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Focal Points & Sponsoring Organisation

INSARAG Policy, Operational and Team Focal Points​

The INSARAG Policy and/or Operational Focal Point serve as the primary point of contact for the INSARAG Secretariat, international responders and government for the INSARAG Secretariat regarding matters of policy and/or operations. Accordingly, the INSARAG Policy Focal Point has to approve any request from a USAR team, whether it is a government or non-governmental organisation (NGO) team, to undergo an IEC/R.

The INSARAG Team Focal Point is the liaison of the (aspiring) classified USAR team with the INSARAG Operational Focal Point.

USAR Team Sponsoring Organisation​

The USAR team’s sponsoring organisation are responsible for ensuring that the USAR team fully understands the INSARAG methodology and that the USAR team meets the INSARAG minimum standard for USAR operations.

Some of the key issues the sponsoring organisation are responsible for include:

  • If the USAR team is comprised of multiple organisations, it ensures inter-organisational agreements are in place.
  • Ensures there is funding available for preparation (training and equipment), delivery of an annual full FIELDEX of minimum 36-hour duration, ongoing skill training, participation in INSARAG regional and global activities, providing trained staff for USAR coordination mechanisms, immunisations and vaccines, and is available for international deployment.
  • Ensures there are agreements in place with transport providers (ground and air) that will enable the team to depart rapidly
  • Ensures all required insurance policies for team members, including evacuation insurance, are in place unless it has the facilities, capabilities or agreements that would expeditiously evacuate a USAR member when required
  • As decided by the ISG 2024, USAR teams/sponsoring organisations must provide 3-5 IEC/R classifiers in 5 years prior to its own IER, otherwise the USAR team will not be admitted to the IER.