This page provides key information and resources for country Protection Clusters, protection partners, donors and other partners on the Humanitarian Reset and its implications for Protection - both as a specialized sector and a collective commitment across humanitarian action.
This page particularly focuses on four key issues related to the Humanitarian Reset:
- Ensuring that Protection remains prioritized throughout the Humanitarian Reset implementation
- Cluster simplification and the consolidation of the Protection Cluster and its former Areas of Responsibility for Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence and Mine Action
- Accelerated transitions out of the humanitarian system
- The Humanitarian Reset and foreign aid funding cuts' impact on protection capacities
About the Humanitarian Reset
ENSURING Protection is and remains a Priority in Humanitarian Action
Most humanitarian crises are protection crises, even if not acknowledged as such. Violations of international law and patterns of abuse, violence, coercion, deliberate deprivation, exploitation, and exclusion are often the drivers of other humanitarian needs, and further exacerbate them. Failing to adequately consider protection in emergency interventions is detrimental to the entire humanitarian response and, ultimately, affected populations.
As the Humanitarian Reset calls for increased efficiencies and hyper-prioritized humanitarian response plans and action, the GPC together with country Protection Clusters, protection partners and allies continuously engages with OCHA, Humanitarian Leadership, Donors and other key stakeholders to ensure that Protection remains a priority - both as a specialized sector and as a collective commitment, in line with the 2016 IASC Protection Policy - across humanitarian action.
As part of the efforts to advocate for protection as a priority in humanitarian action, the GPC has published a global statement and key advocacy messages. Specific guidance has been provided to Cluster Coordination teams on navigating the different prioritisation efforts. See Guidance on Prioritisation of Protection Response Activities at Country-Level.
Cluster Simplification: Consolidation of the Protection Cluster
As part of the Humanitarian Reset, the Protection Cluster and its former Areas of Responsibility (AoR) - Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence and Mine Action - integrate into one single, consolidated Protection Cluster. The former Housing, Land and Property Area of Responsibility is moving to the newly established and consolidated Shelter, Land and Site Coordination Cluster, while still keeping strong operational and strategic linkages with the Protection Cluster.
As of February 2026, the Global Protection Cluster and the former Global AoRs are now consolidated into one global team. At country level, the consolidation process is on-going.
More information on Cluster Simplification and the consolidation of the Protection Cluster is available in the IASC interim messages on Cluster Simplification (September 2025) and the IASC Guidance on Cluster Simplification and Adapting In-Country Coordination (March 2026), including its annex on Lead and Accountability Arrangements for consolidated Clusters.
ACCELERATED Cluster Transitions
Against the backdrop of ongoing humanitarian reform and shifting aid priorities, several country Protection Clusters will undergo (accelerated) transition processes. As per decision of the IASC in 2025, Protection Clusters in Cameroon, Colombia and Nigeria are currently in the process of transitioning.
Across contexts, Protection Clusters must adapt their coordination mechanisms to ensure continuity of critical services, and that coordination is in line with the operational needs of our partners. In this context, the GPC together with NRC developed a Note on Protection in Humanitarian Coordination Transitions to support Protection Clusters and partners to prepare for and undergo transition processes. This note complements the IASC Guidance on Cluster Transition and Deactivation.
Amid ongoing humanitarian reform and significant cuts to foreign aid funding, protection clusters and their partners must navigate complex transitions and potential program closures. These shifts require careful planning to minimize disruptions to affected populations and ensure that critical protection services remain accessible where possible. The GPC published a short guidance to Protection Cluster coordination teams on how to engage partners in structured discussions for any closure of their protection programming. See Guidance on Sudden Programme Closure.
HUMANITARIAN RESET, FUNDING CUTS AND THE INCREASE PRESSURE ON PROTECTION ACTORS
In 2024, the Global Protection Cluster received $1.7 billion in humanitarian financing. This fell short of the $3.5 billion funding requirement – by 51%. The projections for 2025 indicate there will be an even more severe gap in protection funding, with projected shortfalls averaging 67% across major humanitarian crises. The GPC has conducted an in depth analysis of available data and developed two projections—one based on 30% funding reductions compared to 2024, and a second based on a 50% funding reduction model. This analysis projects the potential impact on country operations and key protection activities. See Funding Analysis and Protection Risk - Understanding the Link and Cost of Inaction. The GPC continues to consult global protection partners to understand the impact of foreign aid cuts on their protection programmes and their operational planning for 2025/2026.
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Support Materials
- Ethiopia Protection Cluster Advocacy Messages - Protection Interventions as Lifesaving and in Support of Stability and Solutions
- GPC Key Messages - Protection Saves Lives and Supports Stability and Solutions (1 pager)
- OCHA - Collective Messages on the Suspension of Humanitarian Assistance – Information for Communities and Affected People
- Mozambique Protection Cluster - Protection in Emergencies is Critical and Lifesaving
- GPC Key Messages - Protection Saves Lives and Supports Stability and Solutions (for Protection Coordinators and partners)
- South Sudan Protection Cluster - Key Messages on Protection