SERVICES: National Platforms
India
Context: Since 2018, engagement has been ongoing between the UNICEF, UN-OCHA ROAP and Sphere India on a possible National Platform to better support Accountability to At-Risk Populations. This is a work in progress at the national level.
At the regional level, in August 2018, Kerala witnessed its worst ever floods and landslides and a communicating with communities working group was established. It forms part of the liaison with the Inter-Agency Group Kerala and works in close collaboration with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) and Kerala State Planning Board (KSPB) for more effective coordination and strengthened delivery of services and assistance to disaster affected communities. The Working Group also seeks to support and collaborate with the respective District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) in the affected districts.
CDAC provides technical support to the WG and the ongoing discussions at the national level.
Government links: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and local authorities
Leads/Chairs/Co-Chairs: The Kerala WG functions under the leadership of the Government including the NDMA. It is proposed that once the CwC WG is fully functioning, a rotational co-chairmanship from the humanitarian actors within the working group can be introduced.
National and international actors involved: NNGOs / Sphere Network, INGOs, UN, government
Donors: UNICEF and UN-RC support the WG secretariat.
Opportunities and challenges: UNICEF India and Sphere India have engaged CDAC as technical support provider. CDAC undertook a technical advisory mission to Kerala in April 2019 funded by Sphere India (via UNICEF funding). It is commendable to see the deliberate attempt to ensure that a CCE/AAP approach can be systematically applied and institutionalised throughout Kerala and more widely, resulting in a more sustainable process. Like most platforms, there are several issues and challenges in the early phase that require attention in order to achieve the full potential.
