The Humanitarian Information Centre

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The Humanitarian Information Centre
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Session Objectives

• Introduce the concept of the Humanitarian Common
  Service
• Outline the history of HICs
• Describe the purpose, function and structure of
  an HIC
• Review the roles of staff within an HIC

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Humanitarian Common Services

• HCS are endorsed by the IASC
• HCS serve the whole humanitarian community
• A UN entity acts as guardian/implementer
• Requested by the HC/IASC Country Team
• UN HCS are
• HIC Humanitarian Information Centre
• UNJLC Joint Logistic Centre
• UNHAS Humanitarian Air Service
• CMCS Civil Military Coordination Section
• IAET Inter Agency Emergency Telecommunications

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Why do we need an HIC?

• Coordination cannot work without information
• Information must be managed
• Information is hard to manage in an emergency,
  because
• Chaotic situation
• Disrupted communications
• Many sources

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Background

• IOC Rwanda (1994)
• HCIC Kosovo (1999)
• 2000-2004 Eritrea, Sierra Leone, oPt,
  Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Darfur
• 2005 Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Niger, Pakistan
• 2006 - ?

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Purpose of the HIC

• HICs aim to ensure that individuals and
  organizations at the field and strategic levels
  have access to the benefits of information
  management tools to assess, plan, implement and
  monitor humanitarian assistance.

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Deployment of an HIC

• When is an HIC appropriate?
• significant change in humanitarian situation
• increase in humanitarian actors/resources
• diminished communications capacity
• An HIC is deployed at the request of the HC/RC in
  consultation with the IASC Country Team,
  including OCHA

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Function of the HIC

• Physical space
• Provider of info products and services
• Focal point for data
• Common platform
• Data collection
• Data dissemination
• Facilitator on information management
• Advocate for information-sharing

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The HIC is not responsible for

• Coordination
• Writing sitreps
• Acting outside the coordination framework
• Sectoral/Cluster coordination (other than IM
  coordination)
• Financial tracking
• Assessments

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HIC Liberia-Internet Cafe
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HIC Liberia-Map Shelves
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(No Transcript)
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HIC Sumatra-phase I
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HIC Pakistan
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HIC Pakistan
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OCHAs Management Role

• OCHA remains accountable for the effective
  management and performance of HICs
• But the relationship doesnt stop there

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Small Group Discussion

• In groups discuss
• The ways in which OCHA does/should support the
  HIC and how the HIC does/should support OCHA in
  an emergency response.

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Administrative Roles

• Field Information Support (NY GVA)
• Identify Staff (incl. roster management,
  training)
• Initial Deployment Cost Plan, funding, equipment
• Managerial and policy oversight
• OCHA Geneva (HR FSS)
• Process Administrative Requests Staffing,
  Purchasing
• UN Office Geneva (UNOG)
• Issue Contracts
• Procure Equipment
• Local Service Provider (usually UNDP)
• Local Administrative Support

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Generic Roles

• HIC Manager
• Data Coordinator
• GIS Officer
• Liaison Officer
• Admin/Operations Officer (HQ)
• GIS Assistant
• Database Developer

• Web Assistant
• Data Entry
• Office Manager
• Receptionist/Information Assistant
• Administrative Support

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Humanitarian Coordinator (HC)
Generic HIC Organisation Chart
Generic HIC Organisation Chart
OCHA Head of Office
HIC Manager
Field Liaison Assistant
International Staff National Staff
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HIC Governance

• a local steering committee will be established
  as early as possible
• the steering committee will play the critical
  role in defining the priorities and strategy for
  the HIC, including approving its workplan

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Summary

• In an emergency, information must be managed in
  order to effectively support humanitarian aid
  coordination and operations.
• The HIC, as a Humanitarian Common Service,
  provides information products and services to the
  whole humanitarian community.
• All staff within the HIC have a role to play in
  promoting the HIC and carrying out its functions.
  
• Questions?

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Exercise!
Who Does What in an HIC?
Create products?
Liaise?
Manage?
Train?
Coordinate?
Supervise?