show menu

Protection Cluster

Last updated:
Key points
  • Try to achieve consensus with cluster members on as many issues and questions as possible, both on cluster products and initiatives and on how the cluster functions. The cluster belongs to its members: empower them to decide how it works, so they can feel responsible for it.
  • Engage with cluster members. The cluster lead agency should support the work of all the cluster's members, and make sure the response always meets minimum standards. Do not try to achieve these goals alone.
  • Engage with the sub-cluster lead agencies. They bring their technical expertise, knowledge and institutional capacity to the cluster.
  • Engage with national authorities and international actors, both civilian and military. Advocacy is a key component of any response: it starts by establishing contacts and working relationships with all key stakeholders.
  • Engage with other clusters and relevant interlocutors (such as peacekeeping missions). The protection cluster has expertise in, and is responsible for, protection activities. However, protection is not achieved by protection cluster activities alone. Engage other clusters and actors and understand the impact of their activities on the protection of affected populations. The protection cluster should facilitate analysis of protection risks for other actors and help to design appropriate responses. In particular, protection clusters should work closely with CCCM and shelter clusters, which UNHCR also leads, to make sure that activities, advocacy, and protection responses are complementary.

In this section:

Give us some feedback

Let us know what you think of the new site and help us improve your user experience….

Give us some feedback

Let us know what you think of the new site and help us improve your user experience….

Help us keep the handbook up to date
Suggest an enhancement to this page

Welcome to the new UNHCR Emergency Handbook website. If you are UNHCR staff, please use your UNHCR credentials to log in. From 1st April 2023, all non-UNHCR staff may re-register here.