Background information on the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and other inter-agency mechanisms

Introduction Within the system, WHO is the focal point for all health matters related to emergency preparedness, emergency response and disaster reduction. To this end, WHO participates in the various coordinating bodies of the United Nations so as to fit health action in crises in to an overall humanitarian strategy and to help ensure effective coordination of emergency and humanitarian action. Within WHO, the Department for Health Action in Crises (HAC) has been tasked to ensure that WHO effectively responds to the needs of countries affected by complex emergencies and natural disasters, and that health concerns are addressed by the multiple stakeholders along best public health standards. WHO works with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee at the level of Heads of Agency and actively participates in the various IASC mechanisms and related bodies to keep health high on the political agenda and to secure broad agreement that health for all, especially the poorest, is one of the central purposes of any humanitarian response.

Within the IASC, WHO aims to secure broad agreement that health – for all, especially poorest – is one of the central purposes of any humanitarian response: there is plenty of space for all to be contributing to this goal, and WHO can help all make an optimal contribution. WHO seeks to work with humanitarian agencies both within and outside the UN system (including development banks) to encourage governments and other national and local authorities to pay full and proper attention to health issues and to ensure a focused analysis through concerted action, to improve the health sector at local and national levels.

What is the Inter-Agency Standing Committee? The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) was established in June 1992 in response to General Assembly Resolution 46/182 to serve as the primary mechanism for inter-agency coordination relating to humanitarian assistance in response to complex and major emergencies under the leadership of the Emergency Relief Coordinator. UN agencies, the Red Cross Movement, IOM and three international NGO consortia form the IASC1. The primary role of the IASC is to formulate humanitarian policy to ensure coordinated and effective humanitarian response to both complex emergency and to natural disasters. The Secretariat for IASC is the Office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), Jan Egeland. OCHA operates from New York and Geneva and is tasked with facilitating coordination among humanitarian agencies, at strategic and operational levels.

1 The IASC includes: OCHA, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, FAO and WHO. Standing invitees are ICRC, IFRC, IOM, ICVA (International Council for Voluntary International Action), Inter-Action, SCHR (Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response), RSGIDP (The Representative of the - General on Internally Displaced Persons), UNHCHR and the World Bank.

2 Through the IASC, WHO aims to secure broad agreement at the Heads of Agency level that health for all, especially the poorest, is one of the central purposes of any humanitarian response. The IASC meets at the executive level twice a year to discuss broad policy brought to the attention by the ERC and by the IASC Working Group (IASC-WG). WHO is an active member of the IASC from the onset. The Director-General participated in the most recent IASC meeting in Geneva in March 2004. The next one is scheduled for December 2004. Within WHO, the gatekeeper of relations with the IASC is HAC-Geneva.

Inter-Agency Standing Committee Working Group The IASC Working Group, at the level of Directors of Emergency Departments, followed by the Representative of the Director-General for Health Action in Crises (RDG/HAC), meets four times a year. The next meeting will take place in June 2004. Key IASC instruments are the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP), which is the only consolidated inter-agency fundraising mechanism for humanitarian action, and IASC Subsidiary bodies, which involve different IASC members of the Working Group to address complex issues, such as HIV/AIDS in emergency settings, the CAP, internal displacement, humanitarian financing, gender, human rights, transition issues, sanctions, etc. Through the IASC Working Group, WHO advocates for better health action in crises, promoting focused analysis of and actions to improve the health sector at local and national levels.

IASC Subsidiary Bodies IASC Subsidiary Bodies are created for a limited period of time to discuss issues and to develop guidelines and policies at a technical level. Their work often forms the basis for IASC-WG discussions and, ultimately, for IASC decisions. WHO strives to enhance full and proper attention to health issues, particularly among vulnerable populations, especially among poor people. WHO participates in most of the IASC Subsidiary Bodies through HAC.

WHO chairs the IASC Taskforce on HIV/AIDS in emergency settings and co-chairs the IASC Taskforce on Strengthening Field Information Management and the IASC Task Force on Gender and Humanitarian Action. WHO strives towards improving the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP), assisting Internally Displaced Persons and strengthening the linkages with Humanitarian Coordinators to better reflect health issues faced by countries in crises settings and to incorporate health dimensions in humanitarian action. WHO actively participates in IASC Subsidiary bodies dealing with engagement with armed groups, humanitarian interface with military and political actors, inter-agency preparedness and contingency planning, preparedness and response to natural disasters, staff security, human rights and, emergency telecommunications. WHO contributes to and makes use of the UN Joint Logistical Centre (UNJLC), the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) and the UN Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC).

In addition, the IASC holds weekly, technical-level meetings in both New York and Geneva, which also help facilitate communication and information sharing among IASC agencies concerning issues of daily concerns to the field. WHO participates in the IASC weekly meeting in Geneva through HAC.

Other inter-agency mechanisms ECOSOC The Humanitarian Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council, five years after its inception allows for substantial debate with all stakeholders involved in humanitarian assistance, e.g. donors, recipient countries and agencies. In order to alleviate suffering in crises, health was recognized in 2003 as one of the crucial areas to be addressed through cooperation. Within WHO, HAC is the gatekeeper for the ECOSOC Humanitarian Segment.

Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs The UN Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs (ECHA) is one of the four Executive Committees created by the UN Secretary- General in the framework on 1998 UN reform aimed at enhancing the coordination with the UN system. ECHA is chaired by the ERC and brings together the humanitarian, development, political and pillars of the UN system and meets on a monthly basis in New York. Through ECHA, UN humanitarian agencies input into the annual UN Report of the Secretary-General’s on the Work of the Organization. WHO and FAO have observer status. WHO, through inter- action with ECHA members, secures consensus for health action in crises with the military and peacekeeping stakeholders of the UN system, e.g. the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the UN Department for Political Affairs (DPA). WHO participates in ECHA meetings through HAC.

United Nations Development Group The United Nations Development Group (UNDG), also created as a key feature of the Secretary-General’s reform program, brings together United Nations entities dealing with development issues. Four members form an Executive Committee (ExCom) comprised of UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, and WFP. The Administrator of UNDP chairs the UNDG. Through UNDG, WHO aims to enhance greater UN visibility/unity at the country level. WHO has one of the largest country representations of the UN system. Within WHO, GOV is the gatekeeper for relations with UNDG. HAC closely follows UNDG deliberations, particularly in the context of transition issues, e.g. Afghanistan, Iraq, and Liberia.

TS, 20 April 2004