Attachments
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of the Global Logistics Cluster strategy, a Lessons Learned Exercise was commissioned in June 2016 in Iraq for the review period 1 January – 31 December 2015.
The objectives of the exercise were to assess the performance and the activities undertaken by the Logistics Cluster in Iraq to support the humanitarian community in reaching people in need of assistance, and, to identify best practices and areas for improvement to be replicated across operations globally. The performance was measured against the strategy and goals set out in the Concept of Operation. In addition, to draw learnings from a complex emergency with a long-running operation.
Overall, the Logistics Cluster operation in Iraq was well-functioning and well appreciated, addressing some operational key gaps, which helped facilitate operational coordination in 2015.
In 2015, Iraq was characterised by an extreme escalation in humanitarian needs, which created a [...] Management, the role of the Cluster was informative and operational, acting as a good forum for information sharing. The role was not strategic and did not approach challenges to the supply at a more strategic level. The reasons for this were many including activation of the Cluster with limited information on needs, a high turn-over of Cluster staff, limited engagement/participation of partners, and an operational approach to logistics.
In terms of logistics services provided, they were deemed partly relevant as transport was in little demand, the central storage in Baghdad was useful (less so in Erbil and Dahuk), and requested field storage not possible to provide. Users of services found them effective and well run.
In terms of drawing lessons from a complex emergency, the Logistics Cluster managed to continue coordination and IM efforts despite substantial security issues among others through the development of a Skype group. However, at the same time assuming a more strategic role was difficult due to humanitarian actors having limited time and were less mobile, needing to prioritise matters of highest urgency, and due to a high turnover of staff (cluster and partners).
RECOMMENDATIONS
Strengthen the strategic role of the Logistics Cluster
It is recommended to strengthen the strategic role of the Logistics Cluster and thereby also the leadership role. This can help address more systemic challenges to the response, by advocating for addressing logistics bottlenecks and raising awareness of the consequence of them. This would require substantial outreach and engagement of partners to be able to reach the potential of the Cluster forum. High level support from all partners would likewise be needed to foster actual change.
Strengthen Cluster IM’s advocacy and strategic role
In support of this, it is recommended for the Cluster IM function to take on a more advocacy and strategic role, given that supply challenges will need to be thoroughly described and their consequences quantified. This entails proactively anticipating needs and tailor the product portfolio in support of this.
Share knowledge on coordination methods in complex emergencies
The Skype group used by the Cluster in Iraq was simple but very effective in addressing challenges in a complex emergency where security is an impediment to meeting and staff turnover or leave is high. It is recommended for the Global Logistics Cluster to facilitate discussions on challenges to Logistics Cluster operations and share knowledge on the methods used by local operations.
Logistics services to be reviewed continuously to be based on existing needs
For Logistics Cluster services, it is recommended to continuously conduct needs assessments to ensure that the established services are responding to recurrent needs.
Strengthen the professionalism of the Cluster
It is recommended for the Global Logistics Cluster to facilitate the professionalism of the Cluster through enhanced preparation of staff enabling them to take on their posts, through enhanced support to the Country Operations, and through the development of a performance monitoring system, which can help guide operations and document where value is added and vital for a humanitarian response.