UNITED NATIONS JOINT LOGISTICS CENTRE (UNJLC)

  
What is The UNJLC?

The concept of a UN Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC) was born out of the humanitarian response to the 1996 Eastern Zaire crisis, which demanded intensified co-ordination and pooling of logistics assets among UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF. The concept was applied on subsequent UNJLC interventions in Somalia, Kosovo, East Timor, Mozambique, Bhuj and Afghanistan. In March 2002, the UNJLC was institutionalised as a UN Humanitarian response mechanism, under the aegis of WFP, by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Working Group (IASC-WG).

A standing UNJLC was subsequently established in Rome, which has the status of an inter-agency unit with technical and administrative support provided by its host Agency, WFP.  The UNJLC Unit undertakes strategic inter-agency logistics co-ordination functions, including maintenance of the Field Operations Manual (FOM) and training a cadre of Logistics Officers drawn from various Agencies, donors and NGOs.  The UNJLC also contributes actively towards aligning Agency logistics normative guidance and training materials, providing input to inter-agency contingency plans and advising on inter-agency logistics co-ordination mechanisms for emergencies.

The United Nations Joint Logistic Centre (UNJLC) is an inter-agency Humanitarian Common Service.  Its mandate is to provide Logistics Information Management support and services. This involves providing an information platform for the gathering, collating, analysis and dissemination of logistics information as well as Commodity Tracking and Prioritization services. UNJLC operates under the custodianship of WFP which is responsible for the administrative and financial oversight of the Centre. UNJLC is funded from voluntary contributions channelled through WFP


How is The UNJLC Activated and Deployed?

A UNJLC is activated through an inter-agency consultation among decision-makers designated by the IASC-WG. A decision is made within 24 hours on the basis of: the scale of the crisis, existing agency capabilities, the extent of bottlenecks and situation assessments by the UNJLC Unit.

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 Chief and support staff is initiated. To facilitate a swift deployment, various standby capacities are drawn upon, including a special Flyaway Kit, containing essential equipment and ICT (Information/Communications Technology) support.  Donor funding is mobilised through a distinct project proposal reflected in the relevant OCHA CAP (Consolidated Appeal).
How is The UNJLC Structured When Deployed?

The UNJLC is configured to support two response models:

• Inter-agency logistics co-ordination only (e.g. Afghanistan);
• Inter-agency logistics co-ordination plus asset management (e.g. Mozambique).

The UNJLC is integrated into the local UN co-ordination structure with reporting lines determined at the time of deployment. The UNJLC presence is designed to be light and nimble, with organisational structures kept to the minimum.  Each UNJLC comprises of a Chief, possibly a Deputy, Technical Officers for movement control and information management, CMCoord (Civil/Military Coordination) Officers and satellite offices; the number, size and location of which is determined by the nature of the emergency.

What is The Logistics Support Function of The UNJLC?

The UNJLC aims to collectively identify and eliminate logistics bottlenecks of common interest to the humanitarian community to avoid wasteful competition among Agencies.  Related to this task, the UNJLC plans, prioritises and de-conflicts relief movements when available infrastructure capacity is limited.  Through this process, the UNJLC advises on the most efficient transport modes and performs movement control functions. The UNJLC also frames logistics-related policy issues affecting humanitarian logistics operations.

What Kind of Information is Provided by The UNJLC?

The UNJLC acts as a platform for gathering, collating, analysing and disseminating information required by Agencies to optimise logistics planning and management.  This involves two basic information categories: Pipeline/Commodity Tracking, including Agency stock positions; and Logistics Support Information, such as humanitarian logistics installations and assets, status of corridors and border crossings, customs and infrastructure assessments. The UNJLC has GIS (Geographical Information System) and mapping capabilities. A variety of dissemination mechanisms are employed, including inter-agency meetings, Bulletins and CD-ROMs. A generic website (www.unjlc.org) is maintained, housing both general reference and deployment-specific materials.

When is a UNJLC Demobilised?

UNJLCs are envisaged as a temporary bolster during the response phase of an emergency. As such, no UNJLC is activated without a clearly defined exit strategy. Prior to demobilisation, the UNJLC ensures appropriate inter-agency logistics co-ordination mechanisms are in place. Similarly, the UNJLC aims to improve Agency and government logistics management capability through selective logistics capacity-building activities.