The Cluster Approach aims to strengthen overall response capacity as well as the effectiveness of the response in five key ways:
· First, the approach aims to ensure sufficient global capacity is built up and maintained in all the main sectors/areas of response, with a view to ensuring timely and effective responses in new crises.
· Second, the approach ensures predictable leadership in all the main sectors/areas of response. Cluster leads are responsible for ensuring response capacity is in place and that assessment, planning and response activities are carried out in collaboration with partners and in accordance with agreed standards and guidelines. Cluster leads also act as the “provider of last resort”.
· Third, the approach is designed around the concept of partnerships (i.e. clusters) between UN agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement* , international organizations and NGOs. Partners work together towards agreed common humanitarian objectives both at the global level (preparedness, standards, tools, stockpiles and capacity-building) and at the field level (assessment, planning, delivery and monitoring). By designating cluster leads, the aim is to make the international humanitarian community a better partner for host governments, local authorities and local civil society, and to avoid situations were governments have to deal with hundreds of uncoordinated international actors.
· Fourth, the approach strengthens accountability. Cluster leads are accountable, at the global level, to the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) for building up a more predictable and effective response capacity in line with IASC agreements. At the field level, in addition to their normal institutional responsibilities, cluster leads are accountable to Humanitarian Coordinators for fulfilling agreed roles and responsibilities for Cluster leadership, such as those listed in the IASC Generic Terms of Reference for Sector/Cluster Leads at the Country Level. The approach also strengthens accountability to beneficiaries through commitments to participatory and community-based approaches, improved common needs assessments and prioritization, and better monitoring and evaluation.
· Fifth, the approach should help to improve strategic field-level coordination and prioritization in specific sectors/areas of response by placing responsibility for leadership and coordination of these issues with the competent operational agency.
*The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stated that its position on the cluster approach is the following: "Among the components of the Movement, the ICRC is not taking part in the cluster approach. Nevertheless, coordination between the ICRC and the UN will continue to the extent necessary to achieve efficient operational complementarity and a strengthened response for people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. At the global level, the ICRC participates as an observer in many of the cluster working group meetings.