Window 1: 1 Governance and Crisis management

UNCP Outcome 1: Government develops and implements effective governance and crisis management policies and strategies.

1.6 Disaster management

Intermediate Outcome 6: National and provincial level institutions and donor partners effectively coordinate, prepare, and deliver relief support in response to natural disasters

UN comparative advantage

The UN system has established an Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Disaster Management Team (DMT), made up of the relevant UN agencies (OCHA, UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO, UNFPA), Government, National Disaster Centre (NDC), Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies, World Vision, Caritas and faith-based organizations, to ensure that measures are in place for efficient deployment of humanitarian and emergency support to the Government and affected people in the event of a natural disaster. Its role is also to ensure longer term capacity development of emergency services. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) appointed a Humanitarian Affairs Officer in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator to support the Resident Coordinator, the DMT and the Government in providing emergency response, as needed, and for (OCHA) appointed a Humanitarian Affairs Officer in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator to support the Resident Coordinator, the DMT and the Government in providing emergency response, as needed, and for support to the implementation of the Disaster Management Medium Term Framework of Action, 2005 - 2015. Key recommendations from the 2005 Humanitarian Response Review included the need for strengthening of the Humanitarian Coordinator position, increased flexibility and access to emergency financing as well as strengthening of partnerships. Improved coordination of humanitarian situations through the introduction of the Cluster Approach has proved a successful model in recent emergencies.

Proposed UN system support

The UN system (OCHA, UNHCR, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP and FAO) will continue to support the National Disaster Center (NDC) and relevant authorities (i) to respond to emergency relief needs resulting from natural disasters; (ii) to build their capacity to implement the NDC Corporate Plan (2006 - 2009) as well as the Disaster Management Medium Term Framework of Action; (iii) prepare for, and respond to, natural disasters, and coordinate with the relevant sectoral agencies. These activities will be executed in the context of the proposed Integrated Emergency Services. This would include response to Avian and Human Influenza in the event of outbreaks. The UN system will assist the Government in taking up risk reduction initiatives under the Hyogo Framework of Action. It is intended that the Cluster Approach will be systematically introduced and mainstreamed to strengthen preparedness and response procedures through a series of contingency planning workshops involving all DMT members.

OCHA will continue to work closely with UNDP’s Pacific Centre and Pacific regional organizations (such as South Pacific Applied Geosciences Commission, Pacific Island Forum Secretariat, South Pacific Commission) to ensure that Papua New Guinea (PNG) meets and implements regional disaster protocols, such as the Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network, to support the country to develop and implement an integrated national action plan for disaster risk reduction and disaster management. The Pacific Partnership Network will use a “whole of government” approach to ensure that disaster risk reduction and disaster management is mainstreamed by all departments and levels of government in planning and implementation processes.

Partnership development

The UN system, particularly through OCHA, and the IASC Disaster Management Team, will work closely with the National Disaster Centre, and other donor partners, particularly AusAID, to augment present government initiatives and help strengthen overall response capacities. In pursuit of the implementation of the Disaster Management Medium Term Framework of Action, the UN System, in close collaboration with IASC partners, and the NDC and other relevant government departments, will engage in strengthening disaster response preparedness. OCHA will also seek to form strategic partnerships with regional and international partners to ensure coordinated and formalized relationships to strengthen disaster preparedness, response and recovery capacities.