United Nations Disaster Management Team

(UNDMT)

The UN Resident Coordinator is responsible for forming and leading a UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) in each disaster or emergency prone country. The team is a mechanism for coordination, providing a forum for information exchange, discussion and seeking consensus on disaster-related initiatives. In India, nine core agencies comprise the UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT): FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP and WHO.. The UNDMT recognises and in no way supersedes the mandates and specific functions of the various agencies.

The primary purpose of the UNDMT is: 

• To ensure a prompt, effective and concerted country-level support to Government response in the event of a disaster, at the central, state and sub-state levels;
• To coordinate UN assistance to Government with respect to long term recovery, disaster mitigation and preparedness;
• To coordinate all disaster-related activities, technical advice and material assistance provided by UN agencies, as well as to take steps for optimal utilisation of resources by UN agencies. 

The activities of the UNDMT are:

·   Information-sharing: Providing a common platform for ideas, information (including database), strategies, approaches, activities, plans and programmes with respect to disaster risks and preparedness;

·   Internal capacity building: Facilitating capacity building and skills development of members with critical expertise to support actors in disaster management through training, joint activities and sharing lessons learnt experiences;

·   Ensuring quick response: Updating the Disaster Preparedness Plan by synergising individual UN agency plans to ensure early, effective and coordinated UN response to an emergency;

·   Enhancing partnerships: Providing an interface with various actors such as Government, Bilateral/ Donor agencies, National and International NGOs, Community-based organisations and communities through involvement in workshops and consultations with a view to promote partnerships;

·   Programming: Serving as the platform for UNDAF Disaster Risk Reduction development and sounding board for UNDAF implementation.