Frequently Asked Questions

The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) is a global network of organizations that work together to provide timely and effective inter-agency communications services in humanitarian emergencies.

Within 48 hours of being activated in response to a disaster, the ETC provides vital security communications services and voice and internet connectivity to assist humanitarian workers in their life-saving operations. Within the first two weeks of the operation, the ETC will provide the following services:

• Radio communications around main operational centre
• Data connectivity from a ‘internet café'
• Basic ICT support (connecting to network, printers)
• Basic printing

Within four weeks, ETC services are expanded for continued emergency relief. See the ETC Service Catalogue for more information.

ETC services are deployed in defined common operational areas - areas approved by the Humanitarian Country Team in which the majority of United Nations (UN) agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are based.

Staff from all humanitarian organizations can use ETC services, regardless of membership. In response to Typhoon Haiyan, over 6000 humanitarian workers used services provided by the ETC.

The ETC provides common services, including setting up telecommunications backbones in common operational locations such as radio networks and Communications Centres (COMCEN). The ETC does not provide end-user devices to humanitarian workers or organisations using its services. It is expected that organisations will provide their own equipment to be able to access ETC services.

The Cluster Approach to humanitarian aid strengthens response effectiveness through ensuring predictable and sufficient capacity, leadership, partners, accountability and coordination. Clusters are groups of humanitarian organizations, both UN and non-UN, in each of the main sectors of humanitarian action, namely: Health; Food Security, Emergency Telecommunications, Education, Early Recovery, Camp Coordination and Camp Management; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; Shelter; Protection; Nutrition; and Logistics. They are designated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and have clear responsibilities for coordination.

For more information, visit: Humanitarian Response

The ETC, along with the Logistics Cluster, is distinctive from the rest of the Clusters in that it deploys in emergencies to provide services to the humanitarian community, rather than directly to affected populations. Essentially a service provider, the ETC must understand what communications tools the humanitarian community needs to be able to carry out their operations efficiently, effectively and safely.

Partnership and collaboration are key to successful functioning of the ETC. The ETC relies on its network of members and partners to carry out its critical work around the world. Success of the ETC during emergencies relies on partnerships established before the operation even begins.

UN agencies and programmes, NGOs, Stand-by Partners, Governments and other humanitarian organizations partner with the ETC to fulfil its mandate and objectives, thereby enhancing the quality of humanitarian action. In emergencies, members exchange information and expertise, and provide personnel, equipment and solutions to support the operation. See the Partners for more information.

ETC 2020 is the name given to strategic discussions focusing on envisioning the future of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) over the next five years. In consultation with its members, partners and stakeholders, the ETC seeks to realize an ambitious vision that will see its role and scope of services evolve, enabling innovative and more effective humanitarian assistance..

ETC 2020 discussions include a number of key areas including:

• Services to affected populations
• Working with governments to build resilience
• Response readiness
• Partnerships
• Enhanced connectivity
• Services to the humanitarian community

For more information, visit: ETC 2020

Security: humanitarian operations are becoming increasingly insecure with most of today's big emergencies resulting from war and conflict. In these unstable environments it is difficult to not only deploy equipment, but personnel to respond to needs to the community. Many private sector and government partners are unable to deploy to countries where there are safety and security concerns.

Partnerships: the relief community understands that partnership and collaboration between humanitarian, private and government organisations are the way forward and the key to effective response, but ‘always in' partners are needed rather than ‘sometimes in'.

Funding: sudden onset, natural disasters tend to receive more attention than chronic emergencies fuelled by long-running political and military conflict. Ongoing ETC operations in Mali and Central African Republic, for example, received significantly less funding than the Philippines.

For more information about the ETC, contact: Global.ETC@wfp.org