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There is a clear need to strengthen field coordination structures, notably by better preparing and equipping United Nations country teams, strengthening the leadership of the humanitarian coordinator and ensuring that sufficient and flexible resources are immediately available to support these field structures.
Secretary-General’s report “In Larger Freedom”, March 2005

Effective coordination of humanitarian action in the field hinges upon Resident Coordinators (RCs) and Humanitarian Coordinators (HCs). Yet it is widely recognised that the humanitarian coordination system requires major improvements: a number of key normative issues remain unresolved; the pool of potential RC/HCs needs to be enlarged; RCs performing humanitarian coordination functions and HCs receive little training, have few opportunities to share experiences and best practices with their peers, and are not always adequately supported.

Strengthening the humanitarian coordination system – one of the three pillars of the Humanitarian Reform – is a long-term endeavour that will take several years to achieve. It is the collective responsibility of all IASC members agencies. A Work Plan has been developed by the IASC HC Group. The five areas of activity are: