Humanitarian Guidelines and Systems → The Cluster Approach
The Cluster Approach
The Cluster Approach aims to strengthen predictability, capacity, coordination, accountability, and partnership in key sectors of humanitarian response.
It is based on 11 clusters, each with a designated global ‘cluster lead agency’.
| Clusters |
Cluster Lead Agencies (CLAs) |
| Agriculture |
FAO |
| Emergency shelter |
UNHCR (IDPs from conflict)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (disasters) - 'Convenor'
|
| Water, Sanitation, Hygiene |
UNICEF |
| Nutrition |
UNICEF |
| Health |
WHO |
| Education |
UNICEF and Save the Children UK |
| Camp coordination / management |
UNHCR (conflict generated disasters)
IOM (natural disasters)
|
| Early recovery |
UNDP |
| Protection |
UNHCR (IDPs from conflict)
UNHCR/OHCHR/UNICEF (natural disasters/civilians from conflict)
|
| Emergency telecommunications |
OCHA and WFP
|
| Logistics |
WFP |
|
| Cross cutting issue |
Cross cutting issue Lead Agencies |
|
| Environment |
UNEP |
|
| Gender |
UNFPA/WHO |
|
| HIV and AIDS |
UNAIDS |
|
| Age |
Help Age International |
|
Cluster coordination structure
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is mandated to coordinate international humanitarian response on the basis of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/18
At global level, Cluster Lead Agencies (CLAs) are accountable to the Emergency Relief Coordinator in UNOCHA. At country level, ‘cluster leads’ are accountable to the UNOCHA Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator (HC/RC) and need not necessarily be the same agency/organisation as the Global CLA for that cluster.
This page was last updated on 24 June 2011