The FSC is about enhancing cooperation and partnerships. It works directly with its partners and stakeholders, including (I)NGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, UN organizations, governments and donors.

The Principles of Partnership (Equality, Complementarity, Transparency, Responsibility and Results-Oriented Approach) guides the FSC both at global and country level when working with partners. 

Partnerships: Partnerships are at the core of the gFSC’s work. Each partner is unique, and the overall diversity allows the gFSC to address the broad spectrum of food security in a coordinated manner. Combined, the global partners provide a diverse network of operational, technical organisations, academia, donors, and other stakeholders with a shared objective of strengthening humanitarian food security responses.

Global partners are directly involved and lead some specific gFSC activities such as the cluster’s strategy and the establishment of tasks driven technical working groups at global level (in addition to participating in ad hoc committee work, ad hoc guidance development and as members of the SAG etc.) 

They also ensure that their colleagues at country, regional and global levels are aware of, participate in and support the cluster at all levels. Most of the global partners are active at country level and are actively participating in the FSC work as an FSC member, in the in-country TWG, as NGO-co-facilitator, etc.

In December 2022, there are 84 global partner organisations (including NGOs, UNs, Academia, donors). Since 2017, global partners are requested to apply for a gFSC membership as full partner, associate, or observer: see the gFSC Membership Application Form. Applications are screened (due diligence) and reviewed according to a specific criterion (partners must: be a non-profit organisation, commit to humanitarian principles, principles of partnership, core humanitarian standards, work internationally and/or be active in a cluster in a country and implement food security activities). Once screening is finalised, the gFSC SAG officially endorses the organization. In case of rejection for not meeting the criteria, the organization will be notified by the gFSC team.

Different ways various organizations can participate in the gFSC

Global Partners: Global partners are organizations that have an operational mandate, which includes assisting vulnerable people to prepare for, respond to or recover from the impacts on food security of natural or man-made disasters. They include International and national NGOs, international organizations, and UN Agencies. Partners have the following characteristics:

• A commitment to humanitarian principles and the Principles of Partnership.
• Participate in actions that specifically improve accountability to affected populations.
• Participate regularly within the cluster and consistently engage in the gFSC’s collective work.
• The capacity and willingness to contribute to the gFSC Strategic Plan.
• Work cooperatively with other gFSC partners to ensure effective use of available resources, including information sharing and organizational talents.
• Request to be considered a partner of the gFSC (through the gFSC membership application form).

See more on the distinction between FSC ‘partners’ and ‘members’ at country level in 3.6.2. 

Observers: Observers participate in consultations and discussions but remain neutral on decision-making. At present, the organizations with a role as Observer are donors, universities, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). See more on the role of observers, like ICRC, in 3.6.2 and 3.6.3.

Associates: Associates include other Global Clusters and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which are not directly engaged in food security activities. Associates’ activities are closely interlinked with the work of the partner organizations, with which there are various forms of collaboration. See more on the role of OCHA in 4.3.1.