Iasc cluster approach evaluation, 2nd phase april 2010

Executive Summary
Introduction
Method
Background
Findings
Conclusions
Recommendations

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Humanitarian reform and 
the cluster approach
Purpose of the evaluation
  1 Introduction
1
   In  2005,  the  Emergency  Relief  Coordinator  in  close  coordination  with  the 
Inter-Agency  Steering  Committee  (IASC)  initiated  an  ambitious  reform  of  the 
humanitarian system based on a thorough review of its operations. This reform 
aims at strengthening the effectiveness of humanitarian response to emergencies 
across  the  globe.  It  builds  on  four  pillars:  humanitarian  financing,
4
  the 
Humanitarian Coordinator system, partnership among all humanitarian actors 
and  the  cluster  approach.  The  cluster  approach  is  a  system  of  coordination  in 
which a lead organization, designated for priority areas of response, is responsible 
for  organizing  coordination  at  global  and  country  level,  strengthening  global 
preparedness, developing global guidance and acting as provider of last resort.
2
   When introducing the cluster approach, the IASC requested an evaluation of its 
implementation in two phases. Phase 1 of the evaluation was finalized in 2007 
and focused on processes related to the implementation of the cluster approach.
5
 
Phase  2  focuses  on  the  outcomes  generated  by  the  cluster  approach  and  takes 
a  country-level  perspective  to  bring  the  reality  on  the  ground  back  to  decision 
makers at the global level. 
3
   After five years of implementation the evaluation is timely, because significant 
resources have been invested in the cluster approach and important experiences 
have been collected. The evaluation is guided by two main aims:
 
•
    To  assess  the  main  outcomes  of  the  joint  humanitarian  response  at  country 
level,  with  particular  reference  to  the  role  of  the  cluster  approach  and  other 
components  of  the  humanitarian  reform  process  and  the  overall  operational 
effectiveness  of  the  cluster  approach  in  facilitating  and  supporting  the 
coordinated humanitarian response at country level.
 
•
    To present suggestions on how the cluster approach can be further improved 
and strengthened.
   The results of this evaluation were presented to the IASC Working Group, which 
has created a Task Team on Coordination that will create a management response 
plan in reaction to the recommendations made.
4   Initiatives to strengthen humanitarian financing include the introduction of new funding mechanisms such 
as the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and Pooled Funding, but also strengthening existing 
mechanisms such as the Emergency Response Fund (ERF), the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) or 
the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative. For a comprehensive review of humanitarian financing 
instruments, please refer to Stoddard (2008) or Barber et al. (2008) for the CERF. 
5   See Stoddard, Harmer et al. (2008).