IDPs Camp © OCHA/Sven - 2004

The Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) on Disaster Preparedness provides a forum for regional organisations - international NGOs, the Red Cross and UN Agencies - to enhance information exchange and regional coordination in order to respond to emergencies in a timely and cost efficient manner. The increased collaboration between partner organisations, fostered by the IAWG, recognises that the efforts of individual organisations can and should complement each other in emergency response. The group also seeks to strengthen the support that can be offered to country counterparts by participating regional organisations.

The IAWG was established following discussion during the OCHA Regional Contingency Planning exercise in June 2002 and Consolidated Appeal process for 2003 for the Great Lakes Region. The group focuses on Central Africa – reflecting the broader coverage of many regional structures. The IAWG has established a formal link with the Sphere project office in Geneva, and the IAWG will play a lead role in promoting Sphere in the region.

Participation in the IAWG has grown steadily and includes members from over thirty international NGOs, Red Cross and UN agencies. The IAWG comprises a Core Group, which serves as a focal point and steering committee, and four Sub-Working Groups in Logistics; Training; Information Management & Technology (IMT) and Emergency Preparedness & Response (EPR)

Overall Objectives

• To enhance information-sharing and coordination between organisations in disaster preparedness and emergency response
• To increase understanding of the roles and capacities of partner organisations and maintain regular contact between these
• To support the exchange of technical information, examples of best practice and the strengthening of preparedness and response capacity