Cluster Working Groups Progress Reports and Emerging Issues from the 63rd WG Meeting

Cluster Working GroupsProgress Reports and Emerging Issues from the 63rd WG Meeting Yvette StevensChairperson, IASC Working Group IASC Principals

Outcome StatementSeptember 2005 • Clusters to improve the predictability, timeliness and effectiveness of humanitarian response, focusing on leadership and accountability in key sectors where there are gaps. • Clusters at global level • Take all necessary actions to ensure adequate and effective responses to new crises as well as to certain current crises. (Includes assessments of overall needs for human, financial and institutional capacity, capacity review, to ensure vitally needed capacities and mechanisms are in place at all levels). • Clusters at country level • Take all necessary actions to ensure fulfillment of common standards for timely, adequate and effective humanitarian action that achieves the required impact in relation to the specific cluster area. IASC Principals

Outcome StatementSeptember 2005 • Clusters will move forward at varying speeds. • Cluster leads ensure all needs assessments and responses are based on participatory and community based approaches incorporating cross-cutting issues, ensuring synergies with other clusters, risk reduction, monitoring and acting as the provider of last resort, in principle. • Cluster leads have mutual obligations and are accountable to HCs (at country level) and to the ERC (at global level) • Involvement of organizations active in the field settings critical. IASC Principals

Cluster ProgressSince 12 September 2005 • Two inter-cluster working groups held on 14 October and 25 October 2005. • Nine Cluster Working Groups (CWGs) completed the Implementation Plans and/or Progress Reports with cost estimates. • The 63rd IASC WG meeting reviewed the CWGs’ reports and raised number of key issues. • Issue paper developed through consultation of the IASC-WG, highlighting emerging issues. IASC Principals

Cluster Working GroupsEarly Recovery • Capacity Analysis and Mapping of 17 member agencies were undertaken, leading to the identification of critical capacity gaps. • 2006 Workplan focuses on addressing the following critical gaps: • Strategic planning for early recovery – • develop or adapt tools & methodologies; • improve resource mobilization through existing or alternative financing mechanisms; • develop & train predictable inter-agency surge expertise; • harmonize & improve information collection; • knowledge management; and • strengthen inter-agency agreements. • Strategic planning in priority sectors, for integrated programming. IASC Principals

Cluster Working GroupsCamp Coordination and Camp Management • Gap analysis indicates that unmet needs will increase proportionally in a pattern of dispersed and small camps as compared to large and concentrated camps. • The Cluster Working Group agrees that: • Whereas capacity mapping was done, this has limited validity due to small the number of cluster participants. • 2006 foreseen activities for this cluster include: • Mobilization of more cluster participants (particularly NGOs) • Expansion of technical capacity for this cluster • Identification of cross-cutting Camp Coordination and Camp Management issues and link to other clusters • Design of implementation plan for global and country levels IASC Principals

Cluster Working GroupsEmergency Shelter • Cluster Working Group has identified key issues and NFIs relating to Emergency Shelter, ToR for the functioning of the cluster as well as a capacity mapping and emergency preparedness for 500,000 persons. • This cluster has been inclusive, bringing together 7 UN and 5 non-UN actors. • 2006 main foreseen activities include: • Development of strategies and Standard Operating Procedures and establishment of accountability procedures at global and country level • Identification of staffing, material and training resources necessary for the implementation of this cluster IASC Principals

Cluster Working GroupsEmergency Telecommunications • Immediate Gaps: equipment stocks, preparedness resources, Inter-Agency coordination, timely, predictable and sustainable response capacity and partnerships • Non-UN involvement: • Red Cross movement, NetHope (a consortium of more than 15 large NGOs) and Télécoms Sans Frontières, Stand-by Partners and the private sector • 2006 Implementation Plan includes: • Define and build capacities including partnerships, training and pre-positioned stocks • Update standards and SOPs based on the emergency response to-date for predictable, timely and sustainable services • Reach agreement within the overall Cluster working groups on the activation process • Advocacy and Resource mobilization • Monitoring and Evaluation • Information Management IASC Principals

Cluster Working GroupsHealth • Capacities for effective and predictable implementation will be strengthened through • The internal readiness improvement plans of members, and • Agreements on delivering core commitments by them. • Joint Initiative to Improve Humanitarian Health Outcomes through 20 prioritized inter-related measures • Non-UN involvement: 6 NGOs, 3 NGO Consortia • 2006 Implementation Plan includes • Emergency Health Information Service , • Health Emergency Action Response Network (HEAR-NET) , • Health, Mortality and Nutrition Tracking Service , • Humanitarian Health Action Plans, and Lesson learned IASC Principals

Cluster Working Groups Logistics • Gaps in surge-capacity addressed through sub-working groups: • preparedness, interoperability and responsiveness to ensure better logistics preparedness and response, and to facilitate improved interagency interoperability through the pooling of resources and an integrated supply chain. • Joint Initiative to improve logistics emergency response with UN and non UN involvement. • 2006 Implementation Plan includes: • Prepare stand-by arrangements • Training and Capacity Building • Define the criteria for applying Logistics Cluster concept • Preparedness and Interoperability • Improve inter-agency logistics rapid response by deployment of an inter-agency logistics response team at the immediate onset of an emergency. IASC Principals

Cluster Working Groups Nutrition • An initial existing capacity and gap assessment finalized. • Preliminary gaps in 5 working areas which will be addressed in 2006, through close collaboration with Health cluster. • 2006 Implementation Plan includes: • Cluster Coordination • Capacity Building (capacity building of the Cluster, stand-by arrangements and surge capacity) • Emergency Preparedness and Response Triggers (classification systems for nutrition emergencies, country profiles) • Assessment, Monitoring and Surveillance (standardized assessment tools, Health and Nutrition tracking system) • Supply (systems for pre-positioned supplies, supply fact sheets, etc). IASC Principals

Cluster Working Groups Protection • Overview of capacity of CWG members undertaken. • Protection in natural and complex emergencies: UNHCR, UNICEF and OHCHR to consult closely to decide lead role for protection in given situations. • 2006 Phased Implementation: • Establishment of effective protection cluster at global level • Systematic attention to protection in needs assessment and strategy development • Increased presence on the ground • Enhanced monitoring, reporting and response • Effective early-warning and response and • enhanced training. IASC Principals

Cluster Working Groups Water and Sanitation • Capacity mapping exercise ongoing for 11 member agencies. The mapping will determine specific capacity development and training needs, and other priorities within 2006 Implementation Plan for: • Strategic planning;Predictable surge capacity development; Inter-agency agreements for timely and effective response;Supply, new technologies & logistics enhancement / use;Stockpiling requirements where needed;Information management & sharing of experiences, lessons learned & best practices. • Non UN involvement: IFRC, ICRC and 6 international NGOs and specialized institutions. • 2006 Implementation includes: • Capacity mapping of all cluster member organisations at global level • Capacity mapping of four high-risk countries and two regions • Review current protocols for sector coordination • Review current standards, technologies, kits and logistical arrangements, • Review present supply capacities and • Review performance indicators • Training to address critical capacity gaps IASC Principals

Emerging IssuesCountries, Resource Mobilization • Selection of Countries • DRC, Liberia and Uganda as initial countries for implementation • Proposals for future selection of countries will be made by IASC with the ERC. • Resource Mobilization • Appeal to donors by the ERC on behalf of the cluster leads based on budgets in the Template • CERF once established for common service provision by cluster leads • CAP and Flash Appeals to be the normal mechanism for funding clusters in crisis. IASC Principals

Emerging IssuesMembership, Natural Disasters, Cross-cutting Clusters • Membership of cluster arrangements • The decision to include the host governments in the cluster at the field level at the discretion of the HCs and CTs. • The decision to include bilateral organizations at the global level made by respective clusters. • Cluster coverage for Natural Disasters • Protection,emergency shelter and camp coordination • “Last Resort” for cross-cutting clusters • “Last Resort”” for cross-cutting clusters to be determined within clusters. IASC Principals

Emerging IssuesAdvocacy and Information Sharing • A common advocacy message • A joint letter from the Principals to country representatives on the cluster approach IASC Principals

Cost RequirementsSub-Heading, Arial 21pt Bold • Table from Ivan IASC Principals

Cluster Working Groups Progress Reports and Emerging Issues from the 63rd WG Meeting