Why Humanitarian Reform?
 Recognized gaps in humanitarian response
 Humanitarian Response Review commissioned in 2005
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Concluded that major improvements were needed in
humanitarian response
 IASC endorsed humanitarian reform in September 2005
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
What is the Cluster Approach?
A method of work
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to address identified gaps in response
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to enhance the quality of humanitarian action
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Why the Cluster Approach?
 To improve the predictability, timeliness and
effectiveness of humanitarian response
 To strengthen leadership and accountability in
key areas
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
What is a Cluster?
A group of agencies, organizations and other
stakeholders, interconnected by their respective
mandates, working together to address needs in a
specific area of humanitarian activity for greater
effectiveness and efficiency.
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Expected Output of the Global Clusters
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Develop global guidance, standards, tools and
resources
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Build response capacity through training, rosters
and material stockpiles
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Provide operational support through preparedness
and planning, technical expertise, advocacy and
resource mobilization
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
The Beginning of the Health Cluster
 Set up in September 2005 with WHO as lead agency
 First seen in action in Pakistan in October 2005
 Currently 30 global level partners
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Strategic areas of the Global Health Cluster
 Coordination and Management
 Information Management
 Rosters and Stockpiles
 Capacity Building of National Counterparts
 Operational Support
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Current work of the Global Health Cluster
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Guidance and tools for Coordination and Management
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Information Management
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Selection, Training and Roster-ing of Health Cluster Field Coordinators
Regional stockpiles of health supplies with necessary logistic support
Capacity Building
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an Inter-cluster Rapid Assessment Tool and accompanying definitions and guidance
comprehensive Assessment Tool
assessment, monitoring, tracking systems
Mainstreaming health information with larger humanitarian IM system
Rosters and Stockpiles
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Stakeholders analysis (to accompany 3W), strategic planning, joint action plans, gap filling
Health aspects of the recovery phase
Advocacy
Capacity Building of National Stakeholders
Guidance to strengthen national capacity in emergency preparedness, response and recovery
Operational Support
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Global working relations within the health cluster, between global clusters, and with country clusters
Advocacy, resource mobilization, trainings
Benchmarks/indicators for and evaluations of the impact of the cluster approach
A pocket book of simplified cluster guidance and tools with annexes of full cluster documents/findings
Library/Database of emergency health documents
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Added Value from the Global Level
 Partners work within jointly determined and agreed
methods of work using cluster-endorsed guidance and
tools
 Increased surge capacity through trained and rostered
emergency health experts
 Collaborative and coordinated emergency response within
and between clusters/sectors
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Health Cluster at the Country Level
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Lead and coordinate
Seek collaboration and inclusiveness
Conduct health needs assessment
Facilitate a joint strategic plan and action plan
Incorporate cross cutting issues
Turn plans into action through leadership
Monitor and report
Build local capacity
Advocate and mobilize resources
Be provider of last resort
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Country Level Health Clusters
Chronic Emergencies
Acute Emergencies
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CAR
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Chad
Colombia
DRC
Ethiopia
Liberia
Madagascar
Somalia
Uganda
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IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
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Pakistan
Lebanon
Philippines
Mozambique
Added Value at the Country Level
 Joint health assessments
 Joint strategic planning and planned actions
 Info sharing and analysis for evidence based action
 Avoid overlap, increase complementary actions
 Identification and filling of gaps
 Clear lead
= more predictable and effective response
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Feedback from country health clusters
Successes
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Coordination
Joint planning, assessments, evaluations, advocacy and appeals
Info sharing: mapping actors, mailing lists, assessment results,
programming transparency
Funding: donors pledge more funds to the pooled fund, access to
funding is possible for more partners, increasing transparency and
equity; common platform capable of lobbying donors and
governments
Clearly identified cluster lead with roles and responsibilities—
which is not the case with the sector approach
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Feedback from country health clusters
Challenges
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Coordination is at the central level, but still weak at the provincial level
Lack of partner participation
Lack of government participation; role unclear
Cluster approach perceived as a UN structure (top down); attempt to
control other actors
Humanitarian appeals still under-funded; no specific funds for cluster
for dedicated resources and staff; funding competition
Weak information flow
Weak inter-cluster linkages
Meeting overload; parallel structures
Lack of guidance, bench marks and support from global cluster lead
Not sufficiently identifying and addressing gaps
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Feedback from country health clusters
Needs
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Increase communication between global and country clusters
Promote intensively the system and its added value
Merge cluster with existing coordination mechanisms
Increase government ownership of the process
Engage donors in clusters at all levels
Commit resources to the Cluster lead to enhance the leadership and
coordination role; offer training courses; send experienced HCFC
Commit resources/funding to partners to fill gaps during the
transitional period
Provide simple guidance, tools and resource materials
Increase transparency in the fund allocation process
Standardize information systems and indicators to be collected to
monitor impact
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster
Next steps for the Global Health Cluster
 Bring products and services to country clusters through
peer review, field testing and joint work
 Strengthen communication between global and country
clusters through website, working group representation,
open discussion, work shops, field visits
 Increase support to country clusters through advocacy,
resource mobilization, rosters, pocketbook, trainings
 Build inter-cluster/sector coordination and joint products at
the global level, and introduce to country clusters through
joint field visits and communications
IASC
Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Global
Health
Cluster