The concept of a United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC) was born out of the humanitarian response to the 1996 Eastern Zaire crisis, which demanded intensified coordination and pooling of logistics assets among UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF. The concept was applied on subsequent UNJLC interventions in Somalia, Kosovo, East Timor, Mozambique and India. Since its institutionalization in March 2002, UNJLC has operated in the following large scale humanitarian operations: Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Sudan, Indian Ocean Tsunami Response, Pakistan Earthquake Response, Lebanon and DRC. More recently, it has been involved in the Cluster approach by providing services to Mozambique, Pakistan, Uganda and Bangladesh floods responses.

The UNJLC is a UN Common Service; it is a facility, which is activated when intensified field-based inter-agency logistics information is required. Once mobilised, the UNJLC seeks the widest possible participation among all humanitarian logistics actors (UN and NGO alike).

UNJLC aims to facilitate and support the coordination of logistics capabilities among co-operating humanitarian agencies, as well as complement and support the global and field Logistics Clusters. It is done through the provision of Logistics Information Management, mapping, customs, commodity tracking tools and services. The UNJLC has been established as an inter-agency Humanitarian Common Service with technical and administrative support provided by its host Agency, the World Food Programme (WFP). For specific operations, the UNJLC is activated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee-Working Group (IASC-WG), following an established protocol and funded through a Special Operation, a WFP funding mechanism with a reporting line to the HC.

A UNJLC Core Unit is established in Rome with the status of an inter-agency unit composed of staff members seconded from WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF as well as direct contract personnel. Technical and administrative support is provided by its host Agency, WFP. The main functions of the Core Unit are:

• to initiate, establish and support the UNJLC field operations by providing necessary guidance, tools and expertise;
• to collaborate in a UN-wide initiative to develop and improve inter-agency data sharing standards and procedures;
• to raise awareness among Logistics Officers drawn from various Agencies, Donors and NGOs on UNJLC’s role.
• to act as an Information Sharing Platform by using a variety of dissemination mechanisms.
  

When and how is the UNJLC activated and deployed?

A UNJLC deployment will be activated in the field when extensive humanitarian logistics operations are required at the onset of natural and/or man-made disasters. However, UNJLC staff could be involved in assessment mission preceding its activation through an inter-agency consultation at Field level and at Headquarters level among decision-makers designated by the IASC WG. A decision is made within 24 hours on the basis of: the scale of the crisis and existing agency capabilities. Once the decision to activate is taken, the UNJLC will initiate deployment within 48 hours. As part of this process, concerned Agencies and authorities are informed, rapid assessments detailing operational requirements are undertaken, and recruitment of the UNJLC staff is initiated. To facilitate a swift deployment, various standby capacities are drawn upon. A special Flyaway Kit, containing essential equipment, ICT (Information/Communications Technology) tools, informative documents, information tools and procedures build from previous operations deployment is made available.
The UNJLC presence is designed to be light and flexible, with organizational structures kept to the minimum.

What is the Logistics Support Function of the UNJLC?

The UNJLC acts as an information sharing platform for the gathering, collating, analysis and dissemination of information required to assist all humanitarian actors in their decision-making. This includes:

Logistics Information: gathering of general logistics information with particular attention to sea and airlift capacity and availability, transport procedures and schedules, infrastructure assessments and updates, customs issues and logistics bottlenecks affecting the humanitarian community;
Reporting through specific information products such as Situation reports, bulletins, roads status map & matrix, snapshots, …

Information Sharing Tools: Central repository of logistics information disseminated through different mechanisms to enable all relief actors to easily access strategic logistics information. UNJLC and Logistics Cluster operational web portals  (www.unjlc.org & www.logcluster.org ), mailing lists for information sharing through low bandwidth, CDROM and various electronic or hard copy medias are used, inter-agency logistics field meetings participation and field office, …

Mapping: providing UN agencies and NGOs with accurate and constantly updated maps and geographic data. These provide operational overviews and logistical information to assist all humanitarian actors in their decision-making;

Custom: Custom information Guide (CIG) and Benchmarking on custom clearance ($ and improvement)

Commodity and Pipeline Tracking: through the Joint Supply Tracking (JST) for prioritization and consolidation of cargo movement

When is a UNJLC demobilised?

The UNJLC aims to provide support for the interagency logistics coordination as long as it is required and requested by the Resident Coordinator and/or Humanitarian Coordinator. Nevertheless, UNJLC’s operations are envisaged as a temporary bolster during the response phase of an emergency. After this initial relief phase, humanitarian activities will focus on rehabilitation and/or re-settlement. Hence, no UNJLC is activated without a clearly defined exit strategy and if needed the aim to improve Agency and government logistics management capability through appropriate capacity building.

Usefull Links:

• Inter Agency Standing Committee Provides UNJLC with its mandate and activation.
• WFP - United Nations World Food Programme WFP is the custodian of the UNJLC, contributes staff and resources, and houses the UNJLC core unit.
• UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR is a partner in the UNJLC, and contributes staff to the UNJLC core unit.
• UNICEF - United Nations Children Fund UNICEF is a partner in the UNJLC and contributes staff to the UNJLC core unit.