STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE

The Country Directors’ Group (CDG) is composed of all Forum members and is a consensus-based decision-making body. Member INGOs are represented by their Country Directors, Country Representatives, Chief of Mission, or most senior staff authorized to make decisions on behalf of their organizations, all members having an equal voice in decision-making. The Country Director Group advises the Steering Committee and Secretariat on issues and priorities; this group elects the Steering Committee and is responsible for holding it accountable.

The Forum is overseen by a Steering Committee (SC) consisting of five members, all of whom are Country Directors (or equivalent) representing member organizations. The primary function of the SC is to provide leadership and guidance to the Forum, as well as support its Secretariat. The SC monitors the activities of the Forum, shares relevant information, and helps as needed. In situations where the Country Directors Group cannot reach a consensus, the SC assumes the responsibility of making decisions that prioritize the best interests of the Forum and its members.

The Forum Secretariat plays a crucial role in supporting the achievement of the Forum’s purpose, vision, and core functions. It serves as a strategic and operational support unit, helping in coordination, advocacy, and other related activities. The Secretariat utilizes its expertise and resources to optimize opportunities and ensure the effective utilization of resources. By doing so, it aims to enhance the Forum’s impact on humanitarian policy and practice.

Currently, the Forum secretariat is composed of 4 members: a director, an advocacy advisor, a Localization Coordinator, and sr. Administrative and Information Management Officer.

• The LIF Director provides core support in managing the Forum initiatives and activities. The Director manages the staff and all operational and day-to-day activities of the Secretariat.
• The LIF Advocacy Advisor leads the advocacy efforts on protection, access, funding modalities, and other topics members deem necessary. The advocacy advisor chairs and represents the LIF Advocacy Working Group.
• The LIF Localization Coordinator leads the localization efforts through the pilot of LIF’s localization initiative and overseeing all localization efforts. The localization coordinator chairs and represents the LIF in the CSO Coordination Group.
• The LIF Senior Administrative and Information Management Officer leads all aspects of data information management and analysis and provides administrative support. They also co-chair the Finance, Administrative, and Human Resources Working Group.

Currently, the Forum chairs three active working groups:

• The Advocacy Working Group (Advocacy WG), chaired by the Advocacy advisor and a dedicated co-chair from the forum members. The Advocacy WG provides the platform to member INGOs to identify, coordinate, and execute opportunities for joint advocacy in the Libya response, while also linking to international platforms to amplify key issues as appropriate. The Advocacy WG also focuses on updating the LIF advocacy strategy.
• The Finance, Administrative, and Human Resources Working Group (FAHRWG), co-chaired by two Forum members’ admin or finance coordinators, on a voluntary basis. This working group provides a platform for sharing information and fostering synergies between the admin and finance managers.
• The CSO Coordination Group, led by the LIF Localization Coordinator, serves as a platform for international actors such as INGOs, UN Agencies, and IGOs to collaborate and exchange information. The group’s main objectives are to identify and seize opportunities, share best practices, and enhance the capacity development of local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) while fostering their engagement with the international community. The overall goal is to promote collaborative learning and strengthen the relationship between local CSOs and international actors.