Response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines: Summary of the 2014 Operational Peer Review

The international response to Typhoon Haiyan was formally declared a system-wide level 3 emergency by the IASC Principals on 13 November 2013, which requires an operational peer review to be conducted within 90 days of the crisis according to agreed Transformative Agenda protocols. The review was carried out from 13 to 19 January 2014 by a team of five United Nations (UN) and non-governmental organization (NGO) officials. The team met with about 200 people in the capital (Manila) and in the typhoon-affected regions (Tacloban, Guiuan and Roxas), and collected information through self-assessment questionnaires, secondary information, key informant meetings, and site visits. It focused on four key areas: leadership; the humanitarian programme cycle; coordination mechanisms; and accountability to affected people. It also reviewed the use, suitability and value of the Transformative Agenda protocols, and the adequacy of global level support. The aim of the review was to identify areas to advance the response (or so-called “course correctors”) and to collect learning and good practice.