0. PREFACE_ES

(SPANISH VERSION)

Foreword
This 7th edition of the UNDAC Field Handbook 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the
United Nations Disaster Assessment & Coordination system (UNDAC). The UNDAC system
was originally established by United Nations (UN) and the International Search and Rescue
Advisory Group (INSARAG) to ensure effective coordination between national disaster
management agencies and incoming search and rescue teams in sudden-onset, large
scale emergencies. Over the past quarter of a century, UNDAC has evolved and adapted
to the changing requirements of the international humanitarian response system. Today,
UNDAC teams are not only deployed in sudden-onset disasters, but also provide valuable
support in protracted crises, technological and other types of emergencies, and are playing
an increasing role as a tool and service of the UN in supporting governments in disaster
response preparedness activities. UNDAC deploys globally to ensure effective collaboration
between national disaster management systems, international humanitarian response
actors, bilateral responders including the military, national non-government organizations,
civil society and the private sector, to name but a few.
Core to UNDAC practices is systematic post-mission evaluation to enable best practices
and lessons learned to feed into the continuous development of the UNDAC methodology
captured in this updated Handbook. This is, therefore, a living document and, as a reader
and user, you should consider yourself a co-creator. Comments or suggestions for further
development of the Handbook should be addressed to the Emergency Response Support
Branch (ERSB) in OCHA Geneva.
Introduction to the Handbook
The UNDAC Field Handbook is intended as an easily accessible reference guide for
members of an UNDAC team before and during a mission to a disaster or emergency.
The Handbook is not an authoritative instruction, but rather represents an accumulation of
institutional memory related to processes and procedures for coordination as seen in the
scope of the UNDAC Standard Terms of Reference. Its focus is on both the what and the
how of international emergency response and is grounded in the mandate of the UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which manages the UNDAC system.

The Handbook is divided into six main themes that are broadly aligned with the functions of
an On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC). Each theme is divided into chapters
that are written as stand-alone documents, referencing material across all themes.

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The UNDAC Handbook has been developed by OCHA with support from members of the
international UNDAC system. Information is drawn from a wide variety of sources:

  • UNDAC best practices as captured in mission reports and training materials.
  • Various OCHA, UN and Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines, e.g.
    INSARAG Guidelines, Multi-Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) Guidance, and
    numerous others.
  • The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Operational Data
    Management Learning Programme.
  • The United States Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) Field Operations
    Guide and Disaster Assessment Procedures Manual.
  • Publications by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
    (IFRC).
  • Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) paper Common Needs Assessments and
    humanitarian action.
  • Technical briefs and training material from the Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS).
  • ACAPS and the Emergency Capacity Building Project (ECB) Humanitarian Needs
    Assessment – The Good Enough Guide.
  • Disaster Management research from Lund University, Sweden and University of
    Copenhagen, Denmark.
    OCHA is grateful for these contributions in support of the UNDAC system

HOW TO CONTACT OCHA
OCHA GENEVA
Emergency Response Support Branch (ERSB)
United Nations Office at Geneva
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
During Office Hours (08:00 – 18:00 CET): +41 22 917 1234 (switchboard)
Email: ochagvaregistry@un.org

undac@un.org

OCHA NEW YORK
United Nations Headquarters
1 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
USA
During Office Hours (08:00 – 18:00 EST): +1 (212) 963 1234 (switchboard)
Email: ochanyregistry@un.org

undac@un.org

UNDAC MOBILIZATION AND MISSIONS
In emergencies when an UNDAC team is mobilized by OCHA Geneva, two separate lines of
communication will be opened exclusively for direct contacts with the Emergency Response
Support Branch (ERSB):
Phone:+41 22 917 1600
Email: undac_alert@un.org