The Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) is the most senior UN official dedicated to humanitarian affairs. The ERC reports directly to the United Nations Secretary-General and serves as a focal point for governments, intergovernmental, and nongovernmental organisations on humanitarian issues. In this capacity the ERC is often called before the UN Security Council in response to humanitarian emergencies.

The UN General Assembly Resolution that created the position of Emergency Relief Coordinator also founded the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and made the ERC its Chair. This gives the ERC the unique power to convene a meeting of the Committee and to set the agenda. As Chair of the IASC, the ERC consults the Committee to develop unified positions and mobilise resources in response to humanitarian crises.

In the event of a crisis, the ERC may appoint a Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) to lead the response on the ground. If the emergency requires specialised support, the HC may request that a 'Cluster'; a multi-agency group of thematic experts; be activated. The ERC seeks the inter-agency agreement required to activate a Cluster, and decide which agency should lead it, through the IASC.