Supervisors info:
Μ. Δανδουλάκη, Πολιτικός Μηχανικός Ε.Μ.Π., ΜΔΕ στην Περιφερειακή Ανάπτυξη, Δρ. Πολεοδομίας Και Χωροταξίας Ε.Μ.Π.
Τριμελής Επιτροπή:
Δρ. Σ. Μπλαβούκος, Αναπλ. Καθηγ. ΟΠΑ
Δρ. Ε. Λέκκας, Καθηγ. ΕΚΠΑ
Δρ. Χ. Ντρίνια, Καθηγ. ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
The cluster approach, the prevailing humanitarian relief provision system, was introduced for the first time in Pakistan after the catastrophic earthquake in December 2005, in order to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian response to emergencies. The cluster approach clarifies more efficiently the roles and responsibilities of the humanitarian actors by having enhanced and explicit leadership, something which leads to better system coordination, and through effective partnerships with the host governments, the local authorities, the civil society and the humanitarian partners. At the same time, it aims at preventing duplication, identifying and addressing gaps, in order to achieve a more effective response in a timely manner. The clusters, designated by the IASC, are groups of UN and non-UN humanitarian organisations that correspond to the main sectors of humanitarian response. They have clear responsibilities for coordinating the technical capacity and response to emergencies, while at the same time they strengthen the system-wide preparedness.
In December 2011, the IASC Principals endorsed the Transformative Agenda focusing on the effectiveness and timely joint humanitarian response through strategic activation of the clusters, effective coordination mechanisms, improved and efficient inter-communication, reinforced leadership and improved accountability to the affected populations (AAP). At the same time, they developed and approved five Commitments to Accountability to Affected Populations (CAAP) which would act as integral part of the guidelines and the operational policies of the clusters and would focus on leadership/governance, transparency, feedback and complaints, participation, design, monitoring and evaluation. In an effort to address more effectively the principle of accountability, the IASC created in 2012 the IASC Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) by aid workers.
The study draws on extensive literature, evaluations and reports review coming from various UN agencies and humanitarian organisations, in order to present the cluster approach and examine if the instructions and guidelines are being implemented effectively in the field. The focus is on three aspects of the cluster approach: coordination, accountability to the affected people and participation of the affected in the decision-making, for the years 2005-2017.
Humanitarian relief provision, after the introduction of the cluster approach, improved in terms of coordinating humanitarian actors and basically developed a unified coordination system for the humanitarian response, while in the past none existed. However, the vast majority of the evaluations conclude that downward accountability and participation of the affected people in the overall decision-making of the humanitarian response remain two of the biggest weaknesses of the cluster approach. Overall the cluster approach has failed to integrate and engage the affected communities in programme design and implementation. Additionally, UN-integrated missions may compromise humanitarian principles, since the integration of the humanitarian response in the overall UN missions politicises humanitarian aid, making the required distinction between peacekeeping response and the neutrality and impartiality of the humanitarian actors blurry.
Keywords:
IASC, cluster approach, coordination, accountability, participation
