Pacific Edition of Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination in Emergencies: Towards a Predictable Model [2026 Edition]

Foreword This publication presents the Pacific Edition of Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination in Emergencies: Towards a Predictable Model, developed under the guidance of the Regional Consultative Group (RCG) on Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination for Asia and the Pacific. As co-secretariat members of the RCG, the Australian Civil-Military Centre (ACMC), the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM), and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) offer this document as a practical resource to strengthen predictable, effective and appropriate disaster response in the Pacific. Grounded in the experience of five highly disaster-exposed countries: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, this Pacific Edition maps key civil-military coordination mechanisms at regional and national levels. It complements earlier guidance developed for Asia, while responding to calls from Pacific partners for a context specific resource that reflects the region’s geography, governance arrangements, and deep traditions of community-led response. The publication is intended for civilian and military actors engaged in preparedness, response and early recovery across international, regional and national spheres. This includes governments, security actors, regional bodies, UN agencies, Red Cross and Red Crescent partners, non-governmental and civil society organisations, donors, academia and the private sector who support or operate in Pacific Island Countries and Territories. By presenting existing mechanisms, good practice, lessons from recent emergencies and emerging regional initiatives, it aims to promote a shared understanding of roles, responsibilities and coordination approaches before, during and after crises. Co-Secretariat of the RCG