Northwest Syria NGO Forum

Background

The NGO Forum for NGOs operating in northern Syria was founded in 2012 as an independent, voluntary coordinating body composed of non-governmental and non-profit organizations (NGOs) actively engaged in leading cross border humanitarian responses to the Syria crisis (in and from Turkey). The NGO Forum is the only mixed NGO coordination platform of Syrian and international NGOs operating cross border with members contributing to over 50% of operations (direct and indirect) inside Syria. NGO Forum members cover a wide geographical area, work across multiple lines of control including members that operates in north west Syria out from Jordan, and support vulnerable individuals, families and communities in Syria. The NGO Forum supports the established thematic and sectoral working groups/clusters to address inter-agency assessment gaps, and members cover all humanitarian sectors (education, health, food security, protection, shelter, WASH, basic assistance, livelihoods, social stability, and economic recovery). NGO Forum in NW Syria is funded by ECHO and FCDO through GOAL, Hand in Hand and CARE, the hosts fund specific roles and activities based on the grants agreement they have with the donors, that is being set up by the NGO Forum Steering Committee and split to fit the available funding.

Purpose

The NGO Forum's purpose is to coordinate, represent and advocate on behalf of its members – Syrian and international NGOs operating cross-border in northern Syria.

Operating Principles

The NGO Forum members are guided by the Joint Operating Principles: “Engagement with Parties to the Conflict to deliver Humanitarian Assistance in northern Syria” (9 December 2014), namely humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence

Mandate

The NGO Forum’s mandate is to facilitate and contribute to a coordinated, appropriate, accountable and principled response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and to ensure that the perspectives of affected populations and humanitarian operational actors is factored into decision-making at all levels.