Coordination in a multi-organizational environment

Is Coordination the solution to all problemsIn emergency response?

We all know that a coordinated

response is more effective then an

uncoordinated intervention by

competing organisations

Quote: me

What Words Would You Use to Characterize the Emergency

Environment?

The Emergency Environment

• Overwhelming needs• Competing priorities• Destroyed/damaged infrastructure• Rapid influx of providers• Outburst of mutual aid• Highly stressed local officials• Intense media scrutiny

What Words Would You Use to Characterize the Emergency Response when there is no or

little coordination?

Absence of Coordination

• Gaps and duplications

• Inappropriate assistance

• Inefficient use of resources

• Bottlenecks, impediments

• Slow reaction to changing conditions

• Frustration of providers, officials, survivors

Mandate for Coordination2816(1971) to 46/182(1992)

• assist government of affected country• coordinate/facilitate/mobilize assistance• provide services that maximize efficiency• mobilize resources• develop competent staff• act as focal point for advocacy• ensure relief contributes to development• support and strengthen national capacity

Effective Coordination

• is essential and important• is a result of intentional actions/a shared

responsibility• results in humane, neutral and impartial

assistance, management effectiveness, shared vision, and donor confidence

• is a voluntary effort/a secondary priority• costly and results in adaptation• not a sure thing

An Effective Coordination Process

• participatory

• impartial

• transparent

• useful

National levelNational level

Local Emergency Local Emergency Management LevelManagement Level

International International levellevel

Level of coordination

OCHA’s Global Coordination Model

Disaster affected country

• National disaster relief coord.

• Embassies

• UN agencies’ reps.

• National Red Cross/Crescent

• National NGO’s

• Others (including private)

International response

• Donor governments

• Inter Governmental org.

•UN agencies

• Red Cross/Crescent family.

• International NGO’s

• Others (including private)

OCHA(IASC)

Information on needs & national response

Information onneeds/international response

Representative ofOCHA (ResReps/UNDAC)

ASSISTANCE

• On-Site

– Local Emergency Management Authority (LEMA)

– On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC)

– FACT (IFRC)

– NGO Coordinating Councils

– Sectoral / Cluster Coordinating Groups

– Civil-Military Operations Center (CMOC)

• Capital

– National Disaster Management Organization (NDMO)

– United Nations Disaster Management Team (UN DMT)

– Donor Councils

– Regional organisations

Principal in-country coordination fora

But the reality ?

IFRC

ICRC

CEDERAPNSs

WFPNGOs

UNDP

MIL

OCHAGeneva

HumanitarianCoordinator

AffectedAffectedPopulationPopulationAffected

Government

CIMIC

NationalRed Cross

USAID/DART

Ambassadors

DonorGovt’s

NGOs

Nationalmilitary

HCR

UNICEF

IGOs

OSSOC

UNDAC

MEDIA

What do we actually mean by coordination ?

• Information sharing• Common standards• Joint reporting• Operational cooperation• Joint planning• Resource sharing• inter operability

Field coordination model in Emergencies

• Central coordination, (smaller scale emergencies)

• External Coordination centre, (Rescue phase)

• Organisational coordination (UN, IFRC, CEDERA,)

• Geographical coordination (Large scale emergencies)

• Sectoral / Cluster Coordination (Multi players)

• Strategic Coordination

– operations/programme coordination

– Information

• Operational Coordination– logistics

– telecommunications

– security

Primary Coordination functions

• create a platform and be a catalyst

• identify needs and target resources

• ensure access to beneficiaries

• Streamlined, unified approach w/o gaps or duplications

• promote accountability

• advocating humanitarian principles/security

• support recovery and long term development

Comprehensive Programme

• Field/Situation Reports• Who/What/Where Matrix• Press Conferences• VIP Briefings• Pigeon Holes• Media Management• Mapping & Map Dissemination

Information Coordination tools

• Strategic Coordination

– operations/programme coordination

– Information

• Operational Coordination– logistics

– telecommunications

– security

Primary coordination functions

• Operations Space (OSOCC, UN House)• IT/Telecoms cafe• Critical/essential Staffing Analysis• IHP Support modules• Common Services (JLC, HIC, UNHAS, e.g.)• Safety and Security (DSS)• Relief Goods Tracking• Airport Reception Center

Operational Coordination tools

Core Coordination Activities

• assess• plan• mobilize• direct• monitor• report• liaise