IASC Guidance Note on Using the Cluster Approach to Strengthen Humanitarian Response, 2006

Published Date

The cluster approach is a mechanism that helps to address identified gaps in response and enhance the quality of humanitarian action. It is part of a wider reform process aimed at improving the effectiveness of humanitarian response by ensuring greater predictability and accountability, while at the same time strengthening partnerships between NGOs, international organizations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, UN agencies and the government.

The guidance note includes: the aim and scope of the cluster approach, the cluster leadership at the global and country level, responsibilities of the global and country cluster leads, contingency planning and application of the cluster approach in major new emergencies, how to strengthening partnerships and complementarity amongst humanitarian actors and national authorities, accountability of sector/cluster leads to the Humanitarian Coordinator, ‘provider of last resort’, and the role of the Humanitarian Coordinator and OCHA at the country level.