Iasc cluster approach evaluation, 2nd phase april 2010

  6.2 Minimal integration of cross-cutting issues 
95
   
The  integration  of  cross-cutting  issues  in  policies,  tools,  guidance,  strategic 
planning and operations is important for ensuring the quality of humanitarian 
assistance. Within humanitarian reform, age, gender, the environment and HIV/
AIDS are formally recognized as cross-cutting issues with assigned focal agencies 
at global level (see box 1). Clusters have formal responsibility for ensuring adequate 
integration of cross-cutting issues in all stages of the response.
54
96
   The  integration  of  cross-cutting  issues  in  the  activities  of  clusters  and  their  members  has 
remained minimal in all case-study countries, with only some minor exceptions.
97
   Various kinds of evidence support the observation that cross-cutting issues are not 
sufficiently included in the six case study countries:
 
•   
Hardly  any  documents  at  country  level,  including  needs  assessments  and 
monitoring  reports,  contain  sex  and  age  disaggregated  data.  One  of  the  few 
exceptions  is  the  age,  gender  and  diversity  assessment  conducted  by  the 
Protection Cluster in Chad.  
 
•   
As  evidenced  by  direct  observation  and  an  analysis  of  meeting  minutes, 
discussions during cluster meetings hardly ever focus on cross-cutting issues.
53  IASC (2008b)
54  See Generic Terms of Reference for Sector/Cluster Leads at Country Level.