NES NGO Forum

The Northeast Syria (NES) NGO Forum is the lead operational coordination body for NGOs operating cross-border from Iraq and from within North-East Syria, into SDF-controlled areas of Aleppo, Deir-ez-Zor, Ar-Raqqa and Al-Hasakah Governorates in Syria. Given the unique coordination arrangements in North-East Syria, the NGO Forum is recognized as the key coordination body for NGOs operating in the North-East, within the Whole of Syria (“WoS”) coordination architecture. The Forum performs the following functions on behalf of its members: representation, operational inter-sector coordination, information management, advocacy, and humanitarian access analysis. This happens in coordination with, and as part of, overall inter-hub, hub specific or Whole of Syria “WoS” processes. The NES NGO Forum coordinates with the UN – based out of Amman, Damascus and Qamishli, but with data sharing protection protocols in place due to the sensitivities involved in such exchanges. The NES NGO Forum’s overarching objective is to contribute a principled, appropriate, accountable, timely and effective humanitarian response in North-East Syria. The NES NGO Forum seeks to lead on operational coordination amongst NES NGOs in coordination with UN agencies to identify needs, gaps and standardize response across agencies; share timely information for action; streamline advocacy and policy messaging; and represent NGOs before a range of stakeholders and authorities, including vis-à-vis civ-mil coordination bodies. The NES NGO Forum is governed by a Steering Committee of elected members and is supported by a Secretariat team who hold administrative, coordination and thematic functions. The specific aims of the NES NGO Forum is to: – Ensure principled humanitarian access in NES – Promote effective humanitarian response in NES – Strengthen focus on sustainable programming and localisation – Address root causes of needs in NES