The Operational Policy and Advocacy Group (OPAG) serves as a forum driving the normative and strategic policy work of the IASC, including on system-wide policy matters with a direct bearing on humanitarian operations. It is responsible for overseeing the work of the Task Forces on behalf of the IASC Principals.
Co-chaired by Ms. Valerie Guarnieri, Deputy Executive Director, Programme & Policy Development Department, WFP and Mr. Geir Olav Lisle, Deputy Secretary General, NRC, the OPAG comprises a representative from each IASC member, at Director level.
Responsibilities include:
- Developing policies and guidance in line with strategic decisions and requests made by the IASC
- Establishing and overseeing the work of the Results Groups
- Collaborating with the Emergency Directors Group (EDG) in identifying and elaborating policy matters with direct bearing on humanitarian operations
- Reviewing guidelines produced by inter-agency bodies outside of the formal IASC structure (after vetting by the IASC secretariat)
The OPAG supersedes the former IASC Working Group
The five IASC Task Forces are timebound and responsible for delivering the agreed normative/system-wide outputs under each of the five IASC Strategic Priorities for the biennium 2022-2023, endorsed by the IASC Principals.
IASC Task Forces will be required to ensure strengthened and streamlined engagement:
- with the field, including field leadership as well as local actors in support of localization efforts,
- amongst Task Forces,
- with relevant IASC structures (including the EDG, Deputies Group, GCCG, and others),
- with ongoing initiatives/processes including the Grand Bargain, amongst others. As agreed by the OPAG, advocacy will be a critical pillar of the work of the Task Forces. Furthermore, due consideration will be given to limit the production of additional guidance/policies, with the understanding that the focus of this this biennium period is to better support the field and working towards operational impact.
The five Task Forces report to the Operational Policy and Advocacy Group (OPAG), with strong linkages to the Emergency Directors Group to ensure that their work is reflective of and responsive to field needs and realities. Each group is co-chaired by two to three IASC members, nominated by IASC members.
-
Task Force 1 - Centrality of ProtectionEnsures that protection is prioritized and mainstreamed throughout the humanitarian response, beyond the actions taken by the protection cluster.
-
Task Force 2 - Accountability to Affected PeopleAdapts the humanitarian response to ensure the systematic participation of affected communities as well as the timely and relevant response to feedback and needs voiced by affected communities, particularly the voices of women and girls.
-
Task Force 3 - Preserving Humanitarian Space (BAI and COTER)Ensures that humanitarian leaders and teams (at global and country levels) have the relevant analysis, guidance and tools to address bureaucratic and administrative impediments and to mobilize collective advocacy to mitigate the impact of counter-terrorism legislation and sanctions on humanitarian action.
-
Task Force 4 - Humanitarian Development Collaboration and its Linkages to PeaceAdvances collective action by optimizing engagement within the IASC and with relevant development and peace actors on humanitarian-development collaboration and its linkage to peace.
-
Task Force 5 - LocalisationStrengthens the engagement and leadership of local and national actors in humanitarian coordination mechanisms and humanitarian response.
The five IASC Results Groups were timebound and responsible for delivering the agreed normative/system-wide outputs under each of the five IASC Strategic Priorities for the biennium 2019 - 2021.
View archived Results Groups: Operational Response; Accountability and Inclusion; Collective Advocacy; Humanitarian-Development Collaboration; Humanitarian Financing