The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) is the most senior inter-agency leadership body of an international humanitarian response in a country. A well-functioning HCT plays a pivotal role in ensuring the humanitarian response is effective and principled. This document, aimed at NGO Country Directors, clarifies the role and responsibilities of the HCT and its members, and how NGOs can best engage with and influence the HCT process.

Note: to understand the structure itself – refer to the companion paper: “Understanding and influencing the IASC System at Country-Level".

Based on ICVA’s experience supporting NGO HCT participation in more than 30 countries, excerpts of the standard HCT Terms of Reference have been selected and commented, with the aim to:

Readers are strongly encouraged to read the full HCT Terms of Reference document for themselves. 1 The views in the commentary are ICVA’s and should not be seen as official IASC positions.