Shelter Cluster
Formation2006 (2006)
TypeCoordination mechanism
PurposeCoordinate humanitarian shelter
Global Shelter Cluster Coordinator
Brett Moore, UNHCR
Global Shelter Cluster Coordinator
Ela Serdaroglu, IFRC
AffiliationsInter-Agency Standing Committee
Websitewww.sheltercluster.org
Formerly called
Emergency Shelter Cluster

The Shelter Cluster is an Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) coordination mechanism that supports people affected by disasters and conflicts with the means to live in safe, dignified and appropriate shelter. The Shelter Cluster is one of eleven sectorial coordination groups[1][2] that are part of the Cluster Approach, that followed the Humanitarian Response Review in 2005.[3][4] Currently 43 humanitarian organizations are part of the Shelter Cluster at global level,[5] more than 500 organizations coordinate shelter assistance with the support of the Shelter Cluster at country level. [6]

The Shelter Cluster’s scope includes all activities related to achieving the right to adequate housing with a humanitarian focus. This includes:[7]

  • emergency and longer term shelter support;
  • shelter-related non-food-items (NFIs);
  • housing construction and reconstruction;
  • settlement support such as site planning and urban planning shelter preparedness and risk reduction.

Structure

The Global Shelter Cluster is co-chaired by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)[8] and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).[4]: iv [9] The IFRC convenes the Shelter Cluster in natural disaster situations.[10] UNHCR leads the Shelter Cluster in conflict situations where there are Internally displaced persons, whereas in refugee situations the core mandate of UNHCR takes precedence over the cluster system.[4]: iv [11][12] The IFRC is convening the Cluster and not leading it because, as a neutral and impartial organization, it cannot be part of the command structure of the United Nations. This difference was formalized in Memorandum of Understanding between the IFRC and The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.[13][14][15]

The structure of the Global Shelter Cluster includes:[16]

  • Global Shelter Cluster Meeting: the highest governing body of the Global Shelter Cluster. It meets twice a year to review progress against agreed objectives and define the Global Shelter Cluster strategic direction and annual priorities. It appoints members of the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG).
  • Strategic Advisory Group (SAG): a permanent body that works to advance the Cluster’s strategic direction and overall work plan. The SAG is elected by and composed of agencies and institutions that are part of the Global Shelter Cluster.
  • 31 active clusters in countries affected by conflicts or natural hazards.

The Shelter Cluster’s structure also include working groups, communities of practice and other support mechanisms.[16]

Operations

Since its inception in 2006, the Shelter Cluster has supported the coordination of humanitarian shelter assistance in over 60 responses in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East and the Pacific regions, .[17]

The Global Shelter Cluster website collects and shares documents related to the cluster responses in the affected countries.

References

  1. ↑ "What is the Cluster Approach". Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Global Cluster Leads, UNOCHA, 25 June 2012
  3. ↑ Guidance Note on Using the Cluster Approach to Strengthen Humanitarian Response, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), 24 November 2006, p. 3
  4. 1 2 3 Michel Vanbruaene; Tom Corsellis; Bernard Crenn; Jonathan Price; Paul Mbatha; Dieter Tranchant; Maria Lourdes Domingo-Price (9 August 2013). "Executive Summary". Evaluation of the European Commission's Humanitarian Action in the Shelter Sector – Final Report (PDF) (Report). European Commission Humanitarian and Civil Protection (ECHO). p. iii. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "About Us". Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  6. ↑ GSC Achievements Report 2016
  7. ↑ Scope of the Global Shelter Cluster
  8. ↑ UNHCR Global Report 2006 (PDF), Geneva: UNHCR, 30 June 2007, pp. 40–43
  9. ↑ Davidson, Sara; Price, Gill (9 January 2010), Review of the International Federation's Shelter Cluster Commitment (PDF), Geneva: IFRC, p. 10
  10. ↑ FAQ: The cluster process and the International Federation's Shelter Cluster commitment (PDF), IFRC, 2009
  11. ↑ 4. Reference Module for Cluster Coordination at the Country Level (PDF), Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), November 2012, p. 3, retrieved 22 October 2013
  12. ↑ Streets, Julia; Grünewald, François; Binder, Andrea; Geoffroy, de, Véronique; Kauffmann, Domitille; Krüger, Susanna; Meier, Claudia; Sokpoh, Bonaventure (April 2010), Cluster Approach Evaluation 2 Synthesis Report (PDF), Global Public Policy Institute, p. 25
  13. ↑ Memorandum of Understanding between International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in regards to the International Federation Assuming a Leading Role in Emergency Shelter in Natural Disasters, Geneva/New York, 19 September 2006{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  14. ↑ Stoddard, Abby; Harmer, Adele; Salomons, Dirk; Wheeler, Victoria (1 November 2007), Cluster Approach Evaluation - Final (PDF), Humanitarian Policy Group, p. 35, ISBN 9780850038637, retrieved 22 October 2013
  15. ↑ Inter-Agency Standing Committee Principals Meeting - Conclusions and Action Points, 12 December 2006, retrieved 26 September 2013
  16. 1 2 Management Structure of the Global Shelter Cluster
  17. ↑ "Shelter Cluster". Retrieved 14 November 2013.
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