Standby Partnership
The Standby Partnership (SBP) is a network of UN agencies, national agencies, NGOs and other organisations working with humanitarian aid.
The partnership commenced in 1991 as part of the response to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. The need for the UN to mobilise experts and equipment rapidly surpassed the UN’s own capacity, which resulted in support from other organisations, such as MSB.
Strengthens the work of the UN
The network participants provide support to the UN, responding to crises and conflicts throughout the world. MSB contributes with seconded experts to the UN in most major humanitarian emergencies, Areas of support include for example humanitarian experts, information management experts, engineers, experts in mine action, water and sanitation, environment, gender equality and gender-based violence. The purpose of the support is to strengthen the UN in effective and life-saving operations for the population affected by a natural disaster or conflict.
The organisations who are members of the SBP network meet annually to improve the system by, among other things, strengthening the coordination within the network, carry out joint training programmes and share best practices.
Support through the SBP to the UN is mobilised jointly with more than 1 000 experts annually.