Coordination of Regional Humanitarian Responses in the Americas - OCHA 2014

March 2013 – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is responsible for bringing together humanitarian organizations and governments to ensure a rapid and coherent response to humanitarian emergencies around the world. With the support of DFATD and other donors OCHA coordinates field operations across the Americas. Project activities include: (1) strengthening humanitarian leadership; (2) establishing and overseeing coordination systems; (3) monitoring and reporting on humanitarian situations; (4) advocating on behalf of affected people; (5) supporting the assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning; (6) promoting emergency preparedness; and (7) mobilizing funding for humanitarian assistance.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) strengthened coordination systems; (2) enhanced monitoring and reporting on humanitarian situations; (3) enhanced advocacy on behalf of affected populations; (4) strengthened assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning; (5) improved emergency preparedness; and (6) increased funding for humanitarian assistance. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.