Pacific Humanitarian Team Briefing on the UNDAC System Monday 22 October 2012 Nadi, Fiji

1. Pacific Humanitarian Team Briefing on the UNDAC System Monday 22 October 2012 Nadi, Fiji

2. UNDACUnited Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team • What? • a United Nations rapid response team (6 – 24hrs// 24/7) • Free of charge for recipient country • Who? • national experts and staff of international organizations (UN agencies, IOM, IFRC and others, incl. some INGOs) • coordination of international assistance; needs assessment; information management, technical support • Always in support of the affected Government & the UN RC/ HC & HCT • In EQ emergency: specific mandate for the coordination of international USAR teams, under the lead of the national authority • Mandate • Structure • OCHA/ESB/FCSS; 3 regional teams; 1 Advisory Board; Member and participating governments; UNDAC focal points; partners of the system; and … UNDAC members!!

3. Evolution of UNDAC system 1971 UN General Assembly Resolution 28 16 (XXVI) 1988 Armenia Earthquake => INSARAG (1991) 1991 UN General Assembly Resolution 46/182 – Mandate of OCHA 1993 Creation of the UNDAC team (from INSARAG) 1995 Creation of Latin America Region UNDAC Team 1996 Creation of Pacific Region UNDAC Team 1999 Turkey EQ lessons learned -> Virtual OSOCC 2001 The 1st UNDAC Review 2002 Creation of Asia Regional team GA Resolution 57/150 of 16 Dec 2002 – INSARAG 2003 Creation of the UNDAC Advisory board 2004 UNDAC Africa Regional Team 2005 Humanitarian reform review 2006 Global Disaster Alert Coordination System 2009 Expansion into Middle East and West Africa 2011 The 2nd UNDAC Review

4. UNDAC within OCHA • Part of OCHA’s rapid response mechanisms, mainly for cases of sudden-set disasters • A UN HQ-managed rapid response team (FCSS in OCHA Geneva’s Emergency Services Branch) • Complementary with OCHA surge mechanisms (ERR, SBPP, etc.) and OCHA RO “surge” staff • Deployed at request of affected Govts and/or RC/HC, and in consultation or upon initiative of OCHA’s Regional Offices • Also used to support preparedness efforts: UNDAC Disaster response preparedness missions (e.g. PNG 2009)

5. Pillars of UNDAC System Staff ~ 250 experienced emergency managers made available for UNDAC missions by their respective governments/organizations Deployment Standard 24/7 deployment procedures, Deployment within 12-48 hrs Equipment Personal mission kit, OCHA kit, tailor-made support modules, technical support through partners => for teams to be self-sufficient Methodology Standardized methodology in coordination, assessment, IM. Induction/Refresher/ specialized courses, UNDAC Handbook

6. UNDAC members • Experienced emergency managers / humanitarian coordination professionals with link to home org./country • Identified based on selection criteria • Available at 12-24 hrs notice for up to 3 weeks at least once/year • National members have status of UN “experts on mission” • Undergo regular trainings (induction, refresher, OSOCC, specialized areas)

7. UNDAC Partners & Support Modules • International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP) • Asia-Pacific Humanitarian Partnership (APHP) • Americas Support Team (AST) • ICT Support • Base Camp Accommodation • Office Space • Operational Support Staff • Transport • Environmental Assessment Module • Télécoms Sans Frontières • MapAction • ACAPS • DHL • Ericsson • UNOSAT • Connectivity • Emergency Mapping • Software solutions • Airport Handling • Satellite Imagery

8. Terms of reference • Mainly sudden-onset emergencies / disasters (Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes/cyclones, etc.) • Complex emergencies, when sudden change in circumstances • Coordination/ needs assessment/ info management • Coordination of incoming international assistance/actors (USAR teams, relief teams, humanitarian organizations) • Rapid needs assessment & coordination of sectorial assessments • Providing timely and qualified information in first phase of disaster • Assist national authorities and UN system / Humanitarian Country Team, under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian / Resident Coordinator • Free of charge

9. Methodology • 4 cornerstones (UNDAC review): • Core values • Disaster management & humanitarian coordination • Humanitarian principles • Leadership • UNDAC Handbook - predefined methods for: • Coordination • Organizing and facilitating assessments • Information Management • Technical support

10. UNDAC system Advisory Board Member organizations OCHA/ ESB/ FCSS Participating Countries Member Countries Partners UNDAC members

11. Mobilization of an UNDAC team 1.Request OCHA 2. 4. Reply: email, virtual OSOCC, (tel) 5. Selection – «M2» 6. Deployment, «M3a» 3. Alert: SMS, email (fax) – «M1» National Mobilization Center UNDAC Member National Focal Point

12. UNDAC Review 2011FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS 2.RECOGNITION 3.METHODOLOGY 1.CONCEPT 5.TRAINING 6.FUNDING 4.MEMBERSHIP 8. REGIONS 7. PREPAREDNESS 9.PARTNERSHIPS

13. The strategic approach • Reconfirmation of the value of UNDAC system as a component of the international humanitarian response system organized by OCHA on behalf of member states • UNDAC system needs to be improved by: • Stricter and more transparent criteria and rules for the management of the member roster, screening out non-active members • Ensuring a balanced participation from Governments, Regional organizations and UN agencies • Align the work of UNDAC with OCHA’s partnership strategy, formalizing existing relationship and identify new partnership possibilities • Develop strategies for operationalizing the development of UNDAC in each region, in close cooperation with the OCHA Regional Offices. • UNDAC to be central in the development of the Inter Agency Rapid Response Mechanism (IARRM) and support the transformative agenda • UNDAC to support the implementation of OCHA’s preparedness strategy, especially in regards to minimum preparedness packages

14. Implementation of the review recommendations • Three working groups have been established: • Training and methodology • Membership • Preparedness • Consultations at the regional level • Pacific (Oct 2012) • Africa and Middle East (Nov 2012), • Asia, Americas and Central Asia (early 2013) • Set up an UNDAC Review Implementation Committee, UNICEF and WFP to join to ensure a linkage to the IARRM/transformative agenda • All working groups are established • Planned consultation with the Review Committee in December. • Further discussion at the UNDAC AB in Feb 2013

15. UNDAC Regional Partnership Building

16. ROEA Regional office East Africa

18. UNDAC regional activities

19. The way forward • Ensure the UNDAC Review fosters increased partnership • Secure leading role of ROs within UNDAC activities • Ensure complementarity with regional mechanisms • Think the relationship UNDAC and DRR

20. Key questions for the Pacific consultation (Friday) What consideration do we need to take into account determining the future of UNDAC in the Pacific region? How do you see UNDAC can be relevant to the region and add value to ongoing changes strengthening disaster preparedness and response in the region? What will you recommend as practical steps forward ensuring this (membership, training, preparedness and strategic alliances?)

21. ? Time for questions