INTER-AGENCY STANDING COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP IASC OVERARCHING GOAL STRENGTHEN THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF HUMANITARIAN ACTION IASC FUNCTIONS POLICY: Produces system-wide policies, guidelines and tools to harmonize and achieve a better overall response. OPERATIONAL: Ensure a coherent and timely response to complex emergencies. ADVOCACY: Agree on common messages, to jointly advocate for respect for humanitarian principles and ensure support for humanitarian work. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2016-2017 OF THE IASC WORKING GROUP EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES AND PROTRACTED CRISES ACCOUNTABILITY AND INCLUSIVITY DISPLACEMENT AND PROTECTION OUTCOMES FINANCING An unprecedented number of people require assistance in highly complex and protracted environments, stretching the international response capacity to its limits. The IASC seeks to support strengthening policy support to advance the effectiveness and relevance of humanitarian response, including through strengthening preparedness and resilience adequately addressing cross-cutting issues and working across sectors. More can be done to increase collective ownership and promote the implementation of key IASC policy guidelines and response. IASC members are committed to strengthening inclusivity (cooperating with external stakeholders including frontline responders, donors, private sector and national government) and investing in accountability, transparency and local capacity, with particular attention to PSEA. An unprecedented number of people require assistance and protection. The IASC has made a strong commitment to place protection central to humanitarian action. In 2016, IASC organizations will address challenges and strengthen response, including through adoption and implementation of a system-wide protection policy. Particular attention will be paid to forced displacement, sexual and violence prevention and response, child protection, gender mainstreaming and PSEA, addressing drivers of protection risks, and achieving durable solutions to displacement. Resources are not fit for purpose to adequately respond to the unprecedented number of people requiring assistance and to effectively strengthen preparedness. Working with partners the IASC seeks to promote appropriate, accessible and efficient use of resources to meet the needs for effective humanitarian preparedness and response. STRATEGIC ENTRY POINTS In implementing its strategic priorities, the IASC Working Group will engage in following up to global processes including in particular the World Humanitarian Summit and the Grand Bargain commitments. OUTPUTS based
Policy support to advance coherent and accountable system wide response to emergencies promoted with a focus on protracted crises and urban contexts Principled humanitarian action strengthened Policy support provided to strengthen humanitarian development nexus Accountability to affected populations Enhanced inter-organizational cooperation on PSEA Inclusion, cooperation, transparency and outreach strengthened Operationalise the whole of system approaches to protection in accordance with the Centrality of Protection Statement, through robust implementation of the IASC Protection Policy and actions on the recommendations of the WOSR. Enhance protection of all vulnerable groups in emergencies Adequate, appropriate, accessible and transparent financing for diverse preparedness action and response capacity promoted PRIORITY: effective response to emergencies and protracted crises Sponsors: UNICEF and InterAction Subsidiary bodies: Each Task Team/Reference Group will meet on a monthly basis and sponsors will call in quarterly meetings for the full priority to report on the linkages between activities. Reference Group Principled Humanitarian Action Task Team on Strengthening the Humanitarian/Development Nexus with a focus on protracted contexts Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness Reference Group MHCUA OUTPUTS ACTIVITIES LEAD Policy support provided to advance coherent and accountable system wide response to emergencies promoted with a focus on protracted crises and urban contexts Monitor key IAHE recommendations to reinforce humanitarian accountabilities IASC secretariat Review TA protocols for utilization in protracted crises, with a focus on simplicity and ensuring inter-agency ownership and accountability, drawing on findings fom STAIT and other relevant inter-agency missions Task Team on Strengthening the Hum./Dev. Nexus in cooperation with OCHA Ensure applicability of developed guidance on urban area- and system-based analysis/profiling to support humanitarian programming and coordination in protracted crises Dev. Nexus in cooperation with MHCUA Develop a compendium of good practices (for example on joined up planning cycles including analysis, assessments and monitoring, the building the capacity of frontline national responders, taking into account implementation of the IASC/UNDG/UNISDR Common Framework for Preparedness and other topics such as cross-cutting themes Task Team on Strengthening the Hum./Dev. Nexus in cooperation with other members Principled humanitarian action strengthened Raise awareness and promote implementation of the key recommendations of the Review of the Impact of UN Integration on Humanitarian Action, in particular implementation of the Integrated Assessment and Planning (IAP) policy Reference Group Principled Humanitarian Action in cooperation with OCHA