Global Protection Cluster

WHO WE ARE

The Global Protection Cluster (GPC) is a network of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations and United Nations (UN) agencies, engaged in protection work in humanitarian crises including armed conflict and disasters. The GPC is mandated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), governed by a Strategic Advisory Group, co-chaired by the GPC Coordinator and an operational NGO, and serviced by a multi-partner Operations Cell.

The GPC unites members, partners and communities working on the full gamut of protection activities, including in four specialized Areas of Responsibility (AoRs): Child Protection (CP), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Housing, Land and Property (HLP) and Mine Action (MA). The GPC contributes to and benefits from the broader IASC system, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), various human rights treaty bodies and key development and peace building and peacekeeping actors, and through building partnerships with international financial institutions and the private sector.

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Our Vision

People are protected in humanitarian crises and their rights respected and solutions found in accordance with international law.

Our Mission

Ensuring well-coordinated, effective and principled protection preparedness and responses, and that protection is at the core of all humanitarian action and recognized as essential in any nexus with development and peace

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To fulfil our mission, we focus on the following strategic priorities.

01

We will put basics of coordination and collaboration in place in all our operations.

We will consistently put in place principled and effective coordination, collaboration and analysis to meet cluster responsibilities and to contribute to timely and informed decisions by Humanitarian Coordinators (HCs) and Humanitarian Country Teams (HCTs).

See full overview: GPC Strategic Framework 2020 -2024
02

We will ensure voices of crisis affected persons and communities are heard, especially the forgotten ones

We will amplify the voices of persons affected by humanitarian crises and ensure consistent and predictable representation of their issues, so they can be addressed by relevant responsible parties.

See full overview: GPC Strategic Framework 2020 -2024
03

We will meet the challenges to make protection actions contextually appropriate and complementary.

Through joint analysis, we will achieve effective and appropriate collective protection outcomes with development, human rights, peace and security actors especially in mixed, climate change response and violent extremism situations.

See full overview: GPC Strategic Framework 2020 -2024
04

We will champion and advance durable solutions that meet protection standards through a nexus of humanitarian, peace and development action.

We will promote protection as a core element of humanitarian work addressing protection problems and creating conditions conducive for durable solutions that are recognized as essential in development and peacebuilding efforts.

See full overview: GPC Strategic Framework 2020 -2024
05

We will continue adapting to the shifting operational environment and keep looking forward.

We will contribute to the identification of protection response gaps and challenges including in emerging and growing trends and engage partners to respond creatively.

See full overview: GPC Strategic Framework 2020 -2024
PROTECTION IN A CLIMATE OF CHANGE

Launch of the 2020-2024 GPC Strategic Framework

GPC Youtube Channel
Protection Coordination at National Level

National Protection Clusters


The Global Protection Cluster supports National Protection Clusters in 32 contexts. The core rationale and mandate of the GPC is to provide strategic guidance and technical support to field operations in the fulfilment of their core functions

As described by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, a Cluster at national level has six core functions to ensure the effective coordination of humanitarian response.

06 Core Functions

1
Supporting service delivery
2
Informing strategic decision making
3
Planning and strategy development
4
Monitoring and evaluation of the response
5
Preparedness and contingency planning
6
Collective advocacy