3.5 Coordination and joint approaches
Interactions or strategies pursued by any single humanitarian agency regarding parties involved in a conflict can affect the wider humanitarian community. Behaviour in one conflict can set examples for future conflicts. For this reason, CARE strives to develop joint approaches with other aid agencies at country and international levels.
CARE supports the implementation of the core principles and guidelines of the following:
- Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief (Annex 39.2)
- Inter-Agency Standing Committee 2008. Civil-military guidelines & reference for complex emergencies (generic template, which can be adapted into country-specific guidelines if required) (Annex 39.3)
- Oslo Guidelines on: The Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief, 2006 (covering natural, technological and environmental emergencies) (Annex 39.5)
- MCDA 2003. Guidelines on the use of military and civil defence assets (MCDA) to support United Nations humanitarian activities in complex emergencies (Annex 39.4)
- UN guidelines on Use of military or armed escorts for humanitarian convoys, 2001 (Annex 39.6).
In line with CARE’s policy regarding humanitarian leadership, the coordination and decision-making on humanitarian action should lie with civilian institutions that have humanitarian expertise. UN OCHA’s role in promoting respect of the above guidelines, and representation and coordination of humanitarian agencies, is key in this regard. OCHA staff will often include Civil-Military Coordination (CMCoord) Officers who lead this work. The OCHA CMCoord Officer will typically convene regular meetings between the relevant UN or other military actors and humanitarian agencies at a neutral, third-party location. Where appropriate, CARE and other NGOs may consider requesting OCHA’s assistance in representing humanitarian agencies’ concerns to the military.
