Technical Working Groups (TWGs) are small, task oriented, created on a needs-basis to strengthen the capacity of the FSC in specific technical or thematic areas and to support the FSC membership in the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of their humanitarian responses. They can have a specific time limit. TWGs usually work on specific technical aspects for example the development or revision, technical guidance, minimum and common standards, harmonisation and standardisation of packages/transfers, and to formulate appropriate technical practices (e.g. nutrition, cash, assessments, programme design) or may be specific to an activity (e.g. Livestock WG, Fisheries WG or Bread and Bakery WG). TWGs may also support the FSC with the development of training materials, in areas with identified capacity gaps.
TWGs are most commonly led by designated organisations with the technical expertise – with the FSC Coordinator playing an active role – and are composed of relevant technical experts from the FSC partners. Working groups may request backstopping from technical working groups on global level (see 2.6.8).
What is the role of the FSC Coordinator: The Coordinator generally should steer the creation of TWGs. The coordination team provides the secretariat support to the TWGs and ensures minutes, contact lists etc. are maintained. In coordination with the chair (if different to the Coordinator – both is common at country level), the Coordinator may support with drafting of TORs, the arrangement of meetings, agendas and necessary follow up with technical staff and dissemination of produced materials etc. The Coordinator should also ensure the FSC SAG is involved as and when required to review and endorse TWG guidance notes.
The Coordinator or chair should ensure relevant updates on TWG discussions or TWG recommendations are reported in regular FSC meetings.
Depending on the area of focus of the TWG (e.g. agriculture, cash, nutrition, assessments, programme design), the Coordinator (and the TWGs) can request support and backstopping from the global TWGs (see 2.6.8).
Importance of Local Members: National NGOs should be encouraged to participate in TWGs and, if needed, be offered orientation to enable them to fulfil those roles.
See examples of TWG TORs below:
- Emergency Agricultural Technical Working Group (ATG) Somalia is here.
- The Livelihoods Technical Working Group of the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) Yemen (the overall TOR for the FSAC here provides a good example of how to integrate, for example, a TWG TOR into the overall cluster TOR).
- From Palestine, see examples for the Cash Programming WG here, the Crop Production WG here, and the Livestock WG here.