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UNDAC Responsibilities of Government

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Antonio Jose Beleza

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates humanitarian assistance during emergencies. OCHA's United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team deploys experts worldwide to help coordinate disaster response. Member governments that support UNDAC agree to make their experts available for missions, provide necessary insurance, and cover costs of training and deployment. They also participate in annual meetings and may sponsor participating countries' experts. OCHA arranges deployment and coordinates the experts' work to help effectively mobilize humanitarian assistance.

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www.unocha.org The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Coordination Saves Lives Responsibilities of member1 and participating2 Governments 1. To maintain a single national focal point for OCHA to interact with on all matters dealing with the UNDAC system (called the “UNDAC National Focal Point”; see also “responsibilities of UNDAC national focal point”); 2. To make available their UNDAC member(s) at 6-24 hours’ notice for at least one mission per year of 3-4 weeks’ duration. (Naturally this depends on factors such as personal and work oriented availability; however availability for missions is OCHA’s single most important concern for UNDAC members); 3. To provide life or injury insurance, medical treatment insurance3 and third party liability insurance for its members. OCHA has a medical evacuation insurance for all UNDAC members on mission; 4. To ensure the UNDAC member is paid normal salary and benefits when on UNDAC mission or training; 5. To identify and nominate suitable candidates for the UNDAC Induction Course (two weeks) and to make available UNDAC member(s) for Refresher training (usually six days including travel) at least once every two years. Member governments cover travel and accommodation costs for training of their national UNDAC members; participating governments may apply for sponsorship through OCHA/FCSS. 6. Once UNDAC members are trained, they are issued with a United Nations contract (no fee) and UN certificate in readiness for deployment on UNDAC missions. The deployment procedure the government is expected to follow is as under:  Upon request to deploy an UNDAC team, OCHA opens a topic on the Virtual OSOCC (http://vosocc.unocha.org) and alerts UNDAC members directly by SMS and e-mail. Alert messages are also sent to the nominated UNDAC National Focal Point for information.  The UNDAC member informs OCHA directly through the Virtual OSOCC of his/her availability for the mission, having first obtained any authorizations necessary as agreed directly with his/her Supervisor and UNDAC National Focal Point.  Should the Government not wish to participate in a specific UNDAC mission for national reasons, the UNDAC National Focal shall immediately inform OCHA/FCSS and its national UNDAC members.  OCHA selects an UNDAC team based on the needs of the emergency and the skills of available members and transmits a stand-by message to selected UNDAC members through the Virtual OSOCC (SMS, e-mail).  Once a final decision is made to dispatch the UNDAC team, OCHA makes travel arrangements and transmits a dispatch message to the selected UNDAC team members.  At any time during the mobilizing process, OCHA may decide that a team will not be dispatched. In this case OCHA transmits a Stand-down message to selected UNDAC team members. 1 Member governments are self-financing members of the UNDAC system who support the deployment costs of their national UNDAC members through opening an UNDAC Mission Account with OCHA. Member governments participate in the annual UNDAC Advisory Board meetings which govern the development of the UNDAC system worldwide. 2 Participating governments are sponsored members of the UNDAC system, whose participation is financially supported by OCHA/FCSS and/or by UNDAC member governments. 3 OCHA/FCSS arranges temporary medical insurance cover for UNDAC members from participating countries when they are deployed on mission. Field Coordination Support Section (FCSS) UNITED NATIONS DISASTER AND COORDINATION ASSESSMENT (UNDAC)
UNDAC – Field Coordination and Support Section (FCSS) United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org Responsibilities of Member (i.e. self-financing) Governments only 7. To make available funds to cover the costs of mission deployment of its UNDAC members by depositing US$50,000 in a Mission Account with OCHA Geneva. On the basis of the funds provided, OCHA meets travel and related expenses for UNDAC members deploying on mission. 8. To participate in the annual UNDAC Advisory Board meeting (held in Geneva in February each year) to provide feedback and guidance to the UNDAC system. 9. To consider sponsoring participation of UNDAC members from Participating Governments who cannot afford to fund their own members. For further information, please contact: Peter Muller, UNDAC Thematic Focal Point, muller2@un.org, Tel: +41 (0) 22-91 72783 For more information, please visit www.unocha.org

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UNDAC Responsibilities of Government

  • 1. www.unocha.org The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Coordination Saves Lives Responsibilities of member1 and participating2 Governments 1. To maintain a single national focal point for OCHA to interact with on all matters dealing with the UNDAC system (called the “UNDAC National Focal Point”; see also “responsibilities of UNDAC national focal point”); 2. To make available their UNDAC member(s) at 6-24 hours’ notice for at least one mission per year of 3-4 weeks’ duration. (Naturally this depends on factors such as personal and work oriented availability; however availability for missions is OCHA’s single most important concern for UNDAC members); 3. To provide life or injury insurance, medical treatment insurance3 and third party liability insurance for its members. OCHA has a medical evacuation insurance for all UNDAC members on mission; 4. To ensure the UNDAC member is paid normal salary and benefits when on UNDAC mission or training; 5. To identify and nominate suitable candidates for the UNDAC Induction Course (two weeks) and to make available UNDAC member(s) for Refresher training (usually six days including travel) at least once every two years. Member governments cover travel and accommodation costs for training of their national UNDAC members; participating governments may apply for sponsorship through OCHA/FCSS. 6. Once UNDAC members are trained, they are issued with a United Nations contract (no fee) and UN certificate in readiness for deployment on UNDAC missions. The deployment procedure the government is expected to follow is as under:  Upon request to deploy an UNDAC team, OCHA opens a topic on the Virtual OSOCC (http://vosocc.unocha.org) and alerts UNDAC members directly by SMS and e-mail. Alert messages are also sent to the nominated UNDAC National Focal Point for information.  The UNDAC member informs OCHA directly through the Virtual OSOCC of his/her availability for the mission, having first obtained any authorizations necessary as agreed directly with his/her Supervisor and UNDAC National Focal Point.  Should the Government not wish to participate in a specific UNDAC mission for national reasons, the UNDAC National Focal shall immediately inform OCHA/FCSS and its national UNDAC members.  OCHA selects an UNDAC team based on the needs of the emergency and the skills of available members and transmits a stand-by message to selected UNDAC members through the Virtual OSOCC (SMS, e-mail).  Once a final decision is made to dispatch the UNDAC team, OCHA makes travel arrangements and transmits a dispatch message to the selected UNDAC team members.  At any time during the mobilizing process, OCHA may decide that a team will not be dispatched. In this case OCHA transmits a Stand-down message to selected UNDAC team members. 1 Member governments are self-financing members of the UNDAC system who support the deployment costs of their national UNDAC members through opening an UNDAC Mission Account with OCHA. Member governments participate in the annual UNDAC Advisory Board meetings which govern the development of the UNDAC system worldwide. 2 Participating governments are sponsored members of the UNDAC system, whose participation is financially supported by OCHA/FCSS and/or by UNDAC member governments. 3 OCHA/FCSS arranges temporary medical insurance cover for UNDAC members from participating countries when they are deployed on mission. Field Coordination Support Section (FCSS) UNITED NATIONS DISASTER AND COORDINATION ASSESSMENT (UNDAC)
  • 2. UNDAC – Field Coordination and Support Section (FCSS) United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org Responsibilities of Member (i.e. self-financing) Governments only 7. To make available funds to cover the costs of mission deployment of its UNDAC members by depositing US$50,000 in a Mission Account with OCHA Geneva. On the basis of the funds provided, OCHA meets travel and related expenses for UNDAC members deploying on mission. 8. To participate in the annual UNDAC Advisory Board meeting (held in Geneva in February each year) to provide feedback and guidance to the UNDAC system. 9. To consider sponsoring participation of UNDAC members from Participating Governments who cannot afford to fund their own members. For further information, please contact: Peter Muller, UNDAC Thematic Focal Point, muller2@un.org, Tel: +41 (0) 22-91 72783 For more information, please visit www.unocha.org