Humanitarian coordination system

Contribute to the intersectoral humanitarian coordination system

Know the humanitarian coordination system and humanitarian program cycle (HPC)

The WASH coordination team must be up to date with the system set up by the Humanitarian Reform and the Transformative Agenda. On this page you will find key general coordination tools, guidance and templates developed by the IASC. In 2005, the Humanitarian Reform set up the humanitarian cluster system and defined the 6 cluster 's core functions (see 2015 IASC Cluster Coordination Reference Module) that have not changed since. The intention of the Cluster Approach is to ‘strengthen overall levels of accountability for humanitarian response”. Humanitarian actors in and out of the WASH sector are linked by different level of accountability, summarized below:

In 2012 the Transformative Agenda was developed in which the IASC emphasized the necessity for each cluster/sector to follow the 2015 IASC HPC Reference module. They defined standard products (HNO, HRP, flash appeal, PMR etc.) associated to the HPC, as well as general inputs required from clusters/sectors. The coordination platform, from these developments, needs to have a clear view on the national HPC calendar and products, and on the inputs they should provide. To make sure that coordination staff are up to date with general and sector specific methodologies and tools, the GWC set up a training pathway (see also capacity development chapter), including various e-learning, face to face briefing and trainings.

Gather documentation on current humanitarian crisis and local context

The first task of a newly deployed coordination staff will be to gather documentation on the current humanitarian crisis and the local context. In the key tools you can find a list of reliable web resources that can be used.

Conduct a WASH coordination diagnosis against the GWC Minimum Requirements

The GWC defined a set of Minimum Requirements (MR) for country level WASH humanitarian coordination based on the IASC core cluster coordination functions and commitments for accountability to affected populations. The MR are considered the basic package required to achieve effective WASH humanitarian coordination at the country level. The WASH cluster/sector coordinator should make an initial diagnosis of the current WASH coordination system against the MR, and update it regularly. MR’s achievements should be integrated into the coordination work plan, and carefully monitored (See an example of work plan in ToR and Work plan section)

Identify and meet key partners

The Humanitarian Reform was set up to promote improved coordination and partnership between humanitarian actors as coordination cannot function without the participation and commitment of the partners. WASH coordination platforms must be pro-active to meet all key WASH actors, either to include them in the partnership, or interact with them to build and implement relevant cluster strategies. Partners include relevant ministries and public institutions (often leading or co-leading the WASH coordination), UN agencies, other sector/cluster coordinators, HC, Red Cross, INGOs & LNGOs, donors, private sector.

Participate in inter-sector humanitarian fora

Inter-sector coordination is key to deliver the Humanitarian Response Plan’s strategic objectives in the most efficient way. OCHA provides capacity to lead and support inter-sector coordination, sometimes with inter-sector dedicated staff through the in-country Inter cluster/sector coordination group (ICCG). Some strategic objectives of the Humanitarian Response Plan may require contributions from all sectors and others from a more limited group. Specific sectors may come together without the leadership of OCHA to discuss specific strategies and monitoring of their achievement (example: Malnutrition issues must be discussed between Nutrition, WASH, Food Security and Health clusters). Some global clusters propose checklists (also called inter-cluster matrices) to help country clusters identify issues that they need to clarify to avoid gaps or duplication. Inter-cluster matrices and other inter-sectoral tools developed by the GWC are available in the list of tools of this page.