The Joint Crisis Coordination Centre (JCC) is operating under the direct supervision and guidance of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG’s) Minister of Interior. The Cabinet decision and the Council of Ministers Executive order number 5710 established the JCC as KRG’s lead institution for coordination of all phases of crisis response and management including preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery. JCC operates through an ‘all hazards’ approach to support coordinated and strategic response to all man-made and natural disasters and crisis in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). JCC established the network of JCC Crisis Response Network at the provincial level. There are JCC Crisis Response offices in the Governorates of Erbil, Slemani and Dohuk with its headquarters in Erbil.
JCC has four distinct focus and mandated function that includes Information Management, Crisis Response and Management, Coordination and Resource Mobilization. , JCC facilitates coherent strategic planning prior to an eminent crisis and unforeseen emergencies, responding ongoing crisis and humanitarian situation, ensuring close cooperation among all partners and relevant bodies to the extent possible to eliminate or at least minimize unnecessary and expensive duplication of efforts. It collects and analyses crisis information, monitors hazard, prepares recommendations and provides added-value information for strategic decision-making and resource management. JCC works across the governorate Crisis Response Offices, Government Ministries and Departments to map available assets and coordinate the KRG’s crisis response efforts by matching offers of assistance to effectively meet the needs of people affected by the crisis. Better planning and the preparation of a set of typical crisis scenarios to further enhance the KRG’s capacity for strategic response.
The JCC is capable of operating round-the-clock on a needed basis, acting as “one-stop-shop” communication and coordination hub at headquarter level between Governorate Crisis Response Offices, KRG Ministries and Departments and the key partners across the board.
JCC was established in the midst of current multifaceted crises affecting the Kurdistan Region of Iraq including humanitarian, financial and security crises. Since establishment in early 2015, within the short period, JCC has taken the lead role to ensure well-coordinated and effective planning and response to the current humanitarian crisis of huge number of internally displaced and refugees in the KRI and also respond to new emergencies. It has also bridged among the KRG and partners on the immediate humanitarian response planning. In addition to providing leadership in humanitarian coordination and crisis management, JCC has been and will continue to offer to wider humanitarian communities, partners, Federal and Regional government and the Donors.
With the continued support from its key partners, JCC continues to strengthen its technical and human resources capacity in the critical fields of crisis response and management and to consolidate the international best practices into its operations. And thus, JCC continues to take more of its mandated duties and activities to provide assistance to and facilitate the activities and operations of the key local and international partners. To serve the humanitarian partners better, and expand the information horizon beyond geographical border of Iraq, JCC embarked on setting up its own website and being on social media.
On the eve of launching the JCC website, I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all partners particularly UNDP, DFID(UK), MSB, THW, OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM for their continued technical and financial support. The support has been instrumental to the establishment of the JCC and further strengthening the JCC’s Crisis Response Network across the Kurdistan Region.
We will look forward for continued cooperation and coordination with all our partners including government partners, UN-agencies, local and International NGOs to ensure effective and efficient response to the current humanitarian crisis and predictable humanitarian emergencies and future new emergencies.
Hoshang Mohamed
Director General
