TERMS OF REFERENCE
INTER-SECTOR COORDINATION GROUP
POLAND
PURPOSE
The Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) is the main bridge between the Sectors with their thematic
areas (Health; Education; Protection; Economic Inclusion; Shelter, Housing & Accommodation, Child
Protection, Gender-Based-Violence (GBV), Working Groups (WGs) such as Basic Needs, Accountability to
Affected Population, Cash Based intervention, and Information Management; networks (Protection from
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/PSEA) and the NGO Forum “Razem”. These Sectors, WGs and Networks form
the backbone of the coordination of the refugee response in Poland as part of the Regional Refugee
Response for the Ukraine situation.
The Polish Government has the primary responsibility for the coordination of the refugee response. Under
the Refugee Coordination Model, UNHCR coordinates the complementary activities of humanitarian actors.
As such, the ISCG reports to the Refugee Coordinator and Representative of the UNHCR Poland Country
Office and consults regularly with other humanitarian leaders. The UNHCR Representative ensures effective
consultation and communication with the Government of Poland. The Inter-Agency Coordination Team and
the NGO Forum Coordinator meet regularly to ensure complementarity in the response.
The main purposes of the ISCG are to:
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Contribute to making the inter-agency response complementary with the Polish authorities’
response
Ensure that there is a clearly articulated humanitarian response, reflecting individual sector
strategies and priorities.
Coordinate, identify, process, and elevate relevant topics/issues to the UNHCR Representative , in
his capacity as Refugee Coordinator, for strategic decisions and guidance.
Ensure that activities are coordinated, gaps identified and responded to, and overall operational
response is prioritized across sectors.
Encourage coordination and complementarity of humanitarian activities and systems.
Facilitate the operational processes and flow of information between Sectors, WGs, Networks
and relevant platforms led by national actors, optimizing complementarity between the sector
activities.
Promote adherence by organizations and sectors with humanitarian principles, the Principles of
Partnership.
Ensure cross-cutting issues are properly reflected in all activities (PSEA, roles of national
organizations and refugee-led organizations, Accountability to Affected Population, social
cohesion, socio-economic inclusion, One-Refugee Approach1).
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As outlined in the 2023 Refugee Response Plan, the One- Refugee Approach seeks to reduce and ultimately eliminate differences in rights and
services based on nationality in approaches to protection and assistance. Such approach is in line with the Global Compact on Refugees and the
Sustainable Development Goals’ vision of ‘Leave No One Behind’
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