Although recognised as a good practice, the co-coordination of field protection clusters by NGOs remains a difficult undertaking whose results have been seldomly evaluated. Using a collaboration theory as a lens and drawing on interviews with protection cluster co-coordinators, this research paper assesses the impact of cluster co-coordination and examines the necessary conditions for more successful collaboration.
The study demonstrates that cluster co-coordination does achieve positive outcomes: it strengthens the cluster, enhances NGO participation and has positive spillovers for co-coordinating NGOs. However, a lack of transparency and accountability from the cluster lead agency's side, as well as bad faith behaviours and power abuses, are identified as major obstacles to the achievement of strategic outcomes. In addition, high turnover rates of co-coordinators lead to limited learning from experience and prevent progress in better leveraging co-coordination positions. The research shows that it is of utmost importance that the co-coordinators are positioned as useful, credible and powerful counterparts to foster an enabling collaborative environment where better outcomes can be achieved.
This research paper was originally submitted by Elise Rech as part of her Joint Master’s Degree Programme in International Humanitarian Action in July 2024 at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. The research was carried out in parallel with the author’s work as a Protection from Violence Adviser with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The views expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author.
