coordination withintechnical sector of

activity

Activities

Chair:WFPDuring disaster

response:National Government Rep. (Min of Foreign Affairs) During disaster

response:National Government Rep. (National Disaster Management Office) During disaster

response:National Government Rep. (Min. of Health)

Health and Nutrition Cluster

Chair:WHO and UNICEF

Cluster Leads

PHT Inter-cluster Coordination

Heads of Organizations

PHT Heads of Organizations

LogisticsCluster

Cluster representatives

OBJECTIVE

FINALISE AND ENDORSE TORS FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH WHICH

WE CAN REQUEST ERC/IASC TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THE “OPEN ENDED” CLUSTER APPROACH IN THE PACIFIC

ALLOW GLOBAL SUPPORT IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE FOR THE CLUSTERS, ETC.

GROUP WORK DISCUSS THE 3 TORS IN SMALL

GROUPS IDENTIFY ISSUES FOR CLARIFICATION,

CHANGE, OBJECTIONS DISCUSS 20 MINS FEEDBACK IN PLENARY