The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) provides the necessary institutional support for the Under-Secretary-General and the ERC to meet the leadership and coordination responsibilities charted in GA resolution 46/182 (see 1.2.1). OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies and it also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort. OCHA is not an operational agency, and its added value is as an honest broker and facilitator, providing support to the humanitarian system.
At the global level, OCHA works closely with CLAs and NGOs to develop policies, coordinate inter – cluster issues, disseminate operational guidance and organize field support. At the country level, OCHA provides direct support to the HC (or RC/HC) and HCT, and facilitates inter-cluster coordination, ensuring that the humanitarian system functions efficiently.