Standard Products

Each OCHA Field Office or HIC produces a set of standard products that are the basic information tools used to support humanitarian coordination. The scope of the product and the frequency with which it is revised will be determined in the field by user needs and demands and the capacity of the office. It should be noted that the products described below represent a minimum set of expected products and can be augmented based on local needs. Andrej Verity, OCHA-FIS New York, is the focal point for support of the standard products. He can be reached by email at verity@un.org.

Who Does What Where (3W)

Knowing which organizations (WHO) are carrying out which activities (WHAT) in which locations (WHERE) is essential if those organizations and activities are to be coordinated in a way that ensures that humanitarian needs are met.

Contact Directory

A contact list of all humanitarian actors in a crisis is one of the most valuable products that an HIC provides.

Briefing Material

Orientation materials are essential for humanitarian aid workers, both before and during their mission. A standard orientation pack, collecting together key documents ready for presentation to clients, is a valuable service which the OCHA office/HIC can provide. In addition, orientation packs are an opportunity to publicise OCHA/HIC presence, products and services.

Generally there are three types of orientation material:

Country Background: reports, security updates, demographic data, maps

Humanitarian Background: situation reports, assessment reports

Coordination Issues: meeting schedules, contact directory

Humanitarian Briefing Packs should include:

Welcome note from the Humanitarian Coordinator

City/Country maps

Security map

Meeting schedule

Contact list

Background papers (IDPs, Gender)

Current FTS tables

Materials in the pack should be:

Clearly dated and sourced

Accurate to the best knowledge of the project staff

Presented in an appropriate form (whether electronically or in hard-copy)

Updated regularly to ensure that information is current

Augmented as new documents become available

Examples of Briefing Packages:

Guinea Bissau Briefing Package

Meeting Schedules

The Meeting Schedule is a simple yet very useful coordination tool consisting of the time, location and function of meetings.