Emergency Telecommunications Cluster ETC

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Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC)
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Emergency Telecommunications Cluster

• Who does what ?
• Process Owner
• OCHA - Overall coordination, preparedness
  initial response,
• Service ProvidersUNICEF - Common Data
  Services (Internet Connectivity, Wireless,
  Internet Hotspots)
• WFP - Common Security Telecommunications

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Membership

• The ETC membership currently includes the
  following
• UNHCR, UNDP, DPKO, WHO, UNDSS, IFRC, ICRC, SRSA,
  NRC, DRC, UNITAR/UNOSAT
• RedR Australia, Télécoms Sans Frontières,
  Ericsson Response, NetHope (consortium of 18
  international NGOs), Global VSAT Forum
• More on the way!
• Many of the members are Responders!

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Process Owner - OCHA

• Coordination - Service Providers, other sectoral
  leads, agencies, UNDAC
• Ensuring ET standards are established and
  applied
• Consolidating lessons learned and refining
  process definitions
• Managing assessment missions and requesting the
  intervention of the Service Providers whenever
  appropriate
• Activation of the ETC response
• Identify Gaps in and limitations in common
  services and respond to fill in such gaps
• Managing the establishment of initial ET services
  until a TCO is appointed.
• relies on the operational capacity of the Service
  Providers, and/or other partners, for the actual
  implementation and provision of the initial
  services as regulated by pre-defined technical
  agreements
• Information Management - establishing
  collaboration tools, web pages, repositories,
  links, and templates, (HIC)
• Fund raising ensure the availability of funding
  for stand-by equipment, staff, preparation of
  appeals, discussion with donors
• Advocacy for the ET sector
• Preparedness ensuring that sufficient staff,
  stock and funds are on stand-by for emergency
  deployments, training and contingency planning
  and
• Inter-sectoral linkages and alignment of
  sustainable common response and deployment
  strategies with the other humanitarian common
  services

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Service Provider Data Communications - UNICEF

• Phase I
• ETC-DC will provide key responders with basic
  email access from a single point of presence in
  the intervention area, allowing
  organizations/NGO's to communicate essential data
  and security information.
• Phase II
• ETC-DC will provide organizations and NGO's with
  Internet access via a wireless "hot spot" access
  point, allowing the ability to communicate
  essential data and security information. Other
  services also provided are limited to e-mail, FAX
  and printer services.
• Phase III
• ETC-DC provides UN Agencies access to the
  corporate network and internet. Additionally for
  inter-agency access via direct or indirect
  connectivity.
• UN offices are provided with access to high-speed
  data services through wireless bridges connected
  to fixed or semi-fixed VSAT earth stations.
  Agencies using the same service provide may
  request direct access to their corporate
  networks. Wireless bridges will also be used to
  interconnect other node sites back to the hub
  site for data communications. Services also
  provided are limited to Voice over IP services,
  video conference, e- mail, FAX and printer
  services.

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Service Provider Security Communications- WFP

• Security Telecommunication Service aims at
  providing a common telecommunications backbone
  for the UN agencies and humanitarian Partners, to
  facilitate common security communication service.
  The Common Network does not mean to replace
  individual agencies MOSS compliance
  requirements. The Services includes
• Setting up the providing a common
  telecommunications backbone common security
  communications network covering the UN
  operational area.
• Implement Standards Radio call signs.
• Rollout standards for HF and VHF communications.
• Provide guidance on HF and VHF frequency usage
  i.e. sharing available frequencies )
• Liaise with the TCO in acquiring radio frequency
  Licenses from the regulating
• Rollout SOPs for Security communication
• Coordinate user Training on Security comms to UN
  and NGOs
• Provide common security Vehicle tracking System.

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ETC Principles

• Clear structure with well defined roles and
  responsibilities for providing Inter-Agency
  telecommunications infrastructures covering both
  data and security communications, which are
  essential for effective and efficient emergency
  operations
• Field, regional and HQ activities allows for
  systematic and global gap analysis
• Framework for NGO/Private sector operational
  collaboration
• Rapid response with predictable service
  deliverables and timeframes
• Pre-positioned resources (staff, equipment and
  standby capacities)
• Provision of standard, interoperable ICT
  platforms and procedures to avoid duplication and
  ensure cost effective services.
• Ensure a smooth transition to the post-emergency
  reconstruction

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Emergency TelecommunicationsFunding Requirements

• Preparedness for dedicated capacity In
  2006 6,680,000 (incl. Initial
  pre-positioned stocks) In 2007 3,507,000
  est. recurring/year
• Per emergency 3,255,000 (6 months 5
  operational sites)
• Immediate funding for stock replenishment to
  respond to overlapping emergencies
• ETC infrastructure is capital-intensive
  directly related to number, locations, proximity
  distribution of the operational areas

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Funding Status

• In 2006 only 46 of total funding requested was
  received
• In response to the late and under funding the ETC
  project objectives were revised downward from
  having the capacity to support three large
  emergencies per year, two of which would be
  concurrent, to a single large emergency.
• Prioritization was based on
• Global Cluster Staffing
• Pre-Stock of minimum stockpile
• Development of guidelines and standards
• Capacity building of Coordinators and Responders

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Progress / Status

• Standards and policy-setting
• In-depth review of technical standards and best
  practices and the development of response
  guidelines, policies, procedures and standards,
  including accountability structure. The technical
  standards have been developed and tested in
  conjunction with ETC partners (UN Agencies, NGOs,
  standby partners and private sector).
• Implementation of information management and
  collaboration tool to support ETC operations,
  which provide common repository for sharing
  documents and information, and standard survey
  and assessment templates which use an automated
  data collection tool.

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Progress / Status cont.

• Building response capacity
• Training programmes were reviewed and
  developed/redesigned to focus on ETC
  coordination, technical and operational response
  requirements and targeted at both institutional
  and partner capacity building.
• Dedicated staffing capacity was developed to
  improve predictability of response at the global
  level. Support for ETC activities was also
  institutionalized. Job profiles were developed
  and recruitment is either completed or underway
  for a total of eleven posts in the three
  Agencies.
• Global response capacity has been strengthened
  through enhancing existing and establishing new
  partnership agreements with the private sector
  and NGOs for the provision of ETC resources and
  services collaborative research, development and
  refinement of guidelines and procedures
  provision of maps, and identification of training
  support (curriculum development, trainers,
  training manuals). There are currently nine such
  agreements.

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Progress / Status cont.

• Building response capacity
• Standard hardware requirements have been defined,
  procurement plans established and a minimum
  pre-stock procured to meet the ETC requirements
  for one large emergency. Locations have been
  identified for equipment storage and arrangements
  are underway for pre-stocking of equipment.
• ETC standards, policies, procedures were tested
  and fine-tuned through participation in two major
  emergency simulation exercises, data
  communications in Norway and full ETC deployment
  during Triplex 2006 Exercise in Finland.
• Emergency preparedness response for Security
  Comms pilot training conducted by WFP. SOPS for
  operations planning and on ground emergency
  management tested fine-tuned.

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Progress / Status cont.

• Operational support
• A needs assessment was conducted and required
  staffing resources and training needs were
  identified. A minimum budget was developed for
  staffing, training and equipment required for
  preparedness and emergency response based on
  existing organizational capacities and limited
  funds from the Cluster Appeal.
• A review of emergency preparedness and response
  framework was conducted and a Data Communications
  project plan has been developed and Security
  Communications plans will be completed by 31
  March 2007
• Advocacy and resource mobilization were
  undertaken through participation in Emergency
  Response Simulation, the Triplex 2006,
  International Conference on Emergency
  Communications in Finland, HRSU newsletter, and
  at the regional level in ITU disaster
  communication conferences, NGO, governmental and
  private sector fora.
• ETC response was undertaken for the Indonesian
  Earthquake, the Lebanon Crisis and the crisis in
  Mitwaba, DRC.

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Emergency TelecommunicationsOutstanding Issues

• Appeal funding required at an early stage for
  deployment of staff and equipment and preparation
  for next emergency
• Asset-tracking, charge-back mechanisms, etc
• Handover Mechanisms - Emergency to Reconstruction
  / project closure
• Aligning IAET and ETC processes
• Links/dependencies with WGET

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Looking Ahead

• Compile lessons learnt in past deployments
  including simulation exercises and apply them to
  better respond to Emergencies
• Work with WGET in
• Standards setting
• Interoperability and Interconnectivity
• Links between disaster response and emergency
  telecommunications
• Information sharing with the wider ET community
• Register more members involved in Emergency
  Telecommunications
• Advocacy on role of WGET to Humanitarian
  community other parties

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Looking Ahead cont.

• Compile lessons learnt in past deployments
  including simulation exercises and apply them to
  better respond to Emergencies
• Work with WGET in
• Standards setting
• Interoperability and Interconnectivity
• Links between disaster response and emergency
  telecommunications
• Information sharing with the wider ET community
• Register more members involved in Emergency
  Telecommunications
• Advocacy on role of WGET to Humanitarian
  community other parties

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Looking Ahead cont.

• Update/finalize response procedures ( SOPS ) ,
  accountabilities, technical standards and
  corresponding documentation.
• Develop assessment methodology, standardized
  surveys and evaluation methodologies, and
  undertake evaluations of ETC responses and
  document lessons learnt
• Coordinate Inter-cluster liaison to identify and
  address cross-cutting requirements.
• Training plans and curriculum developed for ETC
  response for internal staff and ETC partners and
  standby partner personnel.
• Identification and/or recruitment of internal
  staff, including ETC partners and standby
  personnel to be placed on the ETC roster.
• Procurement of standardized equipment for
  security comms and data comms to maintain a
  minimum pre-stock for emergency response.

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Looking Ahead cont.

• Develop ETC strategic preparedness plans
  including staffing, training, and funding based
  on needs assessment of global and local capacity
  and infrastructure.
• Coordination and implementation of ETC project
  plan both globally and locally.
• Identifying required technical expertise
• Develop and implement an advocacy strategy
  targeting the private sector, NGOs and government
  entities.
• OCHA- Develop, implement and maintain
  information management (IM) and collaboration
  tools to support ETC operations
• Enhance existing and establish new partnership
  agreements with NGOs, the private sector and
  governmental agencies to strengthen response
  capacity including staffing, equipment and
  services.

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• On Behalf of the Emergency Telecommunications
  Cluster
• Thank You !
• Chérif Ghaly,
• Chief , ITS OCHA
• (e-mail ghaly_at_un.org)