HUMANITARIAN SYSTEM-WIDE EMERGENCY ACTIVATION, OR LEVEL 3 ACTIVATION. What NGO staff need to know

Transcription

1 HUMANITARIAN SYSTEM-WIDE EMERGENCY ACTIVATION, OR LEVEL 3 ACTIVATION What NGO staff need to know

2 What is an L3 activation? mechanism developed as part of the Transformative Agenda (TA) to mobilise adequate means from within the whole of the humanitarian system to respond collectively to a major humanitarian crisis. an exceptional measure designed for exceptional circumstances supports the activation of specific measures to ensure that the appropriate humanitarian architecture is in place to manage the response represents a statement of priority among global crises

3 Who decides to activate an L3 and based on what? The IASC Principals decide, based on an analysis and recommendations provided by the Emergency Directors Group (EDG) in close consultation with the relevant Humanitarian Country Team (HCT). Decision based on an analysis of: the situation against the following five criteria: Scale; Urgency; Complexity; Response Capacity; and Reputational risk; what has occurred to date to scale up the response and the results of actions taken, so as to reach a common understanding of what issues are affecting the response. Analysis must be reviewed in light of the specific measures which are activated by the L3 declaration, to determine if, and how, some of these could contribute to addressing the gaps identified or if other measures are also required.

4 Do the IASC Principals have options? Yes, based on the analysis, the IASC Principals can decide either: To declare an L3 either for 3 months (sudden-onset disaster) of 6 months (protracted or slow-onset disaster) with public messages clarifying the following: Achievable objectives related to the problem(s) that the L3 is designed to address; Which accompanying measures are activated by the declaration within deadlines adapted to the context; What is expected of IASC organisations and donors. To not declare an L3. Even with this, they can still: Activate specific L3 accompanying measures or protocols; and/or Request specific sectors to scale up and adapt their response in certain geographical areas.

5 What are the IASC Principals? The EDG?

6 What are the specific measures activated by an L3 declaration? The L3 declaration commits IASC member organizations to ensure that they: put in place the right systems, and mobilize resources to contribute to the response as per their mandate areas, cluster lead Agency responsibilities, and commitments to the response. It also triggers: Review of the in-country leadership structure to ensure adequate capacity at the HC level. Deployment of the Inter-Agency Rapid Response Mechanism (IARRM)

7 Anything else? Humanitarian Program Cycle (HPC) planning calendar developed within 24 hours noting what tools/products already exist. A preliminary response plan may be developed by the HCT within 3-5 days of the L3 declaration to lay out priorities and a common strategic approach. An immediate initial CERF allocation of between US$10-20 million is issued by the ERC within 72 hours of the declaration to be allocated by the HC in support of priorities identified in the response plan. The empowered leadership model is activated. An exit strategy to be drawn up in the 3 weeks following activation including: how chosen leadership model will remain in effect, come to an end and be replaced by something else and how possible the transition would be managed; strategy for gradually mobilizing and deploying the required capacity to take over core coordination functions from the IARRM; and a common view of how reporting lines, roles and responsibilities will be defined at the end of the period of application.

8 Deciding on when to end the L3 declaration? If the objectives that the L3 declaration aimed to address have not been met within the timeframe of the declaration, then the Principals, in close consultation with the HC, the HCT, and the EDG will analyse the reasons for this. Based on this analysis, they will determine whether the objectives are still relevant and whether an extension of the L3 would bring desired results.

9 A brief review of all the declared L3 crises to date Country Declaration Review / Extension Current Status OPR Exit Strategy SYRIA Jan No Unknown No PHILIPPINES Nov (3 months) Yes Feb No extension Discontinued 2/2014 No C.A.R. Dec (6 months) SOUTH SUDAN Feb (6 months) Yes Aug.2014 (3 months) Yes Nov 5, 2014 (3 months) Yes - July 2014 (3 months) Yes Nov 2014 (6 months) IRAQ Aug Yes Nov 2014 (6 months) Review Feb 19, 2015 (postponed) 3/2014 No Review April /2014 Review April 2015 No No

10 Syria - 1/13/13

11 Philippines (Haiyan) 11/11/13

12 Central African Republic - 12/11/13

13 South Sudan 2/11/14

14 Iraq 8/12/14

15 What about Ukraine? Ebola? Nigeria?..

16 Group Work From your perspective, have L3 declarations changed the effectiveness of humanitarian responses? If so, how? If not, why not? From an NGO perspective, what can we do to improve the response in system-wide emergencies?

17 For more information All TA Protocols and the revised Humanitarian Programme Cycle which includes specific guidance for L3 situations available on Find out more about NGO engagement with the humanitarian architecture at Talk to your colleagues at SCHR, ICVA or InterAction, or their WG and EDG representatives