Assistant High Commissioner (Operations)

The Department of Operations functions under the overall leadership of the Assistant High Commissioner (Operations) and consists of the Regional Bureaux and the Division of Operational Services. In 2006, members of the Department met regularly to share information on operational developments and priorities as well as to develop common positions on cross-cutting issues, such as internally displaced persons, setting global objectives and priorities, and policy formulation. The Department also played a key role in ensuring that the strategies and goals set by the Office were pursued in a coherent and coordinated manner, drawing lessons learned and incorporating these into the development of operational approaches.

Division of Operational Services

The primary goal of the Division of Operational Services (DOS) is to improve the quality of support to operations in the Field. The Global Programmes chapter of the 2006 Global Report details DOS' activities, especially in relation to the mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS, as well as age, gender and diversity considerations in UNHCR's programmes.

The Division is made up of three services: the Emergency and Technical Support Service (ETSS), the Operations Management and Support Service (OMSS) and the Supply and Management Service (SMS).

The Emergency and Technical Support Service (ETSS) consists of three sections and three units. Within ETSS, the Emergency Preparedness and Response Section (EPRS) works towards strengthening UNHCR's early warning mechanisms and the organization's institutional preparedness and situational response to emergencies. It also provides advice on emergency preparedness, contingency planning support missions to the Field and training. The Service also directly supports bureaux and offices in the Field to respond effectively to an emergency situation through the early deployment of emergency and stand-by staff. EPRS facilitates the timely dispatch of other emergency resources, such as staff support equipment and emergency relief items. Further information on activities carried out by EPRS can be found in the Strengthening emergency response chapter.

The Field Safety Section (FSS) implements UNHCR's security policy and advises and supports managers in Headquarters and the Field on security matters. It acts as the focal point for operational relations with the UN Department for Safety and Security in New York, while also working to raise the security and safety awareness of all UNHCR staff members.

The HIV and AIDS Unit develops policies and provides organization-wide technical support on HIV and AIDS issues, drawing upon resources of UNAIDS and its co-sponsors. The Unit also works on mainstreaming HIV and AIDS into the work of UNHCR.

The Technical Support Section (TSS) is the focal point for the following life-sustaining sectors: water, sanitation, food, nutrition, health, and shelter, and two of UNHCR's policy priorities, namely the environment and education. TSS works to ensure the technical integrity of all UNHCR's programmes. In 2006 the Section also led the inter-agency cluster for emergency shelter, and represented UNHCR in the clusters on water and sanitation, health and nutrition.

The Training Unit designed and delivered emergency and security training to UNHCR staff. The Resource Management Unit administered all the resources related to emergency preparedness and response, as well as regional security budgets and other emergency and security related resources.

The Operations Management and Support Service is comprised of three services and Project Profile. The Field Information Coordination and Support Section (FICSS) compiled and analysed demographic and welfare data (standards and indicators) for external publication and internal use in UNHCR. The Service continued to support the Field in setting up systems allowing for better data collection and analysis. FICSS supported operations in areas of registration, fielded support missions and managed UNHCR's stockpile of registration materials. It also compiled operational guidelines and best practices in data management, registration, and camp coordination.

The Peacebuilding, Livelihoods and Partnership Section (PBLPS) joins the technical and functional disciplines covering areas related to promoting self-reliance and livelihoods, peacebuilding and partnerships with development actors. In 2006, it worked on achieving the Millennium Development Goals in situations of human displacement, cooperated closely with the UN Development Group, development agencies, the World Bank, and others. Furthermore the section assisted DIPS by contributing technical advice to improve the sustainability of local integration and voluntary repatriation.

Project Profile worked towards developing improved registration tools and methods and increasing UNHCR's registration capacity and the data management methods used to record registration information. Together with FICSS, Project Profile assisted field offices that needed help in defining registration procedures, planning all types of registration activities, using the proGres application, designing forms, issuing identity documents or certificates, or developing reports or other analyses of registration data.

The Programme Coordination and Operational Support Section (PCOS) provided support to Headquarters and the Field to ensure the quality and coherence of UNHCR's operations. PCOS was also tasked with developing tools (e.g. standards and indicators) and guidelines and instructions (annual programme instructions, Chapter Four of the UNHCR Manual) for results-based operations management. The Section acted as the focal point for supporting the Field in the management of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) workforce and it recently developed a new Memorandum of Understanding with UNV. PCOS continued to deliver programme management training in the Field and ran the Operations Management Learning Programme.

The Supply Management Service (SMS) was moved into the Division of Operational Services in November 2006. This was done because logistics and integrated supply chain management functions are more related to operations support than to control-and finance-related functions. This restructuring will improve the intrinsic links between SMS and other support sections, particularly those dealing with emergency preparedness and response, programme coordination and operational support, and technical support.

Source: UNHCR Global Report 2006. For more details, see chapter Headquarters (pdf).