Ensuring the protection of individuals and communities in humanitarian crisis requires the combined effort of a variety of national and international actors. In order to ensure a timely appropriate and comprehensive response it is thus essential that clear and effective coordination structures are put in place at the country level. 

It is the Country Team, under the leadership of the HC/RC, and in consultation with relevant partners, that decides what coordination structures are put in place at the country level, including whether the cluster approach is adopted in order to strengthen the collaborative response.

Experience has shown that an effective protection response, regardless of the whether the cluster approach is formally applied or not, can best be ensured by identifying a lead agency for protection and by establishing a protection working group for coordinating the response.

Protection covers a wide range of activities which are undertaken by various actors with different mandates, roles and responsibilities. It can be useful to understand such differences and work to strengthen rather than replacing existing capacities when possible. Some key protection actors include:

• National authorities
• Humanitarian Coordinators (HC)
• Protection Working Groups and Lead Agencies for Protection

Protection working groups are broad-based participatory forums that bring together the various protection actors on the basis of equal partnership. This usually includes international human rights, humanitarian and development agencies and organizations, national and international NGOs, peace-keeping actors where present, and others engaged in protection efforts.

Protection working groups should be lead by agencies or organizations that have knowledge, expertise and experience of protection and protection coordination. In countries where the cluster approach is applied, the lead agency for protection at the country level takes responsibility, and is accountable to the HC, for ensuring effective coordination of the protection response.

The role and responsibilities of protection working groups differ depending on the context, the nature and type of protection risks and gaps, as well as the needs and capacities of the protection actors on the ground. To read more about the roles of protection working groups please click here.

There are several protection working groups operating in various country operations at present. You can find their contact information by clicking here.