Egypt Refugee Appeal For Refugees from Africa, Iraq and Yemen 2018 | Page 14

For Refugees & Asylum-seekers from
Sub-Saharan Africa, Iraq & Yemen
PARTNERSHIPS & COORDINATION
The Government of Egypt, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, remains the main United Nations’
counterpart for policy and coordination. The humanitarian coordination mechanisms on refugee issues in Egypt
are the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG), the Inter-Sector Working Group (ISWG) and Sector Working Groups
(SWGs).
The Inter-Agency Working Group is the highest
coordination level used for the refugee response in
Egypt. It is a non-sectorial coordination forum, which
aims to strengthen inter-agency coordination and flow
of information. It discusses policy issues, as well as
protection and programme gaps with regard to refugee
communities of all nationalities.
The Inter-Sector Working Group is an operational forum,
which brings together different Sector Working Groups,
i.e., Protection, Public Health, Education, Livelihoods,
and Basic Needs and Cash-Based Interventions. It is
mandated to coordinate, identify and evaluate relevant
operational topics to ensure a formative and standard
approach. The Inter-Sector Working Group reports to
the Inter-Agency Working Group as a higher level of
coordination for refugee and resilience response, policy
decision, and overall guidance.
Each sector working group has its specific list of partners,
including government ministries, donors, international
agencies, and international and national NGOs. The
groups function as inter-agency technical working
groups for the refugee response and resilience in
Egypt. Under the protection working group, there are
two sub-working groups, which cover child protection
and SGBV. A working group for Communication with
Communities (CWC) has been formed to improve
coordination regarding communication and engagement
with asylum-seekers, refugees, and members of host
communities. UNHCR Field Office in Alexandria chairs a
monthly Detention Working Group meeting composed of
partners and other agencies working on the North Coast.
It coordinates humanitarian assistance to refugees and
migrants who are detained for irregular departure by sea
and discusses policies, challenges, and gaps.
These forums ensure coordinated, collaborative, and
comprehensive approaches and responses to address
the international protection needs and provision of
humanitarian assistance to refugees as well as people
affected by mixed migration in Egypt.
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