OCHA Strategic Plan 2018 - 2021

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan is to present a clear vision for how OCHA will contribute to more effective and principled humanitarian action for affected people.

The Strategic Plan was prepared in response to shifting global and humanitarian contexts. Today, protracted conflict and violence drive 80 per cent of humanitarian needs, and the average inter-agency appeal lasts seven years. Violations of international humanitarian and human rights law are increasing, affecting civilians and humanitarian workers. At the same time, several global initiatives and change agendas are shaping the future of humanitarian assistance, including the Agenda for Humanity, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Secretary-General’s reform agenda.

Over the next four years, OCHA will support the humanitarian system as it adapts to this changing global context. OCHA will work with partners to ensure a more effective and efficient humanitarian sector, while building on current strengths, norms, values and principles. OCHA will also undertake reforms to become a more effective, transparent and accountable organization, fit to address current and future humanitarian challenges. The 2018-2021 Strategic Plan incorporates lessons learned from OCHA’s 2014-2017 Strategic Plan and is aligned with the vision set out in the “Creating a Better OCHA” document, issued in June 2017. It represents the strategic choices that OCHA has decided to prioritize over the next four years.

This plan presents five strategic objectives and two management objectives for OCHA from 2018- 2021.The five strategic objectives are broadly organized around OCHA’s five core functions, which contribute to the major outcomes and outputs in OCHA’s Results Framework. For example, Strategic Objective 1 is linked to the Results Framework outputs on Coordination, and Strategic Objective 2 is linked to the Results Framework outputs on Information Management. The two management objectives are aligned with the Results Framework outputs on Management and Enabling Functions, and the “Creating a Better OCHA” document.

The strategic objectives promote synergies across OCHA’s core functions and reflect the interdependent nature of humanitarian coordination. To realize its vision and fulfil its mandate, OCHA must make progress against all five strategic objectives and both management objectives. All
of OCHA, at headquarters and in the field, is responsible for contributing to each of the strategic and management objectives through a cross- functional approach. In the field, OCHA’s country and regional offices are responsible for ensuring the delivery of the core functions in support of the strategic objectives.