The Pakistan health cluster serves as a mechanism for coordinated assessments, joint analyses, the development of agreed overall priorities, objectives and a health crisis response strategy, and the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation and impact of that strategy.
The cluster enables participating organizations to work together, and with local health authorities, to harmonize efforts, effectively integrate cross-cutting issues and use available resources efficiently within a framework of agreed objectives, priorities and strategies.
Participating organizations are expected to be proactive partners in assessing needs, developing strategies and plans for the overall health sector response, implementing agreed priority activities, ensuring attention to priority cross-cutting issues and adhering to agreed standards, to the maximum extent possible.
The cluster lead agency is responsible for ensuring the satisfactory functioning of the cluster. The lead agency assigns a health cluster coordinator and provides the necessary administrative and other support services. The coordinator facilitates and leads the work of the cluster, and ensures coordination with other clusters in relation to activities relevant to public health as well as cross-cutting issues.
What is the cluster approach?
The cluster approach is a way of organizing coordination and cooperation among humanitarian actors to facilitate joint strategic planning. At country level, it:
establishes a clear system of leadership and accountability for international response in each sector, under the overall leadership of the humanitarian coordinator
provides a framework for effective partnerships among international and national humanitarian actors in each sector.
The cluster strengthens, rather than replaces, existing sector coordination mechanisms. The aim is to ensure that international responses are appropriately aligned with national structures and to facilitate strong linkages among international organizations, national authorities, national civil society and other stakeholders.