United Nations Disaster and Coordination Assessment (UNDAC) - Concept Note

The UNDAC team is part of the international emergency response system for sudden-onset emergencies. It is designed to assist the United Nations and Governments of a disaster-affected country in meeting international needs for early and qualified information during the first phase of a sudden-onset emergency, as well as in the coordination of incoming international relief at national level and/or at the site of the emergency. It is capable of deploying at very short notice (24-48 hours) anywhere in the world and is provided free of charge to the disaster-affected country. The UNDAC System is managed by the Emergency Response Support Branch (ERSB) of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva.

The UNDAC team was established in 1993 and today consists of over 230 national emergency managers from more than 80 participating countries, together with staff from OCHA, international and regional organizations including UN agencies. The UNDAC system comprises three regional teams: Africa, Middle East and Europe, the Americas (including the Caribbean), Asia and the Pacific. In major international emergencies, UNDAC teams are drawn from the entire membership, whereas in more localized disasters, they are normally drawn from the affected region.