Humanitarian Program Cycle - Helper
Humanitarian Program Cycle (HPC)
The Humanitarian Program Cycle (HPC) is a comprehensive framework designed to ensure that humanitarian responses are well-planned, coordinated, and effective in addressing the needs of affected populations. It involves a series of interlinked steps that include needs assessment, strategic planning, resource mobilization, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. The HPC is vital for coordinating humanitarian action across various sectors and actors, ensuring that responses are timely, targeted, and aligned with the needs on the ground.
Who Must Participate in the HPC?
The HPC is a collective effort that requires the active participation of various stakeholders, including:
- Humanitarian Coordinators and Country Teams: These actors lead the coordination and strategic planning of the humanitarian response.
- Clusters and Sector Leads: They are responsible for the technical aspects of the response, ensuring that interventions are sector-specific yet integrated across sectors.
- National Authorities and Local Actors: Their involvement is crucial as they bring in local knowledge, legitimacy, and continuity in the response efforts.
- International and National NGOs, UN Agencies, and Donors: These entities provide the necessary resources, expertise, and funding to support the response.
- Affected Populations: Their input is essential for ensuring that the response is appropriate, accountable, and meets their needs.
The Role of the Health Cluster
Within the HPC, the Health Cluster plays a critical role in coordinating the health response. It ensures that health needs are accurately assessed, prioritized, and addressed through well-coordinated interventions. The Health Cluster works closely with national health authorities, other clusters, and humanitarian partners to develop and implement health strategies that protect and improve the health outcomes of crisis-affected populations.
The Health Cluster is also responsible for monitoring the health situation, reporting on progress, and adapting strategies as needed. It provides guidance on the use of health data, supports the collection and analysis of health indicators, and ensures that health interventions are evidence-based and aligned with the overall humanitarian response plan.
JIAF 2.0: Enhancing Joint Intersectoral Analysis
The Joint Intersectoral Analysis Framework (JIAF) 2.0 is an advanced tool used within the HPC to conduct holistic, people-centered needs assessments. JIAF 2.0 enables a comprehensive understanding of the humanitarian situation by combining data from various sectors to identify overlapping needs and vulnerabilities. This framework is essential for ensuring that the humanitarian response is well-targeted, addressing the most critical needs across different sectors in a coordinated manner.
Additional Resources
For those involved in the HPC, several key resources are available to support their work. Please reffer to the menu that has links to those resources:
- GHC - Analysis and Assessments: Tools and guidelines for conducting health-related assessments within the HPC.
- JIAF - Joint Intersectoral Analysis Framework: Detailed guidance on implementing the JIAF within the HPC.
- GHC Core Indicators List: A comprehensive list of indicators for monitoring health outcomes in crisis situations.
- HPC Implementation Package: A set of tools and templates for implementing the HPC at the country level.
- Health - HRP Monitoring Framework: A framework for monitoring the health response within the Humanitarian Response Plan.
- JIAF Online Training (Certified): An online course offering certification in the use of the JIAF.
For more detailed information, links to these resources are available on the meu on top of this text.
1. The Global Health Cluster Unit created a decision tree to help active health clusters identify resources related to the HPC process, including JIAF, guidances, and templates.
2. The decision tree contains orientation questions (boxes with black backgrounds) designed to assist Health Cluster Coordinators (HCCs) and Health Cluster Information Management Officers (HC IMOs).
3. To use the tool, follow these steps:
- Press "play" to start the presentation.
- Use the "Next" and "Prev" arrows below to navigate through the presentation.
- You can also navigate freely through the diagram as needed.
4. If further assistance is required, please email us.