The Global Protection Cluster is a network that brings together local, national and international actors advancing the protection of communities affected by humanitarian crises around the world. 

We are mandated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the longest-standing and highest-level humanitarian coordination forum. We are led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and are governed by a Strategic Advisory Group (SAG). We function through a multi-partner operational team (the GPC Global Team). 

The Global Protection Cluster global team

The GPC Global Team provides day-to-day support and strategic advice and guidance to country-level Protection Clusters and partners. The GPC operates through a combination of country and thematic focal points to streamline support to country operations. In addition, the team supports country Protection Clusters to elevate their advocacy efforts, while also engaging in global advocacy and policy fora to advance protection outcomes. 

Meet the GPC Global Team members here. 

Services provided to country Protection Clusters coordination teams include (non-exhaustive list): 

• Day-to-day, tailored support ranging from information management, strategic analysis, advocacy and HCT engagement to regular cluster administration and standard-setting functions. This is provided through remote support and advice, training, workshops, in-country missions, etc., including with the support of partners, and Working Groups, Task Teams and Communities of Practice 

• Thematic support including on protection specialized areas and peer-to-peer exchanges on topics of relevance on on-going basis  

• Weekly updates emails, quarterly town hall meetings and when possible, an annual in-person meeting for Protection Coordination teams  

• Elevation of country-level issues to regional and global levels, including protection alerts and/or donors/member states briefings. 

The Strategic Advisory Group

The GPC has a Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), which provides strategic direction and advice to GPC global team and supports monitoring the implementation of the GPC strategic frameworks and annual work plans. The SAG embodies a culture of shared and collective leadership and accountability, and ensures the inclusive, participatory, and accountable governance of the GPC. 

SAG members are serving a 2-year mandate, with the current SAG elected for the period 2026-27. You can see the SAG Terms of Reference here. 

The SAG fulfils two critical functions:

1. Providing strategic direction and advice
2. Monitoring the implementation of the GPC strategic framework and annual work plan

For the period 2026-27, the SAG is composed of the following members: 

• 5 UN agencies: UNHCR as the Cluster Lead Agency, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNMAS and OHCHR
• 5 International NGOs: Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), International Medical Corps (IMC), Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) and Plan International
• 5 Local and National NGOs: Association Malienne pour la Survie au Sahel (AMSS) - Mali, Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA) - occupied Palestinian territory, Òganizasyon Fanm Vanyan An Aksyon (OFAVA) - Haiti, Solidarité Féminine pour la Paix et le Développement Intégral (SOFEPADI) - Democratic Republic of Congo, and Salam for Hope - Syria
• 2 Networks: CAFI network; International Pride Centre
• 2 country Protection Coordination teams: Ethiopia and Ukraine
• 3 Observers: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Housing, Land and Property representation within the Shelter, Land and Site Coordination Cluster.

Working Groups, Task Teams and Communities of Practice

The GPC is also supported through Working Groups, Task Teams and Communities of Practice, which are time-bound bodies aiming to support the GPC and Protection Clusters and partners on specific areas of work. These bodies are established based on the needs, priorities and requests emanating from / identified in country operations. They provide the GPC Global Team and SAG with strategic and/or technical operational, advocacy and policy engagement support, developing policy, guidance and tools, providing capacity support to field protection clusters, and with any other tasks deemed strategic or critical. These bodies are established upon endorsement from the SAG.  

The GPC is currently supported by the following bodies: 

• Advocacy Working Group

  • See the Terms of Reference here. 

  • Contacts: Alison Kent ([email protected]), Marie-Emilie Dozin ([email protected]) and Joyce Mutiso ([email protected]) 

• Information and Analysis Working Group

  • See the Terms of Reference here.

  • Contacts: Francesco Michele ([email protected]) and Kashif Rehman ([email protected]).  

• Gender-Based Violence Working Group

  • See the Terms of Reference here.

  • Contacts: Jennifer Chase ([email protected]) and Astrid Haaland ([email protected]) 

• Cash for Protection Task Team

  • See the Terms of Reference here and find more information on the issue here. 

  • Contacts: Roberta Gadler ([email protected]), Julia Grasset ([email protected]) and Lauren Murray ([email protected]) 

• Community-Led Protection Community of Practice

  • See the Terms of Reference here and find more information on the issue here. 

  • Contacts: Carolina Franceschini ([email protected]), Babette Schots ([email protected]) and Armel Rusake ([email protected])