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INSARAG Members

INSARAG Membership is open to all member states, NGOs and organisations involved in USAR activities, upon recommendation and approval by their respective governments. INSARAG also maintains close cooperation with regional mechanisms.

INSARAG information and knowledge-sharing tools are available through the INSARAG website, and through disaster alert and information sharing platforms such as the Global Disaster Awareness and Coordination System (GDACS), which includes the VOSOCC.

INSARAG member states with USAR teams deploying internationally are encouraged to undertake an IEC. However, this is not a requirement to be a member of the INSARAG network. As a first step, teams are encouraged to undertake the National Accreditation Process (NAP) and the INSARAG Recognised National Accreditation Process (IRNAP).

Requirements​

To improve preparedness and response, INSARAG members share information and best practices with other INSARAG members and USAR teams, including teams that are developing a response capability or are preparing for classification (IEC).

INSARAG members are encouraged to actively participate in, and contribute to, INSARAG Regional Meetings, earthquake response simulation exercises (ERE), and other INSARAG forums such as the INSARAG Team Leaders Meetings, and to contribute to the Working Groups. INSARAG members are also encouraged to support other INSARAG initiatives such as capacity assessment missions and regional exercises by providing suitable technical experts.

All INSARAG classified USAR members and/or Teams are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism and are deemed to be representing the INSARAG community in all their actions. Any formal complaints received by the INSARAG Secretariat regarding a USAR member’s/team’s conduct during international deployments or INSARAG activities, will be reviewed by the ISG. The ISG may elect to establish an ad hoc Team of experts to review the incident and recommend an appropriate course of action. The ISG may determine that a warning is issued or in serious cases, the membership and/or USAR team’s classified status be revoked.

INSARAG Policy, Operational and USAR Team Focal Points​

It is necessary for the structure to be effective and efficient that all member states participating in INSARAG designate one INSARAG Policy and one INSARAG Operational Focal Point for appropriate and effective information exchange, in accordance with the respective national disaster management structure. It is also strongly encouraged that each USAR team designates an official to act at the INSARAG Team Focal Point. In the preparedness and response phases, INSARAG Focal Points serve as the primary link and information channel between the member state and the INSARAG network. This is particularly important in response to emergencies to ensure an effective information flow between the affected country and the potential international responders. Regional, intergovernmental and international organisations participating in INSARAG are encouraged to designate a Focal Point. All focal points guarantee the national USAR teams’ adherence to the INSARAG Guidelines and the minimal standards in preparedness and response.

Member states are to inform the INSARAG Secretariat on the designation of their INSARAG Focal Points and update this information whenever INSARAG Focal Points change.

The responsibilities of INSARAG Focal Points can be described as ensuring the efficient information exchange and validation at the appropriate levels in the preparedness and response phases on USAR matters, including capacity building, trainings, policy matters, emergency alerts, requests or acceptance of assistance, mobilisation and provision of international assistance. The INSARAG Policy, Operational and Team Focal Points are expected to communicate between each other to advise and share information about strategy / policy objectives and the financial commitment to USAR (on national level). Frequent (online) meetings shall be used as a means of information sharing between INSARAG Policy, Operational and Team Focal Points once a year. The responsibilities can be categorised as follows:

  1. INSARAG Policy Focal Point: Ensure the promotion of INSARAG Guidelines and methodology within the member state and contribute to the continued policy development.
  2. INSARAG Operational Focal Point: Coordinate the internal information exchange of their own member state with INSARAG during emergencies and strengthen the preparedness both for national and international response.
  3. INSARAG Team Focal Point: ensures the adherence of their USAR team to INSARAG methodology and minimum standards.

There are also certain administrative responsibilities, such as serving as a point-of-contact between the national government and the INSARAG network, including the Secretariat, the Regional and the Steering Groups. If appropriate, the responsibilities of the INSARAG Policy and Operational Focal Points may also be carried out by the same person. The eligibility of any of the Focal Points should be confirmed to the secretariat by a relevant document issued by the responsible authority of the Member State.

INSARAG Policy Focal Point​

The INSARAG Policy Focal Point is the central point-of-contact for the INSARAG Secretariat. This person represents the Members State’s capabilities in providing or receiving USAR assistance. The INSARAG Policy Focal Point normally sits in the central institution or agency of the national disaster management structure or in the agencies responsible for international cooperation and humanitarian response, and represents the member state on USAR policy matters in the Regional Group and the INSARAG Steering Group. The INSARAG Operational Focal Point provides assistance as required. Regarding the role of the Policy Focal Point in the IEC/R process refer to Volume 4.

Responsibilities:

  • Are exclusively mandated by their member state to make policy/financial impact decisions during meetings based on either their own direct authority or through prior ministerial/high level approval of budgets, USAR strategy, etc.
  • Act as point of contact on INSARAG policy matters of the government to the INSARAG network, including the Secretariat in OCHA, the respective Regional Group and Chair as well as the ISG and the Global Chair.
  • Act as point-of-contact for all national USAR teams – including NGO teams – on INSARAG matters, and be able to endorse the application of national USAR teams for IEC/Rs upon the advice of the INSARAG Operational Focal Point.
  • Ensure the promotion and implementation of INSARAG Guidelines and methodology as part of the national disaster management plan and for the national and international response of the member state’s USAR teams as defined in UN General Assembly Resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002 on Strengthening the Effectiveness and Coordination of International USAR Assistance.”
  • Ensure that relevant information is communicated in a timely manner in times of emergencies to the INSARAG network through the INSARAG Secretariat and/or the relevant channels (i.e. the VOSOCC), including on request or acceptance of international assistance.
  • Represent or ensure representation of the own member state at meetings of the respective INSARAG Regional Group, and if applicable the ISG.
  • Attend induction session organised by the INSARAG Secretariat.

INSARAG Operational Focal Point​

The INSARAG Operational Focal Point of the member state should have national USAR responsibilities as part of their daily function. This person represents the member state primarily on operational USAR matters in INSARAG meetings, workshops and events. Regarding the role of the Operational Focal Point in the IEC/R process refer to Volume 4.

Responsibilities:

  • Act as point-of-contact on INSARAG operational matters for national USAR teams within the member state and promote the capacity building of the teams and national disaster management structure in line with INSARAG Guidelines and methodology, including the preparation for the establishment of RDC and OSOCC when required.
  • When affected by an emergency of international significance within the own member state, act as counterpart to the INSARAG Secretariat/OCHA and provide relevant information updates for the international operation in regular intervals to the INSARAG network on the VOSOCC.
  • When responding to an emergency in a third country, act as counterpart to the INSARAG Secretariat/OCHA and provide relevant information updates on the own member state’s planned or implemented response in regular intervals to the INSARAG network on the VOSOCC/OSOCC.
  • Advises the INSARAG Policy Focal Point on endorsement of applications of national USAR teams wanting to undergo IEC/Rs.
  • Attend induction session organised by the INSARAG Secretariat.

INSARAG Team Focal Point​

The INSARAG Team Focal Point is a member of the USAR team management.

Responsibilities:

  • Act as point-of-contact on INSARAG operational matters for their USAR team. They are the contact to their INSARAG Policy and Operational Focal Points, to the regional Chair as well to the INSARAG Secretariat.
  • They are responsible to promote and ensure the INSARAG methodology and minimal standards in preparedness and response within their team.
  • They are responsible to update the USAR directory of their teams.
  • Attend induction session organised by the INSARAG Secretariat.

INSARAG Website and Directory​

The INSARAG website shares information on INSARAG generally, as well as the summaries from previous events and upcoming activities.

The website holds the INSARAG calendar listing all relevant INSARAG events, such as IEC/R’s, ISG, Regional Meetings, trainings and exercises.

The INSARAG Directory is a unique database with the details of all INSARAG member states and organisations and their USAR teams. The directory also contains contact details for relevant INSARAG Policy, Operational and Team Focal Points.

The directory categorises USAR teams into the following:

  • INSARAG classified: Light, medium or heavy IEC/R teams
  • NAP and IRNAP accredited: Light, medium, or heavy national teams
  • Governmental and non-governmental teams not yet classified
  • USAR teams with flood response capabilities

To be part of the USAR Directory, teams need the endorsement of their INSARAG Policy Focal Point. Teams can request registration by the Secretariat via their respective INSARAG Policy Focal Point. Once registered, the INSARAG Operational Focal Point can update the team’s entry.

Note: The USAR Directory can be accessed at: USAR Directory.