Effective Humanitarian Agencies
Bhanu Dr
Dear Vikrant,
I am trying to communicate few points which are very important for IAG as a platform to address disasters and identify the needs and gaps
Inter agency coordination is on least priority for individual NGO partner or INGO, while planning. Organizations do have a pre-existing plan based on regular projects in the disaster affected area tend to act on its own without considering coordination or collaboration, for various reasons.
Reason for the gaps in coordination and collaboration is due to communication gaps and absence of clearly stated policy and fund allocation by national Hq. for making State IAG’s initiatives effective. INGO’s National office says that state offices are having full autonomy but state offices feel handicap in the absence of allocations for state IAGs at national level.
Wide gaps in perception of INGO and its implementing partner regarding Coordination, collaboration and Humanitarian Emergency Response
Lack of popularization of URS concept and its benefit, amongst middle level and front line workers or many a times failure in preparation of organizational level emergency preparedness plan having coordination and collaboration as an inbuilt component.
NDMA’s documentary support is needed for state and district authorities to recognize IAGs strengths and be associated with Govt. for capacity building, planning, monitoring and social audits of disaster preparedness plans in principle.
URS focuses on INGOs only, but local NGO and Govt. are major stake holder, must be included strategically. This will help if state Govt. prepares a plan of action and provides space for NGOs.
Understanding of Middle level and front line worker of people's issues in disaster situation, principles of networking and collaboration and desired commitments in the light of DM act and national plans is poor hence coordination becomes difficult.
o URS coordination process
§ It is initiated by either SPHERE or IAG persons without desired capacity enhancement of participating agencies/ persons in following aspects:
· Common assessment, joint/ collaborative strategies
· Common response planning and action
· Common monitoring and evaluation
o Suggestion and innovative ideas for URS
Common understanding for coordination during immediate response is a big challenge as there is a definite gap on the on the issue of URS between INGO-NGO-Front line worker. IAGs must have identified master trainers (MTs) on various URS issues who shall initiate the URS process at the time of need and provide hand holding to local NGOs (through TOR and appropriate fund allocation for MT)
Suggestions for improved coordination:
* Develop coordination protocol at district level before and after emergency