Coordination and Cooperation
This page is also available in Arabic
In any humanitarian crisis, time and resources are limited. So it's essential that all humanitarian actors - NGOs, UN agencies, donors and governments - work together to ensure people in need receive the best possible assistance on time. Sharing information about humanitarian activities and strategies helps organisations to identify any gaps or duplications in assistance quickly, and so respond efficiently. Ultimately, coordination and cooperation saving lives.
At the most basic level, coordination and cooperation means information-sharing. To tackle an emergency situation effectively, humanitarian actors need to assess the needs and issues surrounding the situation. Once they have established basic parameters they can then work together to plan their activities, join forces in the field, report on the latest situation, and share resources where necessary.
The Humanitarian Forum is addressing coordination and cooperation as one of its key modules. In particular we're addressing these areas:
-
training on the available coordination tools and mechanisms;
-
sharing information about humanitarian activities;
-
learning from each other's experiences and knowledge and identifying the needs of national NGOs;
-
evaluating the best ways of working together,understanding each other's principles, and promoting action according to humanitarian principles;
-
developing a common strategy on shared challenges such as shrinking humanitarian space and protection of civilians.
As well as improving the overall humanitarian response, these activities can also improve the level of understanding and cooperation between multi-lateral organizations and agencies from the West on the one hand and Muslim entities involved in humanitarian and charitable work on the other.
Case Study: Padang Earthquake
Humanitarian Forum Indonesia (HFI) is heavily involved in coordinating the relief effort in West Sumatera following the Earthquake there in October. Through monitoring, capacity building and dialogue, HFI and partners ensure the most effective response to the emergency.
Local HFI members work in all areas of disaster response, be it providing shelter, hygeine kits, childcare or education. In particular HFI is determined that communication channels are open and effective, and that local organisations and international agencies listen to and learn from each other.
'There is no room for ego,' says Hening Parlan, director of HFI. 'we all need to listen to each other and work together to reach the greatest number of victims as quickly as possible.'
