Response Management Team

The Response Management Team (RMT) provides operational support to the field-based DART. Based in Washington DC, the RMT serves as the focal point for coordination among USAID bureaus, interagency, Congress and implementing partners, and other key stakeholders. In 2001, the DASP helped USAID/OFDA develop their initial RMT Policy and Procedures and recently completed a second major update in FY 2009, based on tests to the system and lessons learned from responses over the past several years.

An on-call RMT prepares for possible activaton in the USAID/OFDA operations center.

Activating an RMT enables USAID/OFDA/ Washington to provide full-time, focused attention to a disaster response. The RMT coordinates with USG interagency partners to determine the best method to activate and coordinate resources. The RMT also ensures that the DART needs for staff, funding, commodities and/or supplies are met. The RMT works closely with the DART to program funds based on DART recommendations, and tracks USAID/OFDA obligations in support of the disaster response. The RMT also develops timely and accurate information products about the disaster situation and USG response for distribution to various audiences.

The RMT organization has three major functional areas: Management, Planning and Operations. Like the DART, the actual configuration of each RMT is determined based on the size and complexity of the disaster response. Training is a pre-requisite for all positions on the team, and advanced training and experience are required for many positions.