Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination in Emergencies: Towards A Predictable Model [2020 edition]

Introduction

This publication is an initiative of the Regional Consultative Group (RCG) on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination for Asia and the Pacific. This is the second edition, an update of the original document published in 2017; it enables a common understanding of civil-military coordination (CMCoord) mechanisms and their functions in disaster response. It focuses on the five countries the RCG prioritises as highly vulnerable to large-scale natural disasters: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and the Philippines.

The RCG on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination for Asia and the Pacific is a multi-stakeholder, regional forum that brings together humanitarian, civilian and military actors involved in disaster planning, preparedness and response. Over the last six years, the RCG has proved to be an invaluable forum to increase learning, cooperation and collaboration between civilian and military actors. The Asia Pacific is the only region in the world that has formed a Consultative Group for Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination to complement the Global Consultative Group on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination.

This update seeks to ensure that the guidebook maintains its accuracy and practicality for the region. It captures new and revised policies, plans and frameworks at regional and national levels, explaining the roles and responsibilities of diverse actors and coordinating bodies in each context.
This update was developed in collaboration with key regional stakeholders to boost regional ownership and uptake of the resource.