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Syria Protection Cluster (Turkey)

Terms of Reference for the Syria Protection Cluster supported by cross-border operations from Turkey. Drafted in January 2020, and endorsed in

March 2020.

Terms of Reference

Table of Contents

BACKGROUND.........................................................................................................2SCOPE OF WORK.....................................................................................................2GUIDING PRINCIPLES...............................................................................................3OBJECTIVES.............................................................................................................3CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE PROTECTION CLUSTER...................................................3MEMBERSHIP...........................................................................................................4PROTECTION CLUSTER MEETINGS...........................................................................5TASK FORCES AND WORKING GROUPS...................................................................6ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROTECTION CLUSTER LEADERSHIP AND COORDINATION ARRAGEMENTS..............................................................................7REVIEW AND AMENDMENT OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE.....................................8CHILD PROTECTION SUB-CLUSTER TORS................................................................9GBV SUB-CLUSTER TORS.......................................................................................15MINE ACTION SUB CLUSTER TORS.........................................................................20ANNEX A – PROTECTION CLUSTER STRUCTURE.....................................................26ANNEX B – CLUSTER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS...................................27ANNEX C – PROTECTION CLUSTER INFORMATION SHARING PROTOCOL...............30ANNEX D – PROTECTION MONITORING TASK FORCE TORS....................................46ANNEX E – GENDER FOCAL POINT TORS................................................................49ANNEX F – PROTECTION CORE GROUP TORS.........................................................51ANNEX G – HOUSING, LAND AND PROPERTY TORS...............................................53ANNEX H - Inclusion of People with Disabilities TORs…………………………………………………………………………..55

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BACKGROUNDIn 2005, under the global leadership of the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), the Inter-Agency Standing committee (IASC) adopted the ‘Cluster Approach’1 to address the gaps and increase the effectiveness of humanitarian response in situations of internal displacement, complex emergencies and natural disaster. The aim of the Cluster Approach at the global level is to strengthen system-wide preparedness and coordination by ensuring predictable leadership and accountability in all main sectors or areas of humanitarian response. Globally, UNHCR is the designated lead agency for the Protection Cluster.

In January 2014, a Protection Task Force (PTF) for the humanitarian response in Syria was established by members of the Southern Turkey Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) in order to strengthen and coordinate the broader protection response for persons affected by the conflict in Syria. The CPWG existed since March 2013 as part of the NGO coordination structure based in Southern Turkey for the humanitarian response for Syria. The structure and the leadership of the CPWG and the PTF evolved over time, and the Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the Protection Working Group (PWG) and its two sub-working groups - the Child Protection Sub-Working Group (CP SWG) and the Gender-Based Violence Sub-Working Group (GBV SWG) - were formalized in August 2014.In January 2015 at the request of the ERC, the Turkey cross-border coordination structures were formalized by Cluster activation. The PTF became the Protection Cluster, with Child Protection and GBV SWGs formalized into Sub-Clusters. In mid-2015, the Mine Action Sub-Cluster was also activated. The three Sub-Clusters, as well as other working groups, report to, and are encompassed under the umbrella of the Protection Cluster, per the IASC model. The inter-agency humanitarian response coordination structure in southeast Turkey for Syria cross-border operations draws upon the respective expertise of UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs in all clusters. The Protection Cluster is co-led by UNHCR and an INGO/NGO. The International Rescue Committee is the current co-lead. The Sub-Cluster for Child Protection is led by UNICEF and an NGO Co-lead (currently World Vision), the Sub-Cluster for GBV is led by UNFPA and an NGO Co-lead (currently Global Communities) and the Mine Action Sub-Cluster is led by UNMAS. The Cluster’s structure can be found in Annex A, and Terms of Reference for the Sub-Clusters can be found on pages of this document. SCOPE OF WORKThe purpose of the Protection Cluster and its Sub-Clusters is to strengthen and coordinate the humanitarian protection response in Syria. The programmatic interventions of the Cluster’s partners aim to mitigate and alleviate the protection consequences of the conflict inside Syria. The Protection Cluster adheres to the IASC definition of protection to guide its activities. As such, the Protection Cluster defines protection as: “all activities aimed at ensuring full respect for the rights of the 1 IASC Guidance Note on Using the Cluster Approach to Strengthen Humanitarian Response, available here.

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individual in accordance with the letter and spirit of the relevant bodies of law (i.e. human rights law, international humanitarian law and refugee laws).”2

The Protection Cluster acknowledges that affected communities themselves contribute to the creation of a protective environment and should be engaged through a participatory approach that takes into consideration age, gender and diversity and that all humanitarian agencies have a role to play in ensuring that positive coping mechanisms are supported and enhanced at local levels.GUIDING PRINCIPLES The Protection Cluster’s work is guided by the protection minimum standards in humanitarian action3 as well as the following guiding principles:

Respect the core humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence, and do no harm.

Place the perspective of the affected populations at the center, requiring their meaningful participation in assessments, strategic design and evaluation.

Ensure the integration of specific needs related to age, gender and diversity in all stages of protection activities and interventions.

Establish accountability to affected populations through the creation of appropriate mechanisms by which affected populations can measure the quality of interventions, and address concerns and complaints.

Empower affected populations through the development of self-protection capacities and facilitating obtaining the knowledge, resources, and capacities necessary to claim their rights.

Support the Human Rights Up Front Initiative by actively recording, analyzing and reporting on serious and large-scale violations of human rights and humanitarian law and bring such violations to the attention of national authorities and appropriate UN bodies.

OBJECTIVESThe Protection Cluster aims to uphold and promote the rights of women, men, girls and boys affected by the Syrian conflict, and ensures that persons in need affected by the conflict have access to safe and dignified services that mitigate and respond to rights violations. The Cluster’s work is underpinned by its annual strategy and needs identified in the 2020 Humanitarian Needs Overview.The Protection Cluster priorities for 2020 are as follows:

2 IASC IDP Protection Policy 1999. The definition was originally adopted by a 1999 Workshop of the InternationalCommittee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Protection. Available here.3 “Protection Principles” in The Sphere Project, Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response,

2011, available here.

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• Improve the protection of the population affected by the crisis through community-based and individually targeted protection interventions and through advocacy with duty bearers.

• Strengthen the capacity of humanitarian actors and duty bearers at the national and community level to assess, analyse, prevent and address protection risks and needs.

CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE PROTECTION CLUSTERThe Protection Cluster’s strategic priorities will be achieved through the following nine core functions4:

Meet the protection needs of affected populations through timely and coordinated action, with particular attention to those persons identified as having specific needs, based on a clear and regularly updated work plan5;

Provide a clear and consistent understanding of the protection needs of affected populations, through assessments, monitoring and analysis;

Promote understanding and respect of protection policies and standards, both in terms of all protection activities of Protection Cluster partners, and through the mainstreaming of protection in the activities of the other clusters;

Establish and maintain a relevant and robust coordination mechanism, including information management, with Protection Cluster members and relevant counterparts;

Inform and advise the DRHC and HLG regularly on critical protection issues and analysis to facilitate their strategic decision making and prioritization, as well as enable collective leadership in pursuing shared goals in relation to protection;

Enhance local capacity of both NGOs and in the delivery of protection to affected populations6;

Monitor the performance and impact of Cluster partners’ activities, measuring progress against the cluster strategy and recommending corrective action where necessary;

Identify core advocacy concerns related to protection and contribute key messages to the broader advocacy initiatives of the DRHC, the Cluster Lead Agency and other relevant actors;

Mobilize resources, provide leadership and strategic direction in the assessment and prioritization of project proposals and common funding criteria for inclusion Humanitarian Fund requests and other inter-agency funding appeals.

4 Core functions adapted from the IASC Reference Module Cluster Coordination at the Country Level, available here.5 The Protection Cluster’s work plan is annexed to the Cluster’s strategy.6 The Protection Cluster’s training calendar can be found here, and the training plan for 2018 is annexed to the Cluster’s

strategy.

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MEMBERSHIP Membership is free and application is open to all humanitarian organizations implementing protection activities and services in Syria, with the shared goal of enhancing the humanitarian protection response. This includes UN agencies, international and national NGOs (Syrian and Turkish), and international organizations with existing protection programming. Organizations should be as represented, as feasible, by staff with technical protection expertise in the Cluster meetings. National organizations (Syrian NGOs) should be members of the UNDP Civil Society Organization (CSO) platform in order to join the Protection Cluster. If the organization is not registered, please get in touch with Mr. Omar Durbas, omar.durbas@undp.org,  and come back to the Protection Cluster once this is process is finalized. This is an essential requirement for membership in the Protection Cluster and Sub-Clusters.Organizations interested to join the Protection Cluster and/or Sub-clusters should fill the following Google form and submit it. Please note that the link will be open every 12 weeks for 7 days. The Protection Cluster will reply within 3 days and if accepted, organizations will be added to the Cluster mailing list as either members or observers. After that, the Cluster will track organizations’ participation in Cluster meetings and reporting 4Ws every 3 months. If the organization becomes an inactive member (by failing to report to 4Ws or to attend cluster meetings) the organization will be removed. Finally, the organization can re-apply to the Cluster beginning 3 months after removal.

Protection Cluster and Sub-Cluster members commit to the following: Attend and actively participate in Protection Cluster meetings on a regular

basis through discussion, presentations, etc., and follow up on meeting minutes and action points when required;

Share information on Protection Cluster operational priorities, activities, concerns, and constraints to contribute to ongoing protection situation and response monitoring (including gap and coverage analysis), and to inform protection sector reporting requirements at inter-sectoral coordination levels (e.g. through completing 4Ws and reporting on Emergency Response Tool; providing inputs for the service mapping; sharing protection assessments/monitoring conducted; exchanging information on the evolving situation in respective areas of operation);

Actively participate in protection coordination, including the development and implementation of the Protection Cluster work plan and strategy;

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Participate and engage in Protection Cluster response planning and implementation, including relevant task forces and operational working groups; according to area of expertise, mandate and operation;

Provide inputs to inter-agency tools and resources produced by the Protection Cluster, according to area of expertise, mandate and interests; and

Uphold, use and actively promote Protection Cluster agreed principles, standards and tools with staff and partners.

PROTECTION CLUSTER MEETINGSProtection Cluster meetings will be held once a month, chaired by the Cluster Coordinator (from UNHCR) and an INGO Co-Coordinator (from IRC). Regular meetings may be postponed for other Cluster events, such as workshops, retreats or trainings. The Chatham House Rule7 applies to the Cluster meetings, meaning that information shared may be used, but should not be attributed to the speaker or the source. The Cluster will draft and circulate previous meeting minutes to all members in advance of the next meeting. The Protection Cluster will limit, for logistical purposes, the number of representatives of each agency present at Cluster meetings to one staff member per organization, unless stated otherwise.Non-member observers, including Stabilization actors and donors, may attend Protection Cluster meetings to present specific agenda items, on an ad hoc basis and only upon invitation by the Protection Cluster coordinators. Members will be consulted prior to such attendance and in accordance with the Cluster’s information sharing protocol. Members were consulted in November 2019 and accepted to have donors in the Protection Cluster meetings.Information and reports produced by the Protection Cluster (dashboards, reports, advocacy messages, guidance notes etc.) may be shared with non-members with an interest in protection, in accordance with the Information Sharing Protocol, which can be found in Annex C.TASK FORCES AND WORKING GROUPSIn addition to standard Protection Cluster meetings, the Co-Leads may at times form specific task forces to focus on thematic, technical areas or hold operational group meetings for certain geographic areas in Syria, as needed. In addition to a Housing, Land and Property Technical Working Group, the Protection Cluster currently has the following task forces and operational groups:Protection Monitoring Task Force (PMTF): June 2016 – present, led by UNHCR and co-led by IRC In June 2016, the Protection Cluster agreed to enhance protection monitoring efforts in order to enable collation of accurate information about protection risks and 7 Definition of the Chatham House Rule can be found here.

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concerns, to generate actionable recommendations for humanitarian stakeholders, and to strengthen identification and referrals of persons in need of protection interventions. In order to move this process forward, the Protection Cluster established the Protection Monitoring Task Force (PMTF), with reporting lines to the Protection Cluster. The ToRs for the PMTF can be found in Annex D. You can find all the protection monitoring Interactive Dashboard on the following link and Protection Monitoring Task Force reports on the Protection Cluster website.Protection Core Group: June 2018 - presentIn June 2018, the Protection Cluster leadership established the Protection Core Group, a small body of Cluster members that contribute to its strategic direction. The Core Group is not a decision-making body, but rather an advisory group that aims to: develop and adjust the sector’s strategic framework, priorities and work plan; steer medium- and long-term planning for Cluster meeting content; and develop and review Cluster documents, such as guidance notes, ToRs, or key messages. The group is chaired by the Protection Cluster Coordinator and/or the Cluster Co-Lead. The ToRs for the Core Group can be found in Annex F.This group is mainly concerned with general protection issues as civil documentation, freedom of movement and any topics related to general protection risks. Housing, Land and Property Technical Working Group: May 2017- present, led by UNHCR and co-led by NRC: The Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) Technical Working Group was formed in Gaziantep in May 2017.  The overall objective of the HLP Technical Working Group is to facilitate a more systematic approach to identifying, understanding and addressing HLP issues affecting persons of concern and directly impacting the work of the clusters. The TWG is co-led by the Norwegian Refugee Council and UNHCR, and membership includes UN Agencies, international and national non-governmental and humanitarian organizations and representatives of relevant clusters operating in Northern Syria. Meetings are held every three months, and attendance is expected to be at the senior technical level. The TORs for the HLP TWG are available in Annex G.

Technical Working Group on Inclusion: February 2020 - presentRecognizing the exclusion and vulnerabilities that persons with disabilities experience in the Syrian crisis, with particular regard to accessing basic humanitarian services including protection, The Protection Cluster, represented by Lead Agency UNHCR and Humanity & Inclusion will establish a technical working group in February 2020. The working group will support the implementation of inclusion mechanisms in the response and strengthen existing efforts. The Technical Working Group will work in coordination with relevant clusters, in particular Shelter/NFI, WASH, and CCCM, and their partners to identify key barriers

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to inclusion and to design and implement inclusion mechanisms. The TORs for the HLP TWG are available in Annex H.

Operational Working GroupsThe Protection Cluster leadership may form operational working groups to improve coordination and response in specific geographic locations. Operational working group meetings will be called on an ad-hoc basis by the Coordinator or Co-coordinator. Participation in the operational working groups is limited to Protection Cluster partners with existing programming in the identified locations. Invitations to attend operational working groups will initially be sent based on 4W data. Partners who work in the specific locations but do not report to the 4Ws should write to the Cluster Co-Leads and commit to regularly reporting in order to attend operational working group meetings. Partners who miss three consecutive operational working group meetings will be removed from its distribution list.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROTECTION CLUSTER LEADERSHIP AND COORDINATION ARRANGEMENTS The Protection Cluster is led by the Cluster Lead Agency (UNHCR) and theInternational Rescue Committee in the period covered by this ToR (January 2020- December 2020).. The Coordinators and Co-coordinators of the Protection Cluster and its Sub-Clusters have the following responsibilities towards the membership of the cluster8:

Lead and oversee the coordination and management of the protection response;

Promote standards, guidelines and good practices and enforce field compliance with protection policies, standards, and procedures;

Develop inter-agency protection strategies, mobilize resources and inform strategic decision making;

Improve the representation of protection partners, and represent them at the inter-cluster working group (ICCG), Humanitarian Liaison Group (HLG) and Whole of Syria (WoS) fora;

Reinforce the accountability of the humanitarian response towards, and advocate on behalf of affected populations;

Maintain critical information management through monitoring and reporting; Train and enhance capacity for Protection Cluster partners and other

humanitarian actors on protection; Coordinate, facilitate and support the work of protection partners; and Promote interagency/inter-sectoral protection needs assessments.

8 Detailed information regarding the responsibilities of the Protection Cluster Coordinator and Co-Coordinator can be found in their respective Terms of Reference.

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The Protection Cluster participates in of the Whole of Syria coordination mechanism. The Protection Cluster Coordinator and Co-coordinators represent Cluster members at the Whole of Syria Level.

The Protection Cluster is represented at the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) by all PC and SC coordinators and co-coordinators. The Protection Cluster is represented at the Humanitarian Liaison Group (HLG) by the Protection Cluster Coordinator.

The inter-agency humanitarian response coordination structure in Turkey for Syria draws upon the respective expertise of UN agencies and NGOs to provide leadership to clusters, as well as the global leadership structure for the clusters.

Requirements for appointment as the Protection Cluster Co‐Coordinator Coordinating Agency are: Recognized technical expertise in the sector; and Significant operational capacity; and capacity to commit time and resources to

carrying out the responsibilities of the Cluster Co‐Leadership. A new Co-coordinator may be elected by the Protection Cluster by agreement of its members, and rotation of NGO co-chairs is encouraged on a yearly basis. If funding allows, the Cluster will include support staff as needed.

REVIEW AND AMENDMENT OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCEThe Protection Cluster Terms of Reference will be reviewed annually by active Cluster members. In addition, ad-hoc revisions will be included in accordance with the evolving situation in Syria. Any revisions will be endorsed by the members during the regular meeting of the Protection Cluster.

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CHILD PROTECTION SUB-CLUSTER TORS

1. SCOPE OF WORK

The Cross-Border Child Protection Sub-Cluster (CPSC) for North west Syria is the forum for coordination and collaboration on child protection in emergencies, in North Syria. The CPSC defines child protection in emergencies as “The prevention of and response to abuse, neglect, exploitation of and violence against children in emergencies”. In practice, child protection work includes specific programs run by child protection specialists, as well as actions integrated into all other humanitarian sectors.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE CP SUB-CLUSTER:

The objective of the Child Protection Sub-Cluster in Southern Turkey is to protect and promote the rights of children affected by the conflict in North Syria, ensure they have access to remedies and that these are provided with timely, effective and comprehensive needs-based care and assistance. The functions of the Child Protection Sub Cluster are in line with the Child Protection Sub-Cluster Strategy, CPSC Work-plan and the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).

The Child Protection Sub-Cluster commits to: Strengthen outreach and promote children and families’ participation and

resilience through community-based approaches; Prevent and respond to increased child protection risks including child labor,

children without appropriate care, children associated with armed forces and groups (CAAFAG), child marriage, family separation, sexual , physical and psychological violence through the provision of cross sectoral, specialized protection services, including the support of alternative care mechanisms

Provide immediate access to protection and specialized response services to the most vulnerable children, particularly those who are unaccompanied and separated and those who are newly displaced;

Strengthen child protection systems and promote quality and sustainability through consolidated and coordinated approaches in capacity building, especially through key priority interventions like case management and family tracing and reunification (FTR);

Promote children’s rights and increase accountability of duty-bearers through advocacy9

9 Relevant link can be found in footnote 3.

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Northern Syria Child Protection Sub-Cluster

3. GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND APPROACHES

The work of the CP Sub-Cluster is guided by the Minimum Standards for Child Protection Humanitarian Action 10; humanitarian and protection principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality, independence, and ‘do no harm’. The Child Protection Sub-Cluster commits to uphold and respect the general principles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child11 guiding principles in the leadership, coordination and implementation of its child protection intervention:• Survival and Development• Non-discrimination and access to equitably distributed assistance• Child Participation• Best-interests of the child• Do-no-harm

The following approaches form the basis and the foundation of child protection and its modalities in protection and service delivery:Indiscriminate, needs based access to the provision of services: services are accessible to all children from IDPs and host communities regardless of stator belonging to a particular social, religious or ethnic group. Modalities of assistance might differ based on need and vulnerability.

• Focus on quality, strengthening child protection systems and local capacities with a view towards ensuring sustainability;

• ;• Promote area-based approaches to ensure modalities remain flexible and

adaptable to the local contexts, operational environments and evolving needs; • Ensure protection and assistance remain principled, needs-based and

humanitarian in character.

4. CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE CP SUB-CLUSTER12

Support service delivery Provide a platform to ensure that service delivery is well-coordinated and

driven by agreed strategic priorities, as indicated in the HRP and the Protection Cluster Strategy

Collect and analyze primary and secondary information relevant to the CP situation & CP response to identify priority CP concerns and inform program development and implementation

Based on analysis of available information, prioritize populations and locations most in need of CP interventions

Develop service directories, mapping and referral mechanisms for responding to the needs of identified vulnerable children in Syria in collaboration with the Protection Cluster, GBV Sub-Cluster and other sectors.

10 10 Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian ActionChild protection minimum standards in humanitarian settings, available here. Please note that at the time of writing the Minimum Standards are under revision.

11 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC), available here. 12 As with the Protection Cluster’s core functions, these are in-line with the IASC Reference Module Cluster Coordination at

the Country-level.

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Develop and maintain appropriate links with the range of international, regional, national and local humanitarian agencies and other stakeholders involved in child protection response.

Prevent and respond to grave violations of child rights by reporting through appropriate channels, making referrals as appropriate, and developing harmonized interventions.

Ensure and encourage consistency across child protection prevention and response interventions by promotion and provision of standard guidance with a view to increase quality, rigor and accountability towards affected population.

Planning and Strategy Development Develop and regularly update a CP Sub-Cluster work-plan identifying priority

areas of collaborative work (such as; establishing technical working groups & information management processes; improve collective monitoring and analysis of CP needs, response and capacities; build capacity of CP staff/workforce; develop service directories and SOPs etc. with a view to strengthening the CP response), key activities, time frames and identification of lead agencies to take specific activities forward.

Develop and regularly update a CP Sub-Cluster strategy under the overall framework of the Protection Strategy, including objectives and indicators for CP response that are aligned with and support realization of the strategic priorities set out by the DRHC and the Humanitarian Country Team or its equivalent for the overarching humanitarian response, the Child Protection Minimum Standards, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Inform strategic decision-making of the DRHC and the Humanitarian Country Team or its equivalent for the humanitarian response

Determine CP sector funding requirements, prioritization, and CPSC contributions to overall humanitarian funding processes/appeals led by the DRHC

Ensure that child protection concerns, and standards are appropriately reflected in inter-cluster humanitarian coordination

Ensure that CP interventions pursued as part of the emergency response also integrate early recovery considerations when feasible. Encourage CP intervention to include local CP actors in order identify entry points for strengthening local child protection systems including formal and informal community-based systems

Information Management. Collection, Analysis, Monitoring, and Reporting In collaboration with the Protection Cluster, develop, use and update tools for

the collection, analysis and management of child protection information (e.g. 4Ws template, desk review, CP monitoring tool etc.)

Develop joint initiatives to increase the evidence base for child protection programming and advocacy including through:

o Targeted researcho Secondary data analysis (e.g. existing CP assessment, situation and

response monitoring reports)

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o Conducting and contributing to needs assessments and response gap analysis (across sectors and within the sector)

o Producing regular CP ‘snapshots’ (overview of the CP situation in Syria) and CP monitoring reports highlighting key concerns/trends and priority programmatic and advocacy interventions

o Ensure that key CP concerns are reflected in joint inter-agency, multi-sectoral assessments, and individual sector assessments where appropriate

Identify response gaps (including geographic coverage and programmatic scope) and work with regional and global-level CP partners, donors, the NGO Forum, sector leads and the Humanitarian Country Team or its equivalent to seek solutions to fill prioritized gaps

Share regular updates on interventions with members, the Protection Cluster, the NGO Forum and Humanitarian Country Team or its equivalent, and explore inter-agency program complementarities

Ensure periodic review of agency and inter-agency response and report on progress against the CP Sub-Cluster work-plan and CP sector strategy

Promote information sharing with other clusters and with external actors (with the approval of CP Sub-Cluster members) to draw attention to child protection issues and advocate for appropriate assistance and support.

Issue information sharing guidelines with a view to preserve confidentiality, integrity and uphold do no harm principles.

Contingency planning/preparedness Contribute to contingency planning where required as part of the overall

humanitarian response planning Monitor and report CP trends and ensure emergency preparedness planning

is undertaken to anticipate new risks

Training and Capacity-building Support CPiE capacity building in accordance with identified capacity building

needs of CP actors(international, national, local) to enhance CP coordination, quality and consistency in program implementation

Facilitate the sharing of appropriate technical CP materials and resources Promote and support the application and contextualization of the inter-

agency Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action by all CP actors

Promote appropriate use of participatory and community-based approaches throughout the program cycle, observing the best interests of the child.

Support joint development and dissemination of CP messages that promote the protection of children.

Advocacy Identify CP advocacy priorities and contribute key messages promoting the

protection of children to broader humanitarian advocacy/messaging Develop common advocacy messages for key CP concerns and undertake

advocacy activities to support prevention and response

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Maintain the profile of child protection within inter-cluster coordination group and explore ways to mainstream child protection into the work of other humanitarian sectors.

Actively seek to engage humanitarian partners able and willing to contribute expertise, knowledge and/or resources relevant to CPiE issues

Advocate for, and facilitate where relevant the sourcing and provision of appropriate technical assistance to respond to identified inter-agency training and capacity-building needs

Promote and support the application and contextualization of the inter-agency Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action by all CP actors

Promote appropriate use of participatory and community-based approaches throughout the program cycle, and in line with the best interests of the child.

Develop and disseminate child protection mainstreaming guidance.Resource Mobilization

Engage in collaborative resource mobilization (human and financial resources) initiatives at sectorial and inter-cluster levels

Determine CP sub-cluster funding requirements in collaboration with the Protection cluster to input to inter-cluster response planning documents

Develop agreed criteria and prioritization to guide funding allocation.

5. CP SUB-CLUSTER MEETINGS

The Child Protection Sub-Cluster meetings are held in concurrent with the Protection Cluster meetings on a monthly basis to address strategic and policy-related issues relevant to the Sub-Cluster members as a whole. The Child Protection Sub-Cluster Coordinators will chair all sub-cluster meetings. The Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) meets regularly but without a fixed schedule. Thematic focused technical working groups responding to specific arising needs meet regularly and are chaired by the respective lead agency. The Sub-Cluster Coordinators may call for emergency meetings as necessary and convenient.

6. SUB-CLUSTER LEADERSHIP & RESPONSIBILITIES 13

The Child Protection Sub-Cluster is currently led by UNICEF and Co-Led by World Vision International. The Coordinators responsibilities include the following14:• Lead and oversee the coordination and management of child protection

operations;• Promote standards, guidelines and good practices and enforce field compliance

with child protection policies, standards, and procedures;

13 In line with the core responsibilities outlined in the roles and responsibilities of the Protection Cluster leadership and coordination arrangements.

14 Detailed information regarding the responsibilities of the Child Protection Sub-Cluster Coordinator and Co-Coordinator can be found in their respective Terms of Reference.

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• Develop inter-agency child protection strategies, support resource mobilisation and inform-strategic decision making;

• Represent the Child Protection Sub-Cluster at the Protection Cluster, the inter-cluster working group (ICCG) and Humanitarian Liaison Group (HLG) and other

• Reinforce the accountability of the humanitarian response towards children and advocate on behalf of affected populations and members of the CP sub-cluster on issues related to the child protection;

• Monitoring, reporting and information management• Support Training & capacity-building on CPiE for CPSC members & other

humanitarian responders• Coordinating, facilitating and supporting the work of child protection partners• Promote interagency/inter-sectoral CP needs assessments• Provide CP updates and reports to the Protection Cluster and other foras when

required.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY

The CP Sub-Cluster is not a forum for discussion of individual cases. In the event that individual cases of abuse, exploitation or violence against children are discussed, the cases must be treated in a confidential manner and with the respective agency. No detailed documentation related to such cases should be shared within these forums or with others. Further details about information sharing protocols can be found in Annex C.

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GBV SUB-CLUSTER TORS

1. Purpose and Scope

The GBV SC is a coordinating body with the objective to reduce risks and mitigate consequences of GBV experienced by women, girls, boys and men in Syria. It works to facilitate multi-sectoral, inter-agency action aimed to prevent GBV, and to ensure a principled approach to the provision of accessible, prompt, and survivor-centered services to survivors of GBV. The GBV SC focuses on populations affected by the armed conflict in Syria reachable though cross-border operations from Turkey.

The GBV SC develops and implements the GBV components of the broader protection strategy as reflected in the Whole of Syria Response Plan (HRP), and ensures, in coordination with the Protection Cluster (PC), and Whole of Syria GBV AoR, the integration of GBV prevention, mitigation and response in the multi-sectoral humanitarian response.

2. Key responsibilities of the Sub-Cluster15

Developing information systems for coordination15 As with the Protection Cluster’s core functions, these are in-line with the IASC Reference Module Cluster Coordination at

the Country-level.

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Enhance accountable, predictable, timely and effective GBV prevention and

response activities and programs in accordance with the priorities and principles identified in the HRP and Protection Strategy;

Enhance coordination between GBV SC members to fill gaps in service provision and prevent overlap.

Work in partnership to ensure that all persons of concern have access to high quality GBV services

Mapping and ongoing monitoring of the 4Ws in all of the key areas related to GBV prevention and response activities in accordance with the information sharing protocol of the Protection Custer and reporting requirements of the WoS

Coordinate GBV-sub cluster members’ inputs for reporting under the Whole of Syria HRP and other processes;

Ensure regular communications flow to/from the GBV SC and other cluster coordination mechanisms;

Ensure regular monthly coordination meetings are held, and all minutes are shared in a timely fashion.

Maintain updated information and tool sharing in SC box or other shared folders and on the humanitarian response website

Identify and document new trends, and engage with GBV members on challenges and new developments;

Identification of gaps in programming and providing guidance on prioritization of service locations based on needs;

Developing/updating agreed GBV response strategies and action plans and ensuring that these are adequately reflected in the HRP, and the broader Protection strategy.

Conduct mapping of services and support mechanisms for survivors of GBV; Develop, implement and monitor the referral pathway per area to reinforce

the referral system’s focus on providing prompt and appropriate services to GBV survivors.

Making appeals for GBV funding

Engage in collaborative resource mobilization initiatives at cluster and inter-cluster levels and WoS GBV AoR;

Share regular quarterly updates with GBV donors and advocate with and mobilize donors to fund GBV and women's empowerment initiatives;

Determine GBV sector funding requirements to input to inter-sectoral response planning documents, including the HRP;

Facilitating the collection of information about ongoing and proposed projects amongst GBV coordination partners;

Providing necessary information to GBV partners about funding requirements and the selection process.

Conducting Advocacy

Identify and establish consensus on GBV SC advocacy priorities and

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contribute key messages to broader humanitarian advocacy/messaging initiatives;

Develop common advocacy messages for key GBV concerns and undertake advocacy activities to support prevention and response;

Feed into WoS Protection advocacy messages Work with other sectors to ensure that GBV risks prevention considerations,

including cross-cutting issues, guide all aspects of the humanitarian response operations for Syria from Southern Turkey;

The GBV SC shares inputs with the PC Coordinator who will ensure that the DRHC is kept abreast of GBV and protection issues and concerns through standard and ad hoc reporting on major protection concerns in Syria.

Mainstreaming GBV into other sectors

Regularly participate in Protection Cluster meetings and raise relevant GBV concerns that can be raised at the inter-sector level and/or with the Humanitarian Liaison Team (HLG) and/or its equivalent;

Promote dissemination of SOPs to non-specialized actors and promote dissemination of GBV Guidelines and action plans for mitigate GBV risks in other sectors’ intervention;

Work to ensure that service providers prioritize GBV prevention; recommending changes as appropriate.

Support development and dissemination of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Update, implement and monitor the GBV Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all actors involved in GBV response and prevention;

Support the roll-out of the SoPs at the field level.

Building capacity of GBV partners

Conduct trainings, learning sessions, case consultations and workshops on GBV prevention and response activities for members of the GBV SC both in Turkey and inside Syria through the GBV SC Capacity Building Taskforce in Syria;

Support the capacity building of relevant stakeholders and service providers especially health services providers;

Support capacity building in preparedness and contingency planning including the development and update of GBV exit planning to ensure ethical closure of GBV programing during both planned and emergency closure;

Identify good practices, guidelines, resources and tools and ensure timely dissemination among the members;

Work with partners to develop and/or revise resources and materials according to best practices and local context and implement relevant joint training sessions;

Working individually with partners on key issues, including having them

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‘shadow’ experts where learning opportunities exist.

Developing information, education and communication materials Support the development of shared information, education, and

communication materials.

Conducting assessments, data collection and monitoring

Contribute to WoS GBV indicators to monitor in 2020 and promote the information collection in a safe way on those indicators to ensure a harmonized approached to data collection

Promote ethical data collection and best practices for GBV in emergencies; Lead yearly data collection on trends in view on the Humanitarian Needs

Overview, as part of the WOS GBV system; Produce quarterly GBV trend analysis based on GBV SC members’ inputs; Review and consolidate existing assessments on the GBV/protection situation

and/or work with relevant humanitarian agencies, IDP and host communities to conduct participatory assessments on GBV/protection;

Streamline GBV Monitoring and Evaluation tools to ensure that M&E processes are conceptualized, executed and utilized in a safe and ethical manner, and serve to inform the design and implementation of quality, effective and impactful GBV programmes in target communities;

Mindful that GBV-related data may be sensitive, disseminate reports to stakeholders regarding the GBV situation and the response in accordance with the information sharing protocol as detailed in GBV SOPs).

3. Leadership and coordination arrangements The GBV SC is co-chaired by one UN agency and one NGO. Currently, the GBV SC is represented by UNFPA and Global Communities.

Requirements for appointment as GBV Cluster Co‐coordinating Agency are: Recognized technical expertise in the sector; Significant operational capacity; and Capacity to commit time and resources to carrying out the responsibilities of

the Sector Co‐Leadership.

A new co-chair may be elected by the GBV SC by agreement of its members, and rotation of NGO co-chairs is encouraged on a yearly basis. As funding allows the Sub-Cluster will have support function hired and consultants as needed. The GBV SC will consider the creation of sub working groups, SAGs, or taskforces who will operate under the umbrella of this ToRs if necessary. In the period covered by this ToR (January- December 2020) = a capacity building taskforce established in 2019 in Syria will continue to be operational.

4. Principles:

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GBV SC members agree to be guided by the 2007 Principles of Partnership16, and they shall be guided by the Protection Principles contained in the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response17 as mentioned earlier.

In addition, the work of the GBV SC is guided by the following principles:

Confidentiality: ensuring that survivors, witnesses and information sources are protected. No identifying information will be revealed in data resources, nor during discussions in coordination and other meetings, when reference is made to specific GBV cases.

Safety: all actors will prioritize the safety of the survivor, family, witnesses and service providers at all times.

Respect: actions and responses of all actors will be guided by respect for the choices, wishes, rights and the dignity of the survivor (the survivor-centered approach).

Impartiality & non-discrimination: non-discrimination on the basis of nationality, race, religion, political views, sexual orientation, social or other status.

Neutrality: a non-partisan approach in providing services to survivors. Independence: working without influence of states, government bodies,

parties to a conflict or other political entities. Participative approach: ensuring to the extent possible, consultation with all

members of the community (women, girls, boys and men) in GBV activities/ programs.

16 Relevant link can be found in footnote 10.17 Relevant link can be found in footnote 3.

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MINE ACTION SUBCLUSTER TORSSyria Response Mine Action Sub-Cluster

BACKGROUNDThe Global Protection Cluster (GPC) was established in September 2005 as part of the humanitarian reform. To ensure comprehensive attention to the range of specific protection concerns, the GPC agreed that the protection response would benefit from being divided into overarching and generally applicable “functional components” or “areas of responsibility” under the Cluster Lead Agency. Focal point entities were designated for recognized areas of protection expertise and tasked with ensuring an effective response in its specialized protection sector in collaboration with other participating agencies. Under the unique protection cluster architecture, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) was designated as the focal point entity for the Mine Action Area of Responsibility (MA AOR).

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SyriaIn 2015, upon request of the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator in Gaziantep, Turkey and in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2165 (2014), UNMAS established the Mine Action Sub-Cluster (MASC). The MA AOR follows the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Protection Cluster. Chaired by UNMAS, the MASC shall seek to involve relevant humanitarian agencies, organisations, and existing coordination mechanisms for the Whole of Syria structure and provide a platform for cohesive effort for the MA AOR.

DEFINITION OF “MINE ACTION”Mine action refers to the full range of activities that aim to reduce the impact of landmines, ERW, IEDs and other explosive hazards, that threaten the lives of civilians. Mine action is about assisting people, communities, and addressing different needs in an age and gender sensitive manner. Mine action comprises five complementary groups of activities: a) risk education (RE); b) survey and clearance of explosive hazards, i.e. survey, mapping, marking and clearance of mines, ERW, and IEDs; c) victim assistance, the provision of specialized services, including phsyical rehabilitation, MPHSS, and reintegration, for persons with disabilities including survivors of explosive hazards; d) stockpile destruction; and,e) advocacy for the full implementation and universalization of international frameworks and instruments. A number of other enabling activities are required to support these five components of mine action, including: national capacity building, information management, human skills development and management training, quality management and the application of effective and appropriate safety standards.Not all the elements and components of mine action, as defined in the previous paragraph, may be applicable to Syria Response.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE The overall objective of the Syria Response MASC is to ensure coordination of operational activities aimed at reducing and if possible, eliminating the threats posed by the use and presence of explosive hazards to civilians, including displaced

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persons, humanitarian workers and other relevant aid and development partners, through the conduct of Mine Action activities18. The MASC works within the Syria Response Protection Cluster, and shall be a forum through which organisations with Mine Action programmes in support of Syrian population, including programmes for refugees in neighbouring countries, coordinate interventions, seek consensus on issues, create partnerships and linkages for better prioritization of available resources and commitment to minimum standards of response with an overall goal of reducing the risk of explosive hazard to civilians. The MASC will seek to facilitate a more predictable, inclusive, accountable and effective mine action response; and will support cohesive, inter-agency and inter-organization mine action responses. MASC SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1) Support effective coordination of mine action activities responding to the identified key concerns in the Syria Response context, and strive to reduce duplication of humanitarian action by partners;

2) Ensure inclusive planning and strategy development to identify priority Mine Action concerns and design programmes to meet the most pressing needs; develop appropriate protection sensitive response strategies and plans of action that are current and relevant, taking into consideration innovative technology and methodology and the priorities of the Protection Cluster;

3) Support policy and advocacy initiatives to enhance protection of civilians initiatives within the context of mine action;

4) Facilitate monitoring and reporting to show progress towards national and international goals as well as share information with relevant stakeholders;

5) Support resource mobilisation initiatives for the MASC in order to secure resource and international support required to implement activities efficiently and effectively; and

6) Undertake training and capacity building and of national partners.

CORE FUNCTIONS Integral to the Syria Response Protection Cluster, and in line with the objectives above, the Syria Response MASC serves as the responsible body for humanitarian coordination, provision of explosive hazards-related technical advice and oversight of MA response activities for Syrian population. The purpose of coordination is to reduce duplication, address gaps and solve problems. Below are the core functions of the MASC:Coordination

Support effective coordination and collaboration of explosive hazards-related 18 As of 2018, all humanitarian mine action activities: risk education, survey and clearance, and victim assistance

have been approved in the Humanitarian Response Plan.

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activities among humanitarian and other relevant partners. This includes, securing commitment of humanitarian partners to respond to identified needs, fill gaps, ensure an appropriate distribution of responsibilities and complementarities of different actors’ actions, and promote responses to urgent protection concerns, among others.

Provide technical guidance and information to Protection Cluster members and other clusters as needed.

Through close liaison with members, partner networks and regular communication with field-based offices, maintain an overview of the explosive threat situation as well as issues that may require attention.

Share information on MA programmatic responses with particular focus on issues that will affect Protection cluster members.

Maintain the profile of explosive hazards management within the broader protection structure.

Maintain a close link with the GPC MA Coordinator (Geneva office), including for seeking technical and political advice when appropriate

Planning and Strategy Development Coordinate the inclusion of Mine Action in the Humanitarian Programme

Cycle, which includes the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Humanitarian Response Plan.

Assist in building an effective and comprehensive protection response, the MASC will contribute to the overall Syria Response PC work plan and overarching thematic strategy.

Ensure community-based approaches, including capacity development and livelihood opportunities related to MA mitigation.

Conduct forward planning and analyses of the overall MA response to inform priorities, address gaps, and assist in planning of MA activities.

Policy and Advocacy Encourage and promote adherence to International Mine Action Standards

(IMAS) and International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs), where feasible19.

Expand the socio-economic impact of explosive hazard management by promoting the employment of Syrian men and women.

MASC will strive to follow the Gender Guidelines for Mine Action Programmes to mainstream gender considerations and strive for gender balance in the planning, implementation and evaluation of mine action programmes.

Monitoring and Reporting Establish and maintain monitoring and reporting mechanisms on explosive

19 There is currently no IMAS for the clearance of IEDs, a prevalent type of contamination present in the Syrian context.

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hazards. Prepare and distribute regular and consistent reports about the nature and

extent of the explosive threat and casualties in Syria. Provide data towards the strategic objectives of the Strategy of the United

Nations on Mine Action 2019-2023 and into the UNMAS managed Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA).

Monitor trends of newly emerging technology (such as IEDs) and ensure cluster members are aware.

Resource Mobilization Coordinate with the Protection cluster to ensure explosive hazards

management is included and appropriately reflected in the Humanitarian Programme Cycle processes and within the HNO and HRP.

Advocate for funding and support to donors through the HRP and Mine Action Portfolio which encompass all MASC explosive hazards management programmes for Syria. The Portfolio of Mine Action Projects is a resource tool and reference document for donors, policy-makers, advocates, and national and international mine action implementers.

Advocate to donors to provide funding to the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action. This trust fund was established by the Secretary-General on 30 November 1994 to provide special resources for mine-action programmes and projects, including surveys, mine-clearance, mine-risk education, victim assistance and advocacy activities, in situations where other funding is not immediately available.

Advocate for the inclusion of MA in Humanitarian Pooled Funds, Flash Appeals, and other funding sources.

MASC members will be encouraged to mobilize their own resources in addition to the above.

Provide information to MASC members about funding opportunities, requirements and processes and actively build relationships with donors to cover gaps.

Training and Capacity Building Promote and support training to cluster members and all partners working in

Syria. Ensure that humanitarian actors working in explosive hazards management

for Syrian population build on and support relevant local capacities and develop and maintain appropriate links with national and local authorities, state institutions, civil society organizations and other stakeholders that are involved in explosive hazard management.

2019 THEMATIC AREAS OF FOCUS From 2015 to 2018, the MASC focused on the inclusion of all humanitarian mine

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action activities and alignment with the Humanitarian Programme Cycle, the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). As this was achieved in 2018, the MASC will focus on three thematic areas: continued integration, the expansion of humanitarian mine action activities, and the development of a humanitarian mine action capacity in government-held areas in line with the HNO and HRP in 2019 and 2020.

1. Integration within the humanitarian response (relating to all activities, targets, and sectors exposed to explosive hazards, including risk education, risk awareness, and safety briefings)

2. Improve the Information Management capacity of the MASC (relating to the collecting, sharing, and utilization of data, as well as the support provided to analysis, prioritization, and planning for MA operations).

3. Expansion of Mine Action activities (relating to the increase in scale, scope, and access for risk education, survey and clearance of explosive hazards, and victim assistance) in accordance with humanitarian need.

PARTICIPATION The MASC will aim to bring together NGOs, UN agencies and International Organizations and other relevant and interested mine action actors in line with the Principles of Partnership endorsed by the Global Humanitarian Platform. Representatives of the local and national authorities as well as other international actors, such as donors may be invited to participate in specific meetings. Current members of the GLOBAL Mine Action AOR can be viewed here. Membership in the MA SC under the umbrella of the Protection Cluster will be determined first by membership within the Syria Protection Cluster. Those organizations seeking to be a member of the MASC must be a member of the Syria Protection Cluster, fulfilling all criteria outlined in the PC TOR. Organizations who are not member of the Syria PC cannot become members of this SC, but can be considered affiliates. Considering the sensitivity of Mine Action in the context of Syria, membership will be submitted to the approval of the other members of the MASC.In addition, the following membership criteria could apply:

Implement or fund a current explosive hazards management programme for Syria;

Have proven capacity to contribute to MASC activities, including taking responsibility and implementing at least one MA activity in Syria.;

Regular participation in MASC meetings and Protection Cluster meetings, as applicable;

Adherence to IMAS and IATGs to programme activities, as applicable; Provide information as required to the 4Ws and IMSMA database;

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Provide information/data to the Strategy of the United Nations on Mine Action Global Monitoring database twice per year.

FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS The MASC will determine the frequency of the meetings based on the need for coordination and implementation. Meetings will be organized with sufficient time for partners to make travel arrangements from various regions. Meetings will take place in the relevant hubs.

FOLLOW-UP These Terms of Reference for the MASC should be regarded as a living document and should be regularly reviewed and if required revised in order to be responsive to the needs of the Syria PC. Nothing in these Terms of Reference should be interpreted in any way to limit the actions of the SC in a particular context where the need to fill gaps in mine action have been identified or requested.

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ANNEX A – PROTECTION CLUSTER STRUCTURE

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ANNEX B – CLUSTER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS

Protection Cluster Scope of WorkThe purpose of the Protection Cluster and its Sub-Clusters is to strengthen and coordinate the humanitarian protection response in Syria. The programmatic interventions of the Cluster’ partners aim to mitigate and alleviate the protection consequences of the conflict inside Syria. The Protection Cluster adheres to the IASC definition of protection to guide its activities. As such, the Protection Cluster defines protection as: “all activities aimed at ensuring full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with the letter and spirit of the relevant bodies of law (i.e. human rights law, international humanitarian law and refugee laws).”20

Cluster Membership Membership is free and application is open to all humanitarian organizations implementing protection activities and services in Syria, with the shared goal of enhancing the humanitarian protection response. This includes UN agencies, international and national NGOs (Syrian and Turkish), and international organizations with existing protection programming.Categories and Associated Definitions Active Member: an organization that:

(1) is humanitarian in nature; (2) has demonstrated technical expertise in Protection interventions;(3) reported to the 4Ws for the last 6 months;(4) has attended Protection Cluster meetings and/or participated in Protection

Cluster initiatives (e.g. Protection Monitoring Task Force or TWG on Inclusion, etc.) for the last six months;

(5) has participated in the most recent HRP process.

Inactive Member: an organization that is: (1) adherent to humanitarian principles; (2) is operational on the ground; (3) does not meet the reporting and meeting attendance requirements of an

active member, detailed above.

Non-Operational Member: an Organization that is: (1) adherent to humanitarian principles; (2) may not be operational on the ground.(This category may include for example NGO networks.)

Observer: an entity that may or may not be humanitarian and is invited at the discretion of the cluster coordinators. The degree of participation, if any, is at the

20 IASC IDP Protection Policy 1999. The definition was originally adopted by a 1999 Workshop of the InternationalCommittee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Protection. Available here.

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discretion of the cluster coordinators and should be based on strengthening operational coordination.

While observers and non-operational members can be invited to attend a meeting and provide technical inputs, they are not part of the formal cluster decision-making process. An observer, non-operational member, or inactive member cannot sit on any technical review committees or the Protection Core Group, but may be invited for specific reasons and at the discretion of the cluster coordinators.

Benefits of an organization being “active”:An active member receives: (1) access to Cluster-specific trainings; (2) access to trainings requiring a coordinator’s recommendation; (3) eligibility to apply for HF capacity assessment or to apply for HF funding; and (4) eligibility to submit project(s) to the Humanitarian Response Plan.

Sanctions for not being “active”:Active membership comes to an end (termination/ removal) if:1. The organization does not participate in three (3) consecutive meetings and

the coordinators have not been informed of their absence; or2. The organization does not provide information to the 4Ws over three

consecutive months. Should an organization inform the coordinators / IM officer that they are not reporting because no activities took place in that month, it will be deemed as having reported.

Principles for Cluster Meetings1. Appropriate representation: all participants should be in the “active” or “inactive” category. Coordinators should determine the degree of inclusivity that will allow for participants to feel that the meeting is a safe space to discuss humanitarian issues. Issues that are best discussed with “active” or “inactive” members should be considered in a “closed” session of the meeting. 2. Personal attendance: an organization should send a technical representative21 to the meeting. Participation via electronic means (e.g. phone, Skype, WebEx), should not be permitted unless there are special circumstances. Discretion to allow electronic participation rests with the cluster coordinators. 3. The “observer” category can be used to allow representatives from entities that ordinarily are not considered humanitarian because of their inherent links to authorities or donor/member states, for example donors, to attend cluster meetings.

Application ProcessFor the Protection Cluster, there is an open membership application process for new organizations interested in joining the Cluster. Interested organizations should fill this Google form and submit it. Please note that the link will be open every 12 weeks for 10 days. The Protection Cluster will reply to 21 For the Protection Cluster and Sub-Clusters, this means a protection staff. If technical staff is not available from time to time,

the recommendation is to send regrets, in an effort to ensure presence in meetings is functional and efficient.

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you within 3 days and accepted organizations will be added to the Cluster mailing list. After that, the Cluster will track, on a quarterly basis, organizations’ participation in Cluster meetings and reporting to 4Ws. If the organization becomes inactive (did not report or attend cluster meetings) the organization will be removed. Finally, the organization can re-apply to the Cluster beginning 3 months following removal.NB: new organizations are also referred to “Centrality of Protection session” to understand Protection in general.

Protection Programming in TurkeyOrganizations who are providing protection services as part of the response in Turkey will be referred to Protection Working Group for South-East Turkey.

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ANNEX C – PROTECTION CLUSTER INFORMATION SHARING PROTOCOL22

Revised 11 March 2019 Endorsed 25 June 2019

PROTECTION CLUSTER INFORMATION-SHARING AND DATA CONFIDENTIALITY PROTOCOL TURKEY CROSS-BORDER OPERATIONS Overview: According to IASC guidelines, cluster/sub-cluster coordinators “are responsible for generating up-to-date cluster specific information (e.g. contact lists, meeting minutes, standard forms, policy or technical guidance, datasets, needs/gap analysis, etc.) and sharing it with OCHA in order to support inter-sector/-cluster data sharing”. In addition, where needed, cluster/sub-cluster coordinators are responsible for “establishing a data confidentiality and privacy policy within their sector/cluster, which ensures that sensitive, personally identifiable datasets are suitably anonymized.”23 This protocol has been developed in accordance with IASC guidelines. Purpose: The Protection Cluster, which includes the Child Protection Sub-Cluster, the Gender Based Violence Sub-Cluster, and Humanitarian Mine Action Sub-Cluster – referred to in this protocol as the “Protection Cluster” unless otherwise specified – strives to inform all relevant humanitarian stakeholders about protection needs, gaps, trends and responses in northwest Syria. Due to the complex security and operational environment for cross-border actors providing services from Turkey, and in line with the Sphere Protection Principle of ‘do no harm,’24 and IASC Sub-Working Group on the Cluster Approach and the Global Cluster Coordinators’ Group, this Information Sharing Protocol prioritizes the safety and security of those who may be identifiable from the information (affected populations, Protection Cluster member organizations, their staff and partners). In order to achieve a more informed protection analysis and response, the Protection Cluster encourages its members to be proactive and timely in sharing all

22 This protocol will be subject to an annual review, or more often if determined necessary.23 IASC Operational Guidance on Responsibilities of Cluster/Sector Leads and OCHA in Information Management 24 The Sphere Project – Protection Principles - http://www.spherehandbook.org/en/protection-principle-1-avoid-

exposingpeople-to-further-harm-as-a-result-of-your-actions/

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relevant information with the Cluster to enable regular, credible protection situation/coverage analysis and response monitoring and analysis and recommendations. This is essential to inform both development and implementation of the Protection Cluster strategy, as well as to support other Clusters and the humanitarian leadership ensure that protection remains at the center of the response. To guarantee the safe delivery of protection programs, the overall approach to dealing with information entrusted to, or originating from, the Protection Cluster is based on the understanding that the work of the Protection Cluster should be open and transparent, except if the nature of the information concerned is deemed confidential25 or its sharing could put individuals, communities or members at risk. The Protection Cluster recognizes the benefits of information sharing, including:

• Better triangulation of information and corroboration of evidence • Better informed decision making • Improved inter-agency collaboration, including for referrals through

identification of needs • Increased access to information on needs and gaps, through comprehensive

approaches including protection monitoring • More effective intervention, support and targeting of resources • Improved protection of individuals at risk • Conducting joint analysis • Building a common understanding of the protection situation • Better access to resources and lessons learnt

Application: This protocol applies to Protection Cluster Coordination staff (Coordinators and Co-Coordinators, Information Management and Support Officers) and all Protection Cluster members. Agreed principles and commitments:

• The Protection Cluster will abide by IASC guidelines26 on information management, sharing and confidentiality, and operate on the principle that humanitarian information/data should be made accessible to all humanitarian actors, unless sharing the data threatens the humanitarian space and safety of the organization, its staff, partners and beneficiaries.

• The Protection Cluster agrees that information management and exchange should be based on collaboration, partnership and sharing with a high degree of participation and joint ownership

25 This information sharing protocol does not include specifications for sharing individual case-related data. Information sharing related to individual cases will be elaborated in SOPs and other relevant documents specified to the Cluster/sub- clusters. 26 IASC Operational Guidance on Responsibilities of Cluster/Sector Leads and OCHA in Information Management

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• The Protection Cluster members agree to share information/data related to assessment and monitoring of protection issues, situation and response with the Protection Cluster Coordination team for consolidation, cluster-specific analysis and preparation of regular information products on behalf of the Protection Cluster, as well as for sharing with Protection Cluster members and other relevant humanitarian stakeholders.

• The Protection Cluster agrees to store information and data shared by Protection Cluster members in a secure manner that is clearly articulated to the members.

• The Protection Cluster Coordinators and members agree to utilize/share information in a manner that recognizes the sensitivities associated with this humanitarian response and respects the need for confidentiality, and at times, the approval of Protection Cluster members prior to further sharing of information as outlined in the table below.

• When sharing information with the Protection Cluster, members are responsible for classifying the information shared, indicating whether it can be shared and with whom, to ensure that the Protection Cluster adopt suitable security measures to prevent the information from being compromised or inappropriately disclosed. If no specification is provided, the Cluster will follow the information sharing outlined in the accompanying table.

• The Protection Cluster and members have the responsibility to ensure that the identity of individuals and organizations involved in the Protection Cluster are protected as requested/required by members. If and when anonymity is requested by members, The Protection Cluster will share only after obtaining the explicit approval of the requesting member(s).

Breaches to the protocol27 Should there be a breach by any of participating members (including Protection Cluster Coordinators and IMOs) to this information sharing protocol, a meeting will be called for all members within ten days to discuss the breach and develop a resolution. If a meeting is not possible within ten days or if a resolution cannot be reached, senior management from the Protection Cluster and/or Sub-Cluster (i.e. participants of coordination agencies should hold a meeting to determine the course of action. If needed, an external interlocutor from one of the inter-sector coordination fora or from the Global Protection Cluster may be approached to facilitate the discussion and resolution. Protection Cluster members may stop sharing data if the protocol is breached and will inform Protection Cluster Coordinators in writing with the reasons for stopping the flow of data. While the matter is being resolved, and if Protection Cluster Coordinators are not involved in the breach, it is recommended that Protection Cluster members continue to share data to inform field level response. The 27 Adapted from the GBVIMS Inter-Agency Information Sharing Protocol, http://www.gbvims.com/gbvims-tools/isp/

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Protection Cluster consolidated information will not be shared externally until the breach is resolved.

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Information Type Information Sharing Category

Level of Anonymisation Disclosure Protocol

4W data monthly inputs

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

N/A – Protection Cluster members do not anonymise data information

Limited – IMOs only share with members of the Protection Cluster who report 4W data.

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Organization name and all activity info visible; community level location; disaggregated population figures

Restricted – Protection Cluster members do not circulate consolidated 4W data of the Cluster.

External – UNOCHA IMOs in Gaziantep and/or Amman

Organization name and all activity info visible; community level location; disaggregated population figures

Limited – OCHA at the Gaziantep level will compile all data received and share with IMOs in Amman for WoS consolidation

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

Non-identifiable (coded) organizations; all activity info visible; community level location; disaggregated population figures

Limited – WoS Protection Sector focal points will compile and circulate to hub Protection Cluster Coordinators as well as with the WoS Intersector Coordination Group.

External - Public Not shared publically Restricted - Not shared 4W Dashboard

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

N/A – Protection Cluster members do not anonymise data information

Limited – IMOs only share with members of the Protection Cluster who report 4W data.

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Organization name and all activity info visible; community level location; disaggregated population

Restricted – Protection Cluster members do not circulate 4W dashboard of the cluster.

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figures External – UNOCHA IMOs in Gaziantep and/or Amman NA - not shared Restricted – Not shared External – WoS Protection Sector focal points NA - not shared Restricted – Not shared External - Public N/A - not shared Restricted – Not shared

Service Mapping

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

N/A – Protection Cluster members do not anonymise data information

Limited – IMOs and coordinators only share with members that participated in the service mapping

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Organization name and all activity info visible

Restricted – Protection Cluster members with access to service mapping do not circulate them

External – Other humanitarian actors NA - not shared Restricted – Not shared

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

NA - not shared Restricted – Not shared

External - Public NA - not shared Restricted – Not shared Referral Pathways

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

N/A – Protection Cluster members do not anonymise data information

Limited – IMOs and coordinators only share with members of the GBV SC that are signatory to the SOPs or to organizations that participated in the service mapping

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Organization name and all activity info visible; community level location

Restricted – Protection Cluster members that receive referral pathways do not circulate them

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External – Other humanitarian actors

Organization name and all activity info visible; community level location

Restricted – IMOs and coordinators share with humanitarian actors that submit a request for a specific district

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

NA - not shared Restricted – Not shared

External - Public NA - not shared Restricted – Not shared Referral Focal Point List Internal – Protection Cluster

Coordinators/IMOs Organization name, location and public service number are visible

Public – Protection Cluster Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Organization name, location and public service number are visible

Public – Protection Cluster members may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – OCHA Gaziantep and Other humanitarian actors

Organization name, location and public service number are visible

Public – OCHA Gaziantep may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

Organization name, location and public service number are visible

Public – WoS Protection Sector focal points may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External - Public Organization name, location and public service number are visible

Public – Protection Cluster Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, individuals in the

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field, etc.

Monthly Response Snapshot

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

Non-identifiable; Cluster figures are aggregated and presented at the sub-district level, broad activity information presented as percentages

Public – Protection Cluster Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Non-identifiable; Cluster figures are aggregated and presented at the sub-district level, broad activity information presented as percentages

Public – Protection Cluster members may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – UNOCHA in Gaziantep

Non-identifiable; Cluster figures are aggregated and presented at the sub-district level, broad activity information presented as percentages

Public – OCHA Gaziantep may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

Non-identifiable; Cluster figures are aggregated and presented at the sub-district level, broad activity information presented as percentages

Public – WoS Protection Sector focal points may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External - Public

Non-identifiable; Cluster figures are aggregated and presented at the sub-district level, broad activity information presented as percentages

Public – Protection Sector Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

Emergency Response Package (includes focal point contact

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

N/A – Protection Cluster members do not anonymise data/information

Limited – only shared with active members of the Protection Sector/Cluster

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details)

who report related activities/services – revised quarterly.

Internal – Protection Cluster members

N/A – Protection Cluster does not anonymise data/information

Restricted – Protection Cluster members that do not circulate them

External – UNOCHA in Gaziantep

NA - not shared Restricted – Not shared

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

NA - not shared Restricted – Not shared

Protection Monitoring Reports

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

Non-identifiable in terms of contributing organizations, subdistrict level information

Public – Protection Cluster Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Non-identifiable in terms of contributing organizations, subdistrict level information

Public – Protection Cluster members may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – UNOCHA in Gaziantep

Non-identifiable in terms of contributing organizations, subdistrict level information

Public – Protection Cluster Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

Non-identifiable in terms of contributing organizations, subdistrict level information

Public – Protection Cluster Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External - Public Non-identifiable in terms of Public – Protection Cluster

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contributing organizations, subdistrict level information

Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

Protection Monitoring Dashboard

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

Non-identifiable in terms of contributing organizations, community level information

Limited – not circulated by IMOs until anonymised and data aggregated per the information sharing category.

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Non-identifiable in terms of contributing organizations, community level information

Public – Protection Cluster members may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – UNOCHA in Gaziantep

Non-identifiable in terms of contributing organizations, community level information

Public – Protection Cluster may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

Non-identifiable in terms of contributing organizations, community level information

Public – Protection Cluster may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External - Public Non-identifiable in terms of contributing organizations, community level information

Public – Protection Sector Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

GBV Trend Analysis Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

All information anonymized, no number of cases reported, only %

Public – Protection Sector Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

Internal – Protection Cluster All information anonymized, Public – Protection

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members no number of cases reported, only %

Sector/Cluster members may share with the

humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – UNOCHA in Gaziantep

All information anonymized, no number of cases reported, only %

Public – OCHA Gaziantep may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

All information anonymized, no number of cases reported, only %

Public – WoS Protection Sector focal points may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External - Public All information anonymized, no number of cases reported, only %

Public – Protection Sector Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

Meeting minutes Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs N/A – not anonymized

Limited – sent to all members of the Protection Cluster

Internal – Protection Cluster members N/A – not anonymized

Limited – member organizations may circulate internally to appropriate persons within their respective organizations

External – UNOCHA in Gaziantep

Not shared with UNOCHA IMOs

Restricted – not shared

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

N/A – not anonymized Restricted – WoS Focal Points may not circulate minutes any further.

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External - Public Not shared publically Restricted – not shared

Training requests and/or invitations

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

Non-identifiable organizations – Protection Cluster Coordinators blind close copy (bcc) all communication to the Protection Cluster members

Limited – organizations may circulate internally and request more information from the coordinators

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Non-identifiable organizations – Protection Cluster Coordinators blind close copy (bcc) all communication to the Protection Cluster members; organization providing the training and related contact info will be shared

Limited – organizations may circulate internally and request more information from the providing organization

External – OCHA, NGO Forum, Partnership Initiative or other bodies/organizations

Non-identifiable organizations – Protection Cluster Coordinators blind close copy (bcc) all communication to the Protection

Limited – organizations may circulate internally

Cluster members; organization providing the training and related contact info will be shared

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

Non-identifiable organizations – Protection Cluster Coordinators blind close copy (bcc) all communication to the Protection Cluster members;

Limited – organizations may circulate internally

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organization providing the training and related contact info will be shared

External - Public

Non-identifiable organizations – Protection Cluster Coordinators blind close copy (bcc) all communication to the Protection Cluster members; organization providing the training and related contact info will be shared

Limited – organizations may circulate internally

Protection Cluster member contact information

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

N/A – Protection Cluster members provide Protection Cluster Coordinators and IMOs with appropriate contact information

Restricted – not shared

Internal – Protection Cluster members for field level coordination28

Not anonymised - organizations’ names and the areas/scope of their work will be shared; geographically at the appropriate level; organizational/service focal points contact information will also be shared

Limited – shared with operationally relevant Cluster members, not to be shared further beyond the Cluster members per the contact list

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Not anonymised - organizations’ names and the areas/scope of their work will be shared; geographically at the appropriate level;

Limited – organizations can request and receive other members contact details directly, unless an organization requests that

28 Field-level coordination refers to the operational planning and execution of Protection Cluster activities/services i.e. dignity kit distributions, emergency or contingency planning and response, referrals, etc. to facilitate timely and effective response.

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organizational/service focal points contact information will also be shared

the Cluster first take their permission.

External – Inter-Cluster Coordinators

Not anonymised - Organizations’ names, a focal point (contact info)

Limited – Cluster Coordinators can request and receive other

can be shared with relevant cluster coordinators to address nonprotection-related issues29

members contact details directly, unless an organization requests that the Cluster first take their permission.

External – UNOCHA IMOs in Gaziantep and/or Amman

Not anonymised - Organizations’ names, a focal point (contact info) can be shared with OCHA when requested.

Limited – Cluster Coordinators can request and receive other members contact details directly, unless an organization requests that the Cluster first take their permission.

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points Not shared Restricted – not shared External - Public Not shared Restricted – not shared

Assessments30 and reports Internal – Protection Cluster

Coordinators/IMOs

Not anonymised unless member sharing provides an anonymised version

Limited – circulated to Protection Cluster members and uploaded to the Protection Cluster dropbox

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Not anonymised unless member sharing provides an anonymised version

Limited – organizations may circulate internally

29 Example: if a Protection Cluster members identifies a gap with NFIs in a specific location, the Protection Cluster Coordinators will directly link that member with the NFI/Shelter Coordinators without first seeking permission from the reporting Cluster member. 30 Assessments refers to assessments/surveys carried about by individual Protection Cluster members or a small group of Protection Cluster members, Large-scale, multi-agency and multi-sectoral assessments may be bound by different sharing standards.

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External – UNOCHA IMOs in Gaziantep and/or Amman

Not anonymised unless member sharing provides an anonymised version

Limited – Cluster may share with OCHA for circulation amongst other Cluster Coordinators and their members

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

Not anonymised unless member sharing provides an anonymised version

Limited – Cluster may share with WoS for their information

External - Public Not anonymised unless member sharing provides an anonymised version

Restricted – not shared without consent from organization(s)

Email communication Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

Not anonymised – communication between the Protection Cluster Coordinators or bilaterally with individual members is not blind copied.

Restricted – not shared beyond the sector/cluster coordinators

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Non-identifiable organizations – Protection Cluster Coordinators blind close copy (bcc) all communication to the Protection Cluster members; disclosed emails may be permitted exceptionally in such cases as thematic follow-up discussions, task forces, working groups or committees, or action points agreed upon by specific members

Limited – organizations may circulate internally

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Internal – Protection Cluster members for planning or field-level coordination

Not blind close copy – email addresses of relevant Protection Cluster members will be visible to all Protection Cluster members in copy

Restricted – Protection Cluster members do not circulate the nonblind correspondence further.

External – Inter-Cluster Coordination for planning for fieldlevel coordination

Not blind close copy – email addresses of relevant Protection Cluster members will be visible to all Clusters and respective members in copy

Limited – Protection Cluster will only share with other Clusters as needed.

External – OCHA, NGO Forum, Partnership Initiative or other bodies/organizations

Not anonymised Limited, organizations may circulate internally

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points Not anonymised Limited, organizations may

circulate internally External – Public Not anonymised Public, may be widely

shared Cluster strategy paper Internal – Protection Cluster

Coordinators/IMOs Non-identifiable - broad activity / strategic information presented.

Public – Protection Cluster Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Non-identifiable - broad activity / strategic information presented.

Public – Protection Cluster members may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – OCHA, NGO Forum, Partnership Initiative or

Non-identifiable - broad activity / strategic information presented.

Public – OCHA Gaziantep may share with the humanitarian community,

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other bodies/organizations donors, OCHA, etc. External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

Non-identifiable - broad activity / strategic information presented.

Public – WoS Protection Sector focal points may share with the

humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – Public Non-identifiable - broad activity / strategic information presented.

Public – Protection Cluster Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

Cluster workplans

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs

Not anonymised – Protection Cluster member organizations responsible for certain processes will be named.

Limited – circulated to Protection Cluster members and uploaded to the Protection Cluster dropbox

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Not anonymised – Protection Cluster member organizations responsible for certain processes will be named.

Limited – organizations may circulate internally

External – UNOCHA IMOs in Gaziantep and/or Amman

Not anonymised – Protection Cluster member organizations responsible for certain processes will be named.

Public – OCHA Gaziantep may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

Not anonymised – Protection Cluster member organizations responsible for certain processes will be named.

Public – WoS Protection Sector focal points may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

External – Public Not anonymised – Public – Protection Sector

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Protection Cluster member organizations responsible for certain processes will be named.

Coordinators may share with the humanitarian community, donors, OCHA, etc.

Cluster weekly roundup

Internal – Protection Cluster Coordinators/IMOs N/A – not anonymized N/A

Internal – Protection Cluster members

Non-identifiable organizations – Protection Cluster Coordinators blind close copy (bcc) all communication to the Protection Cluster members; organizations who submit information for the round-up will be named and contact information provided if needed.

Limited – organizations may circulate internally

External – UNOCHA IMOs in Gaziantep and/or Amman

Non-identifiable organizations – Protection Cluster Coordinators blind close copy (bcc) all

Limited – organizations may circulate internally

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communication to the Protection Cluster members; organizations who submit information for the round-up will be named and contact information provided if needed.

External – WoS Protection Sector focal points

Non-identifiable organizations – Protection Cluster Coordinators blind close copy (bcc) all communication to the Protection Cluster members; organizations who submit information for the round-up will be named and contact information provided if needed.

Limited – organizations may circulate internally

External – Public N/A – not publically circulated

N/A

ANNEX D – PROTECTION MONITORING TASK FORCE TORs

Rationale & BackgroundAs the Syrian conflict continues, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. There is a continuation of widespread and systematic breaches of human rights and international humanitarian law by parties to the conflict. The UNSC Resolutions 2165, 2191 and 2258 authorized delivery of relief “across conflict lines.” While this increased the scope for protection activities and services in northern Syria, humanitarian access remains the single greatest constraint facing humanitarian actors. Not only does it hamper the immediate delivery of protection and assistance, but it also limits humanitarian actors’ knowledge of the local context. Current protection monitoring activities enable a partial protection analysis of the gap between needed and available assistance and services. They highlight the necessity to improve accessibility of services to vulnerable populations and increase the efficiency and reach of service providers. In addition, they are a vital source of evidence-based information for advocacy efforts. Given the scope and scale of protection risk and threats, however, there is an evident need for inter-agency protection monitoring guidance, procedures, and forms, as well as for increased awareness among humanitarian actors about the importance and utility of protection monitoring for their ongoing program and advocacy responses.Against this backdrop, the Syria Protection Cluster (Turkey) has agreed to step up protection monitoring efforts in order to enable collation of accurate information about protection risks and concerns, to generate actionable recommendations for humanitarian stakeholders, and to strengthen identification and referrals of persons in need of protection interventions. In order to move this process forward, the Protection Cluster established a Protection Monitoring Task Force (PMTF), which will report to the Protection Cluster. The PMTF is co-led by UNHCR and IRC.DefinitionsDrawing on the description of protection monitoring provided by the Global Protection Cluster,31 the Protection Cluster agrees that: Protection monitoring during internal displacement involves collecting, verifying, and analyzing information in order to identify protection risks encountered by IDPs and other affected populations. Protection monitoring generally takes place over an extended period of time and should be coordinated and undertaken by agencies with a specific mandate and expertise to do so, in cooperation with UN agencies and members of civil society, particularly those directly affected: internally displaced persons and others.

31 Global Protection Cluster (GPC), Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons, June 2010, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4790cbc02.html [accessed 1 April 2016]

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Key Objectives of Protection Monitoring in Northern Syria The Protection Cluster agrees that the main objectives of protection monitoring in northern Syria are to:

Support the collection of protection data from inside of Syria in order to reinforce, through advocacy, the responsibility of State and non-State actors to protect IDPs and other affected populations in line with human rights law and international humanitarian law;

Collate, analyze and present information to guide and inform international and national actors in taking action, such as undertaking specific interventions on behalf of individuals and groups, and planning and implementing humanitarian assistance operations;

Increase access of affected populations to existing services and raise their awareness thereof; and

Support the creation of referrals systems which ensure safety and confidentiality in accordance with international best practice for services and protection interventions32.

Objectives of the Protection Monitoring Task ForceThe main objectives of the PMTF are to:

Provide guidance on the collection of protection data in line with international standards;

Standardize common data points across sectors in order to facilitate treatment of data for common information products;

Develop templates for regular reporting; Set standards to ensure reliability and scope of data collected (number of

primary/secondary sources, etc.); Agree on data sharing protocols and coordination; Create an online data-sharing platform to host reports on trends and

individual incidentsIn particular, the PMTF aims to increase, through the capacity-building process, the number of assessments conducted and shared by national humanitarian actors, as well as the number of analysis/information products developed. As such, the activities of the PMTF will fall under protection Objective 2 of the 2016 Humanitarian Response Plan, namely to: Strengthen the capacity of national and community-based actors to assess, analyze and respond to protection needs.

The PMTF will report to the Protection Cluster and other participating clusters as needed, ensuring that all substantive outcomes and products are approved by the Protection Cluster and ensuring exchange of information, amplification of messaging, and support. All PMTF activities will be aligned with the IASC guidance on information management and in coordination with Cluster IM focal points.

32 As agreed in the first workshop.

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Membership The PMTF is composed of representation from national and international NGOs/CBOs and relevant UN agencies from the protection cluster and other interested clusters. Priority for membership will be given to organizations that are undertaking or planning protection monitoring and/or outreach activities, as well as to organizations that have recognized technical expertise in this area. Focal points for elected member organizations are requested to remain consistent where possible to ensure continuity and consistency with assigned tasks.The PMTF is an inclusive body and its meetings are open to all partners and donors, as observers. The PMTF is co-chaired by IRC and UNHCR. IRC will fulfill the role of PMTF secretariat, including taking and circulating meeting minutes. All members of the PMTF accept the ICRC code of conduct and international humanitarian principles in all action undertaken as part of the PMTF.Activities and OutputsThe PMTF will meet as necessary and it will regularly report on progress to the Protection Cluster.Within one month of the adoption of these TORs, a PMTF work plan will be shared with the Protection Cluster for endorsement. The work plan will specify the timings of PMTF activities, including below key deliverables. The following are the key deliverables of the PMTF:

Manual and SOPs - A manual with standard operating procedures (SOPs) for protection monitoring in northern Syria, for endorsement by the Protection Cluster has been developed.

Monitoring and referral forms - A set of key indicators and a series of questions have been developed for the northern Syria context. Forms will be updated on a regular basis for endorsement by the Protection Cluster. The IRC will support members of the PMTF to undertake referrals through a capacity building initiative including trainings and ongoing support.

A common data-sharing platform will be developed for sharing the information collected through protection monitoring in northern Syria.

Workshops –Workshops will be held and could cover the following topics: Review of the protection monitoring tools including key Indicators and a referrals mechanism and procedures, Information management best practices, and SOPs for data protection and security; Best practices.

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ANNEX E – GENDER FOCAL POINT TORSIn order to enhance gender equality throughout the humanitarian response, a network of Cluster Gender Focal Points was set up, established within the active IASC clusters and currently co-led by the GBV SC and IOM. The aim is for each cluster to have 2-3 gender champions who can support cluster coordinators and cluster partners to make sure that women, girls, boys and men of all ages, abilities and backgrounds have access to humanitarian and protection services that cater to their distinct needs and experiences. Aligned with the 2015-2016 minimum commitments on gender equality endorsed by the HLG and the clusters in July 2015, the main tasks of the cluster gender focal points are: 1. Gender mainstreaming:Participate in the development of all cluster strategic documents (HNO, SRP, M&E, cluster plans, etc.) to ensure gender is mainstreamed. This will include ensuring that:

Needs assessments identify specific gender- and age-related needs, supported by sex- and age-disaggregated data.

Activities and outcomes provide the target proportion of male/females benefitting to meet the needs of each group.

Indicators are disaggregated by sex and age to inform implementation and monitoring.

2. Minimum standards for GBV interventions are addressed in cluster programmes Capacity development:

Support cluster partners in properly coding their projects using the IASC Gender with Age Marker (GMS, HF, and HRP etc.) and provide feedback to project designers when needed to ensure a maximum of 2a or 2b projects.

Support the roll-out of the Gender with Age Marker training for cluster members and partners including sharing of tools and resources on gender (Cluster tip sheets, ADAPT and ACT framework, gender e-learning, gender handbook, guidelines for GBV interventions etc.)

3. Technical support within cluster meetings including: Advocate the equal representation and participation of men and women

in cluster activities, including workshops, training, decision-making spaces and strategic forums.

Advocate the inclusion of female staff in all assessments and M&E teams, and for the consultation of affected men and women of different ages in all assessments and M&E activities.

Advocate the collection and analysis of sex- and age-disaggregated data, and ensure that this data informs programming, policies and strategies.

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Provide technical guidance on gender analysis profile for cluster and for agencies as required

4. Knowledge management Participate in cluster gender focal point network (monthly), to share

information and experiences on gender issues. The network will be chaired by the Inter-agency gender advisor.

Undertake training on line and in presence as offered Collect best practices and promote diffusion of lessons learnt among cluster

partnersSpecial Considerations for the Protection Cluster

As the Protection Cluster also includes the GBV, Child Protection, and Mine Action sub-clusters, the number of the gender focal points consider the different support needs of sub cluster. Each area of responsibility will have two gender focal points; All GP of the Protection Cluster are part of the same team, and in case of need they should be prepared to support a different AOR;

Whether or not the relevant processes require the participation of each gender focal point, it is up to the discretion of the Cluster/Sub-Cluster Coordinators. For example, the two GFPs will alternate for participation in processes such as the technical review committees for HF proposals and vetting of HRP projects. GFP will not review projects of their own organization

The Gender focal points are selected among the members of the Protection Cluster who expressed interest at the beginning of each year following the following criteria:

o Active participation in the Cluster/Sub-Cluster to which the nominee indicated interest – e.g., if you put forward your name for GBV, you should regularly participate in their meetings and ongoing initiatives. This first criteria takes precedence over all others.

o One Syrian NGO and one international NGO GFP per Cluster/Sub-Cluster.

o One male and one female GFP per Cluster/Sub-Cluster.o Maximum one GFP per organization.o If there are multiple nominations who meet the above criteria, the

representative who responded first will be selected.At the end of the year, the selected GFP will be invited to confirm interest in continue to act in the function, if they can prove active role in the position. Vacant spots will be covered with calls of expression of interest.

GFP are invited to support work of the sub cluster working groups and taskforces as capacity allow

According to the nature of Protection programming GFP are required to obey to humanitarian principles and guiding principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. The principle of confidentiality is also central

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to this role. Breaches in any of the aforementioned principles will cause termination of the GFP role.

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ANNEX F – PROTECTION CORE GROUP TORS

OverviewThe Protection Core Group is a small body of Syria Protection Cluster (Turkey) members that contribute to its strategic direction. The core group is not a decision-making body, but rather an advisory group that aims to: develop and adjust the sector’s strategic framework, priorities and work plan; steer medium- and long-term planning for Cluster meeting content; and develop and review Cluster documents, such as guidance notes, TORs, or key messages.

Roles and responsibilities The core group is responsible to address a number of issues, including:

Provide strategic oversight on internal integration of programming and planning among the Protection Cluster and CP, GBV, and MA Sub-Clusters; integration of cooperation with other clusters; and inclusion of cross-cutting issues, including disability, youth, and gender into Protection Cluster activities;

Agree on benchmarks and indicators for the annual Protection Cluster work plan;

Support additional capacity development initiatives for the Cluster members, as needed;

Ensure that context-relevant technical standards and guidance are developed, agreed upon and consistently applied;

Provide support to Cluster members submitting projects to the HRP, donors or government through technical support, as requested;

Participate as needed in the strategic and technical review committees for protection submissions to the Syria Cross-Border Humanitarian Fund; and

Maintain relationships and represent the Cluster in relevant working groups and task forces, as needed.

Accountability Accountable to the Syria Protection Cluster (Turkey); Accountable through the Cluster to the Inter cluster Coordination Group

(ICCG).

Profile and minimum commitments The meetings are called by the Cluster Coordinator and will be held monthly. Ad hoc meetings may be called according to need or upon request from one of the members. Meetings are held according to the ‘Chatham House Rule;’ i.e., comments are incorporated into the minutes, but are not attributable to any particular individual or organization. The minutes will be shared with all Cluster members through the Weekly Round-Up.

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ChairThis group is chaired by the Protection Cluster Coordinator and/or the Cluster Co- Coordinator.

MembershipThe protection Core Group has nine member seats, in addition to those of the Protection Cluster coordination team. Membership is on the basis of the organization, not the individual, and organizations must be able to ensure a consistent backup in case of the designated staff member’s absence or departure from the operation. Failure to have representation in two consecutive meetings will result in forfeiture of the seat. Four seats are permanent members representing General Protection and the 3 AORs: UNHCR, representing protection; the GBV Sub-Cluster, representing GBV; the Child Protection Sub-Cluster, representing child protection; and the Mine Action Sub-Cluster, representing Mine Action. The CP, GBV and MA seats are held by the Sub-Cluster Coordinator or Co-Coordinator, or a representative of a Sub-Cluster taskforce, respectively. The UNHCR seat is held by the Protection Officer for Cross-Border Operations in Gaziantep. The remaining seven seats are held by Cluster members according to self-nomination, followed by a transparent voting process by Cluster members. The seat is held on an annual basis. The composition should aim for balanced representation, ideally 2 UN agencies, 2 INGOs, and 3 national NGOs, and one of the seven seats is reserved for a Cluster member with legal technical expertise. Nomination and voting for the five rotational seats is guided by the candidates’:

Operational relevance in the emergency; Technical expertise related to Cluster priorities, e.g. civil status

documentation; housing, land and property; or community-based protection; Demonstrated capacity to contribute strategically and to provide practical

support; and Commitment to contribute consistently.

Others Cluster members or representatives from other Clusters and coordination fora may be invited to join the Core Group meeting as needed or according to the subject under discussion.

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ANNEX G – HOUSING, LAND AND PROPERTY TORS

Scope of the HLP Technical Working Group Given the emerging prominence of housing, land and property (HLP) issues throughout Syria, the North Syria Protection, Shelter/NFI, CCCM, Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) and other Clusters realised the need to establish an HLP Technical Working Group. With its activation, it has been agreed by involved actors (UN agencies and inter/national NGOs) that the working group shall focus primarily on HLP issues that are emerging as critical challenges for the immediate realization of programs and projects under the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). Given the changing dynamics in various parts of the country, and in the spirit of coordination, through the expertise of some of its actors, the group will also have a forward-looking perspective into the resilience building phase of the Syrian crisis as envisaged under the UN Syria Strategic Framework. Reflective of the cross-cutting nature of HLP issues, the HLP Technical Working Group will provide an advisory role and technical expertise to the Protection Cluster and – as requested – to the CCCM, Shelter/NFI, WASH, Early Recovery, FSL Clusters and any other UN and NGO coordination structures.

Mission StatementTo facilitate and provide technical support on HLP rights, issues and concerns of immediate relevance to the realization of current humanitarian programming in Syria, enabling a more informed, predictable, accountable and efficient humanitarian and resilience-building response to HLP issues, arising in the context of the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

Overall ObjectiveThe overall objective of the HLP Technical Working Group is to facilitate a more systematic approach to identifying, understanding and addressing HLP issues affecting persons of concern and directly impacting the work of the clusters, primarily along strategies and interventions identified in the Humanitarian Response Plan and in a more forward-looking perspective with aspects included in the programming of other recovery actors.

This will be done by promoting collaboration and complementarity of efforts amongst agencies undertaking HLP activities and by addressing identified gaps in technical areas.

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Participation and Principles of PartnershipThe HLP Technical Working Group is a technical and participatory forum which is comprised of UN Agencies, international and national non-governmental and humanitarian organizations and representatives of relevant clusters operating in Northern Syria. Attendance is expected to be at the senior technical level. Each member nominates one regular representative and one alternate representative that will attend at the HLP Technical Working Group’s regular meetings. By participating in the HLP Technical Working Group, each member commits to work towards the realisation of its objectives and to make time and human resources available to carry out tasks agreed by the participants.

For membership roles, the voting threshold to confirm participation of new members is 51% of all votes received during the relevant meeting. The contact list is considered the list of members and their representatives in the HLP Technical Working Group.

FunctionsThe work of the HLP Technical Working Group will be guided by relevant national laws, policy guidelines in the field of HLP (such as the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, the IASC Framework for Durable Solutions for IDPs, and the Pinheiro Principles), relevant technical standards, as well as other principles of international law (international human rights law and– where applicable – International Humanitarian Law).

The HLP Technical Working Group will facilitate effective preventive, responsive and remedial action on HLP matters through:

a) Contributing to the identification and to the resolution of HLP issues in Northern Syria, with initial particular reference to those issues stemming directly from the implementation of projects under the HRP;

b) Providing technical guidance and expert advice on HLP matters to national and international actors in Northern Syria; and,

c) Enhancing accountability, predictability and effectiveness of HLP-related activities.

Specifically, the HLP Technical Working Group shall endorse a yearly work plan as an integral part of the Terms of Reference.

HLP Technical Working Group Co-chair ResponsibilitiesThe co-chairs of the HLP Technical Working Group will:

Convene the meeting (venue, contact with participants, obtaining suggestions and preparing the agenda).

Ensure adequate preparation and dissemination of material and information. Ensure the follow-up and tracking of relevant actions under the work plan. Compile the minutes of meetings and follow up on agreed action points.

The HLP Technical Working Group will be co-chaired by UNHCR and NRC.

Frequency of Meetings

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The HLP TWG shall be convened on a bi-monthly basis (i.e. every two months).

Revision of Terms of Reference and Work Plan of the HLP Technical Working GroupThe Terms of Reference and work plan of the HLP Technical Working Group may be reviewed on an annual basis or as requested by the majority (51%) of the members of the HLP Technical Working Group.

ANNEX H – TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON INCLUSION TORs

Syria Protection Cluster (Turkey) in coordination with Humanity and Inclusion (HI):

Technical Working Group on Inclusion

Terms of Reference

Inclusion of persons with disabilities in the North West Humanitarian Response

In line with the humanitarian principle of humanity, the humanitarian response in North West Syria is committed to provide assistance on the basis of need, without distinction to nationality, race, gender, disability, religious belief, class or political opinion. Linked to and part of the Protection 2020 Strategy as well as the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan, cluster response strategies are required to take into account the principle of inclusion and the differential risks of exclusion, including those which reinforce or create inequalities among the affected population, whether based on societal discrimination, power structures, vulnerability, disability, age, and gender and any other factors.

There is an intersection between humanitarian crises and persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities and their care givers are disproportionately affected by conflict and often face a specific and aggravated set of challenges due to both

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discrimination and to the barriers that limit their access to essential protection and humanitarian assistance.33 “The costs of humanitarian interventions that are not designed to respond to the specific needs of the diversity of persons with disabilities are counted in human lives.”Error! Bookmark not defined.

Recent evidence suggests that the individual prevalence rate of persons with disabilities living in Syria, aged 12 years and above is 27% 34, which is almost twice that of the global average (15%)35. Also important to note is that in Aleppo and Idleb governorates, the individual IDP prevalence rate exceeds these figures where females are more likely to experience disability. That is, 59% of females and 27% of males (Aleppo) and 42% of females and 30% of males (Idleb) have disabilities36. Further, for IDP heads of household across the whole of Syria, the rate of disability is 38%.34 These striking figures reflect the impact of severe environmental challenges on individual functioning and the way in which poverty and reduced access to essential services compounds the experience of disability. Finally, with regards to age, across Syria 99% of females and 94% of males over the age of 65 years have a disability,34 which is also important to note when considering the intersectionality of gender, age and disability in policy and programming.

Monitoring inclusion of persons with disabilities includes ongoing sector-specific analysis of the impact of conflict on persons with disabilities and their caregivers, especially in relation to their specific needs and ability to access services. Strengthening evidence and contextual understanding through this monitoring, while taking a human-rights-based approach to inclusion,37,38 aims to inform measures to address exclusion include those related to:

- Programmatic design and targeting by response partners which involves inclusion mainstreaming;

- Ensuring that staff have the skills to identify physical, attitudinal and institutional barriers relevant to the communities which they work and having the means to mitigate these barriers to enable equal access for all people;

- Ensuring that staff at all levels of the response, have the skills, knowledge and confidence to identify and engage persons with disabilities on an equal basis with all others.

To further strengthen inclusion of persons with disabilities in the COVID-19 response and the overall humanitarian response, engagement with humanitarian leadership 33 UNOHCHR. World Humanitarian Summit: Inclusion of persons with disabilities into Humanitarian Action,

201634 Humanitarian Needs Assessment Programme (HNAP). Disability: Prevalence and Impact, 2019 35 WHO, World Report on Disability, 201136 Humanitarian Needs Assessment Programme (HNAP). IDP Insight: Disability, 2019 Overview, 202037 Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Guidelines, Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action,

201938 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006

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on practical measures related to the HPC and the SCHF, as well as other strategic coordination processes, remains a required measure.

All persons with disabilities must be considered when operationalizing inclusion in the Syria response, however it is understood that the intersection between gender, age and disability can compound exclusion and in turn, vulnerability39.

Gender, age and disability considerations in North West Syria

Women (including older women) and girls with disabilities are exposed to a multitude of GBV risks, exacerbating their vulnerability and resulting in very few places where they feel safe. Further, women and girls with intellectual disabilities in particular are far more likely to experience sexual abuse when compared to their peers without disabilities; this is often due to power dynamics and the decreased likelihood of reporting.Error! Bookmark not defined. Persons with disabilities are at increased risk of separation from their families, care providers, and the assistive products which support their independence. Relocation to a new environment can impede dignified access to basic services. Girls and boys with disabilities are often at heightened risk of forms of violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation. Many struggle against marginalization, stigma and discrimination.40Older persons with disabilities face barriers in accessing information and services, and they are more likely to be affected psychologically by crisesError! Bookmark not defined.,41. Further they are at great risk of poverty and more likely to have health problems that require costly medication, and yet they face significant difficulty in accessing humanitarian services which reduce vulnerability while humanitarian actors may not consistently identify and/or respond these specific needs .41

The North West Technical Working Group on Inclusion

Recognizing the exclusion and vulnerabilities that persons with disabilities experience in the Syrian crisis, with particular regard to accessing basic humanitarian services including protection, The Protection Cluster, represented by Lead Agency UNHCR and Humanity & Inclusion will establish a technical working group in February 2020. The working group will support the implementation of inclusion mechanisms in the response and strengthen existing efforts.

The Technical Working Group will work in coordination with relevant clusters, in particular Shelter/NFI, WASH, and CCCM, and their partners to identify key barriers to inclusion and to design and implement inclusion mechanisms for an initial period of 12 months with an initial review of the ToRs (key functions and

39 Syria Resilience Consortium. Hidden, overlooked and at risk: The role of Gender, Age and Disability in Syria, 2019

40 2020 Syria Response HNO findings 41 HelpAge. Missing Millions: How older people with disabilities are excluded from Humanitarian Response, 2016

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membership/participation) in July 2020. The key functions of the Technical Working Group include:

- Working with the Protection Monitoring Task Force, as well as other clusters and assessment initiatives, monitor the access and participation of persons with disabilities in protection services, as well as in relation to community representation mechanisms/structures where feasible (e.g. camp committees, etc.)

- To advocate towards Humanitarian Leadership on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the humanitarian response; this includes promoting awareness of inclusion related issues amongst all stakeholders, and ensuring relevant fora and processes take inclusion issues into account (e.g. HLG, HRP, SCHF, etc.)

- To develop capacity of humanitarian partners to better understand disability, the human rights approach to inclusion, and the specific issues experienced by this population in the Syrian crisis aiming to ensure uptake of inclusion principles

- To provide practical support to partners regarding inclusive project design and targeting of persons with disabilities; support will entail engagement with members of other clusters through workshops to jointly develop practical cluster and context specific guidance with the aim of strengthening:

Partners’ capacity to identify barriers to access and protection for persons with disabilities in the communities which they work.Partners’ approaches to remove barriers to access and protection in their programmes.In order to strengthen responses addressing the risk of exclusion and marginalization, the following immediate practical actions are recommended:

Actions Focal point1. Establish a North West Technical Working Group

on Inclusion co-led by UNHCR and Humanity & Inclusion (HI), with membership of a diversity of clusters and organizations with various technical backgrounds, with nominees from:

- FSL, ERL, S/NFI, Health and WASH clusters + protection monitoring task force

- GBV and child protection sub clusters - Two INGOs and up to 6 NGOs who meet

selection criteria as outlined in section 1.1

Protection Cluster staff and HI

1a.

INGOs and NGOs will be requested to submit a letter of application for membership of the Technical Working Group. These applications will

Protection Cluster staff and HI

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be scored via a points system in order to ensure transparency.Selection criteria for I/NGO selection:

- Geographic Coverage and thematic focus on protection

- Protection cluster participation and expertise

- The I/NGO should be able to demonstrate that their programs take into account the needs of persons with disabilities, have a means to identify persons with disabilities and/or have resources (or planned resources) to dedicate to inclusion mainstreaming

- I/NGOs which can demonstrate existing HR capacity e.g. inclusion advisors and/or staff with training on disability will receive additional points

- Current relevant relationships & partnerships

- I/NGOs which can demonstrate targeting of persons with disabilities within their programs is of benefit

- I/NGOs have formal/informal presence in Gaziantep and can commit to monthly meetings

- Ability to dedicate staff/focal point to the group

- Respect for Core Humanitarian & Protection Principles

- (For the scoring mechanism please see Annex 1)

2. Conduct consultations and a needs assessment of partners regarding their technical support needs with regards to inclusion mainstreaming

Protection Cluster staff and HI

3a.

Support the cluster(s) to monitor inclusion of persons with disabilities in assessments as well as assistance and service provision through monthly and quarterly reports; additionally a disability-specific review of inclusion rates in services will be conducted

TWG

3b.

Based on contextual analysis, develop key messaging and recommended tools/indicators

TWG

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for clusters and organizations on including disability in needs assessments, including COVID-19 response needs assessments

3c.

Based on contextual analysis develop key messaging and recommended tools/indicators for organizations on including disability in (third party) monitoring

TWG

4. Develop, in collaboration with prioritized clusters, practical, achievable, and meaningful measures to inform and guide the ongoing and forthcoming scaled up emergency response, with priority given to COVID-19 response activities and modifications of pre-existing activities. Clusters of initial focus will be:

Shelter/NFI WASH CCCM Health

This action is to be taken within the shortest feasible timeframe possible due to the rapidly evolving situation in NWS and the foreseen scaled up response.

TWG

5. In collaboration with clusters and their partners, produce contextualized chapter notes and general guidance on the relevant sectors to complement the IASC guidelines on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action, 2019

TWG

6. To develop and roll out trainings for partners and other relevant organizations on key topics as defined by the context and needs assessment. Some topics may include:

- Inclusive messaging and communication in the COVID-19 response

- The rights of persons with disabilities in the COVID-19 response

- An introduction to disability and inclusion mainstreaming in programming within the North West Syria Response

- Inclusive project design and identification of persons with disabilities

- Methods for targeting persons with

HI and TWG with support of Protection Cluster staff

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disabilities in programs- Methods for mitigating barriers and

engaging persons with disabilities in programs: the twin track approach (a combination of mainstreaming and targeted strategies), communication considerations, physical accessibility, staff training, inclusive complaints and feedback mechanisms (CFMs) etc

- Monitoring rights violations of persons with disabilities and risk mitigation measures

7. Advocate for the inclusion of persons with disabilities towards Humanitarian Leadership and in relevant coordination fora and processes

TWG

8. Contribute to and/or establish a specialized service mapping for persons with disabilities. This may include mapping of face-to-face and remote services during the COVID-19 restriction period.

TWG

Expectations of task force/working group members:

- Active monthly contribution to meetings of the TWG in Gaziantep or via remote attendance when necessary

- Active ad hoc communication relating to the tasks of the group via email and skype throughout the year

- To actively support and contribute in a results-based manner to the tasks of the group as outlined in the action table above

- To demonstrate an ongoing commitment to inclusion in their organizations - A review of key functions and outputs of the group and members will be

carried out in July 2020. At this time, consideration of the relevance and impact of the work achieved so far and the contributions of members should be evaluated and updated in order to better meet needs on the ground and respond in the evolving context

- All people trained will be required to sign a code of conduct

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Annex 1: Selection criteria for membership selection

Criteria Points available

Geographic Coverage and thematic focus on protection "Organization’s geographic coverage and breadth of thematic, protection-related technical expertise, current Protection programming and related technical capacity (e.g. number and type of staff)

5

Prior active participation in protection Cluster meetings; relevance of the various bodies (technical working groups, task-forces etc.) in which the organization actively participates

5

Protection related technical Expertise 3Current programs: have analyzed the needs to persons with disabilities in the communities which they work; have a mechanism to identify persons with disabilities; disaggregate data by GAD in programs; can demonstrate ready resources or planned resources for inclusion mainstreaming; other relevant (1 point for each element)

5

Can demonstrate existing HR capacity e.g. inclusion advisors and/or staff with training on disability (1 point for each element)

2

Current relationships and partnerships: the organization’s level and modes of engagement with local NGOs, INGOs, UN and other stakeholders

3

Can demonstrate purposeful targeting mechanisms built into program(s) (one point for at least one or more)

1

Have formal/informal presence in Gaziantep or other relevant location and can commit to monthly meetings

1

Ability to dedicate committed staff with the necessary capacity. The organization should nominate a focal point and alternate focal point with technical experience for standing participation in the group (non-negotiable)

3

Respect for Core Humanitarian & Protection Principles 2Total 30

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