3.6 Field Support Team (FST)
Rapid response team to support WASH coordination in emergency contexts

The Field Support Team (FST) is the principle means for the Global WASH Cluster to provide operational surge support to National Humanitarian WASH Coordination Platforms (NHWCP).The FST has provided surge support via a partner consortium to NHWCP since 2008. It provides support in approximately 45 countries, with an average deployment of 15 to 20 per year (depending on team size).
The current FST consortium is led by Action Contre la Faim-France and includes Oxfam-GB, NCA, iMMAP and Impact. The consortium operates under a mandate given by the Global WASH Cluster’s Strategic Advisory Group and is independently funded for deployment operations.

The FST provides support through surge deployments, remote support and global support to NHWCPs to achieve the 7 IASC Core Functions of cluster coordination. The current FST includes 4 Cluster Coordinators, 3 Information Management Specialists and 1 Assessment Specialist. The FST consortium can provide additional staff on a consultancy basis. It can deliver in-person or virtual deployments support to requesting countries, for an average of 2 months and task-based remote support through the GWC helpdesk (see below).​
In practice, the FST offers:
  • Operational support to coordination and information management;
  • Support to conducting coordinated assessments;
  • Provides capacity and resources to critical gaps;
  • Mentoring and shadowing on coordination, information management and assessment functions;
  • Capacity building and training of trainers of coordination structures and partners; and
  • Accountability to affected populations, quality assurance and advocacy.
The FST operates worldwide, on humanitarian response and emergency preparedness, either to set up or support national and sub-national WASH Humanitarian Coordination Platforms. It deploys in complex emergencies, conflicts, natural disasters and outbreaks. It also acts in case of an immediate humanitarian need (acute crisis), a degradation of the situation or a lack or reduction of the national and subnational capacity to respond to crises. 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Provisional total budget:
8 000 000 USD

Synergies with:
All initiatives
Initiative's progress graph

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LED BY:
PARTICIPANTS: 
Oxfam, Norwegian Church Aid, iMMAP, Impact/Reach, UN International Children Emergency Fund

CONTRIBUTORS: 

​US Agency for International Development's Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs 
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