The cluster approach revisited

Abstract

The UN Cluster approach came from the Humanitarian Response Review (HRR) commissioned by the UN in 2005. The intention of that review was to address apparent failures in the speed, quality and effectiveness of humanitarian responses and in addition the lack of any common basis for assessing and comparing levels of need. Levels and techniques of funding were also found to be inadequate. The Cluster Approach would identify lead organizations for typically 10 key areas or clusters such as Food and Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, Health, Emergency Shelter, Early Recovery and Reconstruction, IT Telecommunications, Logistics, Camp Management and Protection and Education (as happened in Pakistan after the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake).

One of the case study areas used for the HRR was the West Darfur situation. And this paper re-visits that situation based on data collected there in June 2004 as part of testing of the Kestle Framework. The paper revisits the development and validation of that framework and then compares it to the Cluster Approach and suggests a way to move ahead by merging the framework into the Cluster Approach to produce an enhanced more robust approach.