1. The Online Planning/Project System (OPS)
Expected Outcomes
Iraq HRP 2018
The Online Planning/Project System (OPS)
Webex for partners …

3. Expected Outcomes
What is OPS? …

4. OPS
A web application that allows NGOs and UN agencies participating in inter-agency planning processes to directly upload projects (implementation intentions) during the HRP timeframe (12 months) and related funding requests.
Details and funding received over time for projects uploaded in OPS is tracked by the Financial Tracking Service (FTS).

5. Key messages to (local) partners on the planning process:
The HRP is both a strategic response document and an appeal for funds.
The HRP is not itself a fund, and having a project in the HRP is not a guarantee of funding … but it can help to increase visibility with prospective donors.
Organizations with projects in the HRP are still likely to need to fundraise bilaterally.
The advantage of having a project in the HRP is that donors often favor these projects, as they are assured these are well coordinated and part of a comprehensive strategic humanitarian plan.

6. How can partners contribute?
Key messages on the planning process
How can partners contribute?
Contribute to defining the overall country strategy
Contribute to defining cluster strategies
Develop and submit ‘projects’ for the HRP

7. Coordinate within Clusters attend cluster meetings
Key messages on the planning process
Basic commitments expected for organizations submitting projects in the HRP:
Coordinate within Clusters
attend cluster meetings
report implementation data to 4Ws
Report to the Financial Tracking System throughout the year.
Plan programming and response in coordination with other actors.

8. Expected Outcomes
How to register on OPS? …

9. Registration in OPS
Go to OPS on and click on ‘new user.’
Create a new account
You will need an Humanitarian ID (HID) account in order to access the OPS. The OPS log-on page directs you to the relevant sites

10. Registering on Humanitarian.id

11. Registration in OPS Complete your user profile.
Insert name, contact; select your organization by using the search link “Click here to search for your organization”. (by acronym or full name)
Select the appropriate role that you will have in the appeal process, select the country where you are based.
Click on “submit.”
Check your and activate the access link. A notification will be sent with a verification link. This may take up to one working day.

12. Make sure you select the correct role
OPS edit rights depend on the role/tasks you have in the project approval process.
If you are an organization wishing to submit projects for the HRP:
Select the role of “UN or NGO Field Programme Officer”.
You will be able to view all projects but can only upload or edit projects for your organization.
A project created by a Field Programme Officer will remain in DRAFT status until the cluster coordinator approves it. 12

13. Registration
Most humanitarian organizations are registered in the OPS database.
If your organization is not registered:
A red message will appear with a link to “inform us”.
Click link and complete online form.
OCHA will upload your organization in OPS (may take up to one working day).
You will receive a message indicating that you can now proceed with completing the online registration on OPS.

14. Timing of project development1
HRP Scope/Objectives
Joint Response Strategy 2
Cluster Response Strategy 3
Project development by Cluster Members
The HC/HCT/ICCG agree on the scope, objectives and key response considerations for the HRP.
Informed by these HRP parameters, Clusters agrees on sector strategies, including priorities and a monitoring framework.
Partners develop projects which need to meet both HRP parameters and Cluster strategies, objectives and activities.

15. Principles of project development
As an organization submitting draft project(s):
You typically propose 1 project for each of the Clusters/Sectors you work in.
For project upload in OPS, this means that you might have to split a larger multi-sector program which you plan to implement into its sectoral components, and then upload each component by Cluster.
Alternatively, if your project has different sectoral components but the large majority of beneficiaries falls into one Cluster/Sector, then upload the project under that respective Cluster.
It might be agreed for the HRP to contain a dedicated chapter for multi-sector interventions (e.g. for multi-purpose cash), in which multi-sector projects can be uploaded in OPS.

16. Expected Outcomes
How to create a project? …

17. Creating a project Expected Outcomes Log into ops.unocha.org.
On the top, choose “2018” as response plan year.
Choose the 2018 Iraq HRP by clicking “view” to upload a new project or see existing projects. …

18. Creating a project
Expected Outcomes …

19. Creating a project Expected Outcomes
Click on “create a new project”, the system will open an empty project form.
Fields with a red asterisk (*) need to be filled, otherwise the project will not be saved. If you don’t have all required information, fill in placeholder text/values, save and return to the project draft later to complete it.
Once you have completed the project form, either click “save and stay” to save project details and remain on the same screen. Or click “save and close” to return to the Iraq 2018 HRP overview page. …

20. Creating a project Expected Outcomes 2 1
In the “Appealing Agency” section, click the blue field “add appealing agency” and choose your organization.
Fill in budget values (or estimates which you can confirm later before submitting) for your organization’s project.
On top, remove the OCHA default project and its budget by clicking “remove this organization”. Only your organization’s budget will remain. Continue by completing all other fields. 2 1 …

21. Creating a project Expected Outcomes Duration
Insert the duration of the project which should not exceed 12 months (it can be shorter), running anywhere from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018.
If applicable: Follow any HCT/ICCG or Cluster guidance on how the budget is to be completed, for example dedicated lines for supplies and equipment, operational costs (salaries, rental etc.) and overhead costs. …

22. Creating a project Expected Outcomes Beneficiaries
are disaggregated by
gender (male / female)
age (children < 18 yrs; adults yrs; elderly > 59 yrs)
type (IDPs, refugees, migrants, returnees, hosts/non-displaced, other)
Make sure that totals under these 3 disaggregated columns always add up to the total # of beneficiaries for your project.

23. Creating a project Project description
Insert project details (objectives, needs, activities, outputs, indicators and targets) into the descriptive fields.
Objectives and activities of your project should fall within your Cluster’s/Sector’s objectives and activities, and related output indicators under each. …

24. Creating a project Expected Outcomes Gender
Submitting organizations self-assess to what extent their project contributes to advancing gender issues, by addressing specific gender vulnerabilities and by implementing gender-specific activities or interventions to benefit women.
This is done based on the GENDER MARKER, with the following coding:
0- No signs that gender issues were considered in project design
1- The project is designed to contribute in some limited way to gender equality
2a- The project is designed to contribute significantly to gender equality
2b- The principal purpose of the project is to advance gender equality
3- Not Specified …

25. Creating a project Expected Outcomes Cash
For the 2018 planning process, OPS includes a new field to indicate if the project consists of, or has a component for, cash/voucher-based interventions; and if so, whether the transfer of cash or vouchers is conditional and/or restricted.
Conditionality: refers to the pre-requisite or qualifying conditions that a beneficiary must fulfil to receive the cash transfer or voucher, or activities that must be completed prior to receiving any assistance, such as cash-for-work or cash-for-education.
Restrictions: refers to any limitations on how the cash/voucher can be used or redeemed after it has been received, such as cash-for-fuel or cash-for-food.
Percentage: should indicate how much of the project’s total funding requirements are estimated to be spent on cash/vouchers. …

26. Creating a project Expected Outcomes Location tagging:
This is about showing in which areas of the country the project will be implemented.
Select the field “Project Location(s)”. If the project covers only one district, select this district from the drop-down menu. If it covers multiple districts, select ‘multiple locations from the drop down menu, then:
Click “save and stay”
Click on “EGF” (Enhanced Geographical Fields), on the top of the project sheet.
Select the different locations of your project from the drop-down menus in the EGF tab, sorting by administrative level.
Click “add” after your selection, and the information will be displayed in the box to the right.
Click on “X” to remove any location field. …

27. Creating a project
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Location tagging: …

28. Creating a project Expected Outcomes
Reflecting refugees in OPS: 3 options 1 2 3
All refugee projects are to be approved by the Refugee Coordinator only. Cluster coordinators should only approve non-refugee projects in their Clusters. …

29. Review of projects Expected Outcomes
Draft projects in OPS are reviewed against agreed selection or vetting criteria within Clusters (by Cluster Coordinators, review committees or through peer review). Examples of selection criteria are provided in the following slide.
Approved projects by Cluster are presented to HC/HCT for approval.
Once approved by the HC/HCT, projects are published in FTS where there are visible to donors and funding against them can be tracked over time. …

30. Project Selection Criteria (Examples)
Review of projects
Expected Outcomes
The following is a non-exhaustive list of examples of selection criteria which Clusters have used for project planning in different HRP processes.
A basic expectation typically is that organizations wishing to include a project(s) in the HRP must coordinate and share information via the established mechanisms (Clusters, working groups etc.).
Selection criteria to be used for project planning under the 2018 Iraq HRP are yet to be agreed and will be communicated separately.
Project Selection Criteria (Examples)
The projects must:
have humanitarian objectives and be in line with humanitarian principles (e.g. no stabilization/development/political interventions)
be based on a needs assessment (or other evidence base)
be in line with HRP strategic objectives and joint response strategy
target vulnerable group(s) identified and prioritized in the HRP
not duplicate other projects
be in line with their respective cluster response strategy (objectives/activities) and technical cluster criteria/standards, as applicable
be fully achievable in 12 months
include a monitoring and evaluation mechanism
include a self-assessment for ‘do no harm’, gender, protection and/or resilience focus
build capacity of communities at local level.
This slide will need to be amended with any Iraq-specific selection criteria, if agreed. …

31. Review of projects Expected Outcomes
Given the above, as an organization submitting a draft project(s),
articulate how your project(s) corresponds to humanitarian principles, HRP Objectives and the respective Cluster Strategy (Cluster Objectives and Activities).
you might be asked to ‘defend’ your project in front of a cluster review committee, explaining its alignment with HRP parameters and the sector strategy.
you might be asked to review/modify your project(s) in case of duplication with other projects, and/or significant gaps identified at Cluster/Sector level.
Final project approval rests with the HC. …

32. Support Expected Outcomes
In case of any questions on next steps, please contact:
your Cluster coordinators, and/or
OCHA:
Nihan Erdogan, OCHA Iraq, Inter-Cluster Coordinator,
Atupele Kapile, OCHA Iraq,
This should already include the Iraq-specific vetting criteria – so the slide above will need to be adapted …

33. Expected Outcomes
Thank you!
Questions? …