Chapter two

The Humanitarian System:

Roles, Responsibilities and Coordination
Session Objectives
• At the end of this of session students will be to
• Define humanitarian system and humanitarian principles
• Have insights to what is the objectives of WFP and key areas focused
by WFP
• Understands keys aspects of food as human right and the aim behind.
• Identify the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive
Realization of the Right to Adequate Food.
• Know what is coordination and different responsibilities of
coordination systems.
 What is the international humanitarian system?
• The international ‘humanitarian system’ includes a wide range of
organisations, agency groupings and inter-agency processes that all combine to
enable international humanitarian assistance to be channelled to those locations
and peoples in need of it.

• A wide range of organisations are often included in reference to ‘the

humanitarian system’, including United Nations (UN) agencies, the
International Red Cross Movement, non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
and donor agencies.
• These organisations are guided by certain humanitarian principles: humanity,
impartiality, independence and neutrality which arise from international
humanitarian law (IHL):
 Humanitarian Principles
• Humanity. “The right to receive humanitarian assistance, and to offer it, is a
fundamental humanitarian principle, which should be enjoyed by all citizens of all
countries.”
• Impartiality. “Aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the
recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated
on the basis of need alone.”
• Independence. “Humanitarian aid is not a partisan or political act and should not be
viewed as such. Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious
standpoint…Humanitarian NGOs shall.
• Neutrality. “Humanitarian assistance should be provided without engaging in
hostilities or taking sides in controversies of a political, religious or ideological
nature.”
• These humanitarian principles are not common to all agencies. For example,
humanity, impartiality and independence are upheld by most whilst neutrality is
claimed by the UN, Red Cross Movement and a small minority of NGOs only
 World Food Program
• The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization
dedicated to fighting hunger and promoting food security around the world.
Established in 1961, it is a specialized agency of the United Nations and
operates in more than 80 countries, providing assistance to those in need.

• The primary goal of the World Food Programme is to eradicate hunger and
malnutrition. It works to achieve this through a variety of programs and
initiatives that address both immediate food needs and long-term solutions.
• The World Food Programme plays a crucial role in addressing hunger and food
insecurity globally. Through its various programs and initiatives, it strives to
save lives, support communities, and build a world where everyone has access
to adequate and nutritious food
 key areas of focus for the WFP
• Emergency Response: The WFP responds swiftly to emergencies such as
natural disasters, conflict, and other crises.
• It provides life-saving food assistance to affected populations, ensuring they
have access to nutritious meals during critical times.

• School Feeding: The WFP implements school feeding programs, where

nutritious meals are provided to children in schools. This not only improves
their nutrition but also encourages school attendance and enhances learning
outcomes.
• Nutritional Support: The WFP places a strong emphasis on addressing
malnutrition, particularly in vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant
women, and nursing mothers.
 key areas of focus for the WFP
• Food Assistance and Social Safety Nets: The WFP works to establish
social safety nets and food assistance programs in collaboration with
governments and partners.
These initiatives aim to provide predictable access to food for vulnerable
populations, including refugees, internally displaced persons, and those
living in extreme poverty.

• Resilience Building: The WFP focuses on long-term solutions by

helping communities build resilience to shocks and vulnerabilities.
• Supply Chain and Logistics: The WFP operates one of the largest
humanitarian supply chains in the world.
 key areas of focus for the WFP…..
It ensures the efficient delivery of food and other essential items to the areas in
need, often in challenging and remote environments. This includes
coordinating transportation, storage, and distribution logistics.

• Partnerships and Advocacy: The WFP collaborates with governments, non-

governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to mobilize resources and
raise awareness about the issue of global hunger. It advocates for policies and
investments that support food security and nutrition at local, national, and
international levels.
 Food as Human Right
• Food as a human right is the principle that every individual, without
discrimination, should have access to safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate
food to meet their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life.

• The concept of food as a human right is rooted in international human

rights instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

• Recognizing food as a human right implies a commitment to addressing the

underlying causes of food insecurity and promoting sustainable agriculture,
equitable food systems, poverty reduction, social protection, and the
empowerment of individuals and communities.
 key aspects of food as a human right:
• Availability: Adequate food must be available in sufficient quantities and on a
consistent basis to all individuals, either through domestic production or by
other means of food distribution, such as imports or food assistance programs.

• Accessibility: Food should be physically, economically, and socially accessible

to everyone. This means that individuals should have the means to obtain food
without discrimination or barriers, such as affordability, physical proximity to
food sources, and non-discriminatory access to markets and distribution
channels.

• Adequacy: Food must be of sufficient quantity and quality to meet dietary

needs and cultural preferences. It should be safe, nutritious, and culturally
appropriate, taking into account the individual's age, sex, and specific
nutritional requirements.
 key aspects of food as a human right……
• Non-Discrimination: The right to food should be enjoyed by all individuals
without discrimination based on factors such as race, color, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth, or
other status.

• Participation: Individuals and communities should have the right to participate

in decision-making processes that affect their access to food, including policies,
programs, and practices related to food production, distribution, and consumption.

• Accountability: Governments and other relevant stakeholders have the

responsibility to respect, protect, and fulfil the right to food. They should establish
legal frameworks, policies, and programs that promote food security, address
hunger and malnutrition, and ensure accountability for violations of the right to
food.
The voluntary guidelines to support the progressive realization of
the right to food
• The Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the
Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security, often
referred to as the "Right to Food Guidelines," is a set of guidelines developed
by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• These guidelines aim to assist governments in implementing and realizing the
right to adequate food at the national level.

• The Voluntary Guidelines are non-binding, but they serve as a valuable tool for
governments, policymakers, and stakeholders in advancing the progressive
realization of the right to adequate food and improving food security globally.
 key focus of the Voluntary Guidelines:
• Human Rights-Based Approach: The guidelines are based on a human rights
framework, emphasizing that the right to adequate food is a fundamental
human right. They provide guidance on how to integrate human rights
principles into food and nutrition policies and programs.

• National Food Security Context: They recognize that the realization of the
right to adequate food is closely linked to achieving national food security.
• Participation and Accountability: highlight the importance of participatory
processes that involve individuals, communities, and civil society
organizations in decision-making related to food and nutrition policies.
• Legal and Policy Frameworks: The guidelines encourage governments to
establish legal and policy frameworks that recognize and protect the right to
adequate food.
 key focus of the Voluntary Guidelines……
• Access to Resources: They emphasize the importance of ensuring equitable
access to land, water, fisheries, forests, seeds, and other natural resources for
sustainable food production.
• Social Protection: The guidelines highlight the role of social protection measures
in realizing the right to adequate food. They recommend the establishment of
social safety nets, such as cash transfers, food vouchers, and school feeding
programs, to ensure access to food for vulnerable populations.
• Nutrition and Health: The guidelines emphasize the need to address
malnutrition and promote healthy diets. They provide guidance on integrating
nutrition considerations into food and agriculture policies, promoting diverse
and sustainable food systems, and ensuring access to safe drinking water and
sanitation.
• International Cooperation: The guidelines stress the importance of international
cooperation and support for countries in realizing the right to adequate food.
 What is humanitarian coordination?
• Whatever the context of an emergency, and whatever the specific mix of actors
involved, there is always going to be a need for some level of coordination in
order to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the humanitarian effort.

• Coordination is thus a means to creating an enabling environment where

independent organisations can collaborate as necessary according to the
specific context.

• In order to create this enabling environment, it is helpful to have some

general guidance and generic procedures, and these are described in this
module. However, much will depend on the specific situation of the emergency.
Who is responsible for humanitarian coordination?
• Ultimate responsibility for the provision (and coordination) of relief rests with
the authority controlling the territory affected by the disaster, be it a national
government or occupying power.

• This is a fundamental principle of humanitarian action, yet one which is often

undervalued or even undermined during early stages of response. It needs to
be recognised at all times, even in situations where that responsibility has
been delegated, or assumed, by other actors.

• Where the government cannot or will not undertake this responsibility, then
the UN has a responsibility to intervene. A Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) is
then designated to lead and coordinate humanitarian efforts.
 Coordination Processes, Mechanisms and Tools
The Cluster Approach
The Cluster Approach operates at two levels.
• At the global level, the aim is to strengthen system-wide preparedness and technical capacity
to respond to humanitarian emergencies by designating global Cluster Leads and ensuring
that there is predictable leadership and accountability in the main sectors.
• At the country level, the aim is to ensure a more coherent and effective response by
mobilising agencies to respond strategically across all key sectors.

• The Nutrition Cluster’s lead agency is UNICEF. The Global Nutrition Cluster
Coordination Team focus on coordination, capacity building, emergency preparedness,
assessment, monitoring, surveillance and response triggers and supplies.

• There are also Country Nutrition Cluster Coordinators, working with national and
international partners on agreed priorities such as joint assessments, emergency preparedness
and improving coverage of nutrition programmes.
 Funding Mechanisms for Humanitarian Response
There are two main funding mechanisms for response to an emergency:
Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP)
• The CAP is a tool to help plan, coordinate, fund, implement and monitor aid responses to
emergencies. The CAP is used to solicit donor support, including ‘Consolidated Appeals’
or ‘Flash Appeals’ for urgent needs in the short-term.
• Critics of the CAP argue that it is a UN-focused fundraising mechanism. Appeals are
often regarded as being inflated and therefore the CAP often fails to receive full funding
from international donors.

Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

The CERF is a grant facility with up to US$450 million. It has 3 primary objectives:
Promote early action and response to reduce loss of life;
 Enhance response to time-critical requirements; and
 Strengthen core elements of humanitarian response in underfunded crisis.
 Sphere Standards on Coordination
• The Sphere Handbook places a great deal of emphasis on coordination – both inter-agency and inter-
sectoral coordination.
Sphere Core Standard 2: Co-ordination and Collaboration
• Humanitarian response is planned and implemented in coordination with the relevant authorities,
humanitarian agencies and civil society organisations engaged in impartial humanitarian action,
working together for maximum efficiency, coverage and effectiveness.
The ‘Principles of Partnership’
• Five basic principles were endorsed by UN and non-UN humanitarian actors to support efforts to
address common challenges. These are:
Equality,
Transparency,
 Result-orientated
approach,
Responsibility and
Complementarity.

Collaborative Groupings within the Humanitarian System
The United Nations
• The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
(ERC) is a high level position in the UN. The ERC is responsible for oversight of all
emergencies requiring UN humanitarian assistance, and acts as the central focal point for
Governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental relief activities.
• The ERC is the head of OCHA (the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs). OCHA is responsible for coordinating the UN’s response to (large) complex
emergencies and natural disasters.

Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)

• Chaired by the ERC, the IASC is an inter-agency forum established in 1992 for
coordination, policy development and decision-making.
• The IASC aims to ensure a coherent interagency response to complex emergencies and
natural or environmental disasters. The IASC comprises the main UN agencies and other
actors involved in humanitarian assistance.
Good Humanitarian Donor ship (GHD) Initiative
• Launched in 2003, the GHD initiative includes 37 representatives of donor
organisations. By establishing principles and good practice of humanitarian
donor ship, the GHD can be seen as an example of donor coordination.
• It provides a framework to guide official humanitarian aid and a mechanism
for encouraging greater donor accountability.

United Nations Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN)

• The UN’s SCN is neither an operational nor a humanitarian body, but is a
forum to harmonise the food and nutrition policy of the UN. The SCN
convenes a Working Group on Nutrition in Emergencies and supports several
publications, including the NICS Report (Nutrition Information in Crisis
Situations).
 Roles and Responsibilities of some Specific Actors
UN Agencies
The main UN actors involved in nutrition in emergencies are:
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• World Food Programme (WFP)
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Each of these supports a range of nutrition-related activities in emergencies.

Many of them also have memoranda of understanding (MoU) to help clarify
their specific roles and responsibilities – such as the MoU between WFP and
UNHCR, or that between WFP and UNICEF.
 Donors
The European Union and ECHO
• Since the treaty of Lisbon entered into force in December 2009, the European Union has
been undergoing important changes, including within the Commission.
• The Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection functions have been merged into a new
Directorate General - The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection
Office (ECHO). Whether and how this amalgamation affects ECHO’s humanitarian
mission remains to be seen.
USAID and OFDA
• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provides economic,
development and humanitarian assistance in support of the foreign policy goals of the
United States.
• USAID houses the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance
(DCHA), which supports the coordination of USAID's democracy programmes,
international disaster assistance, food aid (emergency and development), aid to manage
and mitigate conflict, and volunteer programmes.
•
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and National Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies are collectively known as The International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement (or more simply the Red Cross Movement). However, the three are
independent bodies.
• National Societies are found in almost every country. They act as auxiliaries to the public
authorities of their own countries in the humanitarian field and provide a range of services
including disaster relief, health and social programmes.
• The IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, with 187 member National,
societies, secretariat in Geneva and over 60 country delegations. The role of the IFRC is
to coordinate and direct international assistance to disasters in non-conflict situations,
working primarily through National Societies.

• The ICRC is mandated by the international community to be the guardian and promoter of
international humanitarian law.