Local and National Actors Consultation on Cluster Transition & Deactivation

The Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) presents:

Local and National Actors’ Consultation on Practical Actions for Locally Led Cluster Transition and Deactivation 

This multilingual forum took place on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, 12:00 – 13:00 CET
🔊 English & Français – Ce webinaire est disponible avec une interprétation en français 

WATCH NOW (EN & FR)

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) defines Clusters as ‘temporary coordination structures, which may be activated when government capacity to coordinate a humanitarian response is limited or constrained’ and outlines criteria for cluster activation and deactivation. IASC also defines transition as ‘the process of the transfer of a cluster’s core functions to other structures or the phasing-out of the functions, leading to deactivation’. 

UNICEF, the Cluster Lead Agency for Nutrition, WASH and Education, recognises the role that clusters play at the national level in providing strategic leadership, technical guidance, and policy engagement, in supporting field teams, and in mobilising resources. Following the 2025 global funding cuts, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator launched a humanitarian reset ‘calling for aid agencies, and the international system coordinating and delivering humanitarian assistance, to regroup and adapt.’ As part of the humanitarian reset process, the IASC announced a reduction in the number of clusters from 11 clusters and four areas of responsibility to eight clusters3.  

In the context of the new GNC Strategy 2026-2029, with its strengthened localisation objectives, and in support of the Global Cluster Coordination Group (GCCG) Localisation Working Group session at the Humanitarian Networks and Partnership Week (HNPW) on 5 March, the GNC organised a forum on 25 February with Local and National Actors (LNAs) to ensure their perspectives and priorities inform the humanitarian reset, cluster simplification, and transition processes. 

Discussions focused on the following key questions:

• Which coordination functions are most critical to sustain once a cluster exits, from the perspective of local and national actors?
• Which coordination roles can LNAs realistically assume, individually or collectively, and what enabling support, capacities, and partnerships are required to do so effectively?
• How can essential coordination enablers—such as information management systems and accountability to affected populations—be maintained and governed locally beyond cluster deactivation?

🎧 The webinar recording is available with audio tracks in English and French.  

Have questions? Email us at [email protected]