Partners

Making a difference in ICT emergency response

Humanitarian, private sector and government organisations that have an interest in humanitarian assistance, and can commit to making a positive contribution to technology in emergency response, can join the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) global partner network.

ETC partnership is open to all Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) associated organisations.

Non-IASC members can apply to the global partnership network and if applicable, discuss the process for becoming an ETC partner. To qualify as an ETC partner, organisations must fulfill the following criteria:

Demonstrate an interest in humanitarian assistance
Support the achievement of the mandate of the ETC
Actively engage in or contribute to ETC activities at the global and local levels.

The new Partnership Model

In response to the evolving landscape, the ETC has introduced last year the new ETC2025 partnership model, transforming its approach to engage with partners and managing those relationships moving forward.

In contrast to the previous ETC2020 partnership model, which was tied to the ETC2020 strategy and its associated goals, the revamped ETC2025 strategy, endorsed in 2021, emphasizes largely on the significance of strategic partnerships. This raised the need to revise the partnership model, as the previous one inadvertently restricted the participation of organizations in service delivery, restricting the entry of new ideas and approaches.

While the ETC principles for partners, rooted in humanitarian ideals and strict non-commercialism, remain integral in the new model, it endeavors to overcome the limitations of its predecessor, seeking to attract partners who not only share a commitment to humanitarian assistance but actively contribute to ETC activities at both global and local levels.

The new partnership model entails three distinctive levels of engagement, showcasing the diverse ways organizations can contribute to and benefit from the collaborative ecosystem:

Global Members: These are organizations deeply committed to the ETC's mission, actively bringing its mandate forward and actively shaping its core activities. Their high level of engagement signifies a pivotal role in steering the overarching goals of the ETC.
Global Partner Network: This level constitutes a dynamic network of organizations operating at a global scale. Their primary focus is on the exchange of valuable information, sharing knowledge, and pooling resources. This collaborative network facilitates a synergistic approach to addressing challenges and opportunities on a global scale.
Local Partners: Organizations at the local level play a crucial role in ensuring that the ETC remains attuned to contextual needs. Engaged in specific local initiatives and implementations, these partners provide valuable insights and contribute to the ETC's effectiveness in addressing regional challenges.

The model was finalized by the global ETC and gained endorsement from the SAG (Strategic Advisory Group) towards the end of the last year, after which it was disseminated to partners for their review and comments.

The new model aims to provide a more standardized approach to managing partnerships, offering clarity on expectations based on its distinct engagement levels. It plays a key role in realizing the overarching goals and vision, serving as a catalyst in moving the ETC2025 strategy forward and fulfilling the ETCs mandate. This shift represents a significant milestone, laying the groundwork for a more collaborative and strategic partnership framework, opening the ETC membership up to a larger network of organizations at the local and the global level.

A streamlined application process has been established to facilitate integration into the ETC Global Partner Network.

The implementation of the new model starts in January 2024 with the following milestones planned:

*please note that this is a tentative timeline, that will be revised

ETC Strategic Advisory Group

The ETC strives to involve a diverse and representative group of humanitarian actors, governments, and the private sector in its partnerships. Considering the diversity of partners in the ETC, a Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) is being established to assist the global ETC unit in its support function, and facilitate timely and effective decision making outside the wider cluster coordination meetings and annual ETC plenary events.

Read the full SAG terms of reference here.

Become a partner

Global Members

CDAC Network

CDAC Network is the global alliance of organisations – including UN agencies, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, local and international NGOs, media development and specialist communications entities – working to ensure people can access safe, trustworthy information and communicate during crises.

Cisco

Cisco Crisis Response engages with the ETC to help in areas of ICT/networking expertise and training, cybersecurity, global resource capacity and mobilization of people and connectivity solutions in emergencies.

Ericsson Response

Ericsson Response regularly deploys Ericsson personnel and telecommunications equipment, including its Wireless LAN in Disaster and Emergency Response (WIDER) technology, to support ETC operations in times of disaster.

Government of Luxembourg, Ministry for Development Cooperation & Humanitarian Affairs

In addition to deploying personnel and the emergency.lu connectivity solution to support ETC operations, the Government of Luxembourg also contributes to ETC training development and delivery, as well as Services for Communities and preparedness initiatives.

GSM Association (GSMA)

The GSMA works with the ETC on preparedness and supports the Cluster’s emergency response activities by providing data on local mobile networks, as well as crucial links to local mobile network providers (MNOs).

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

IOM works closely with the ETC in the field to support the provision of services to communities and humanitarians in operational hubs.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

ITU and the ETC collaborate in the area of preparedness, delivering simulation exercises and developing guidelines for the development of national emergency telecommunication plans in high-risk countries.

Internews

Internews has been instrumental to the development and implementation of the ETC2020 strategy thanks to their expertise and experience about community engagement and communication with communities (CwC).

NetHope

NetHope and its network of 50+ NGOs regularly collaborate with the ETC in the field to provide ICT and technology services to humanitarians and affected populations.

Plan International

The sharing of information is one of the key added values of the partnership between Plan International and the ETC.

REACH

REACH supports the ETC through the development of needs assessment tools and monitoring indicators, facilitating evidence-based humanitarian coordination across the Humanitarian Program Cycle.

Save the Children

Save the Children actively participates in several ETC working groups and engages locally with the ETC in the field.

Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)

MSB deploys IT and telecoms experts to set up and deliver shared communications services in emergency situations.

U.S. Department of State

The U.S. Department of State supports the ETC’s preparedness activities and brings key stakeholders together, linking NGOs and local government officials in the wake of emergencies.

UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)

UNICEF provides thought leadership to the ETC and supports ETC operations in the field, leveraging their extensive field presence.

UN Department of Safety & Security (UNDSS)

UNDSS and the ETC work together in the field, especially in high-risk environments, setting up and running security telecommunications networks, including communication centers.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The ETC and UNHCR-led Refugee Emergency Telecommunications Sector (RETS) collaborate at global and field levels to leverage synergies and ensure effective response efforts.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

OCHA ensures effective coordination of humanitarian action in the field and supports the extension of ETC services when required.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

UNDP supports ETC operations in the field, ensuring that longer-term, post-emergency development objectives are also considered.

World Food Programme (WFP)

As the lead agency of the ETC, WFP hosts the Global ETC team responsible for the overall coordination of the Cluster’s activities. WFP also provides expertise and equipment to support the coordination and delivery of ETC services in the field.

Global Partner Network

Action contre la Faim (ACF)

An ETC partner since 2016, ACF commits to work with the Cluster to provide vital communications services in humanitarian disasters.

First Response Radio

FRR trains and establishes local teams in disaster prone countries, to respond within 72 hours to a disaster in their local area or country. Once equipped and trained, they can set up a radio station within an hour of arriving even in areas with no infrastructure remaining. They provide critical information to the affected community, and give the affected community a local voice.

Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)

FAO has been a long-standing partner of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster.

GOAL

GOAL’s purpose is to save lives and empower communities to develop resilience and greater control over their lives and livelihoods. GOAL aims to increase the resilient wellbeing of the world’s poorest people and focuses on those who are excluded or marginalised, particularly those who are vulnerable due to socio-economic status, gender or age.

GSD

GSD works to assist national government partners throughout the Caribbean and Central America to strengthen preparedness and resilience prior to disasters; and to establish emergency communications within emergency operations for first responders and affected communities when disasters strike. We enable local efforts, including national disaster management agencies

iMMAP Inc

iMMAP Inc is a worldwide non-profit organization that offers crucial data analysis, mapping, and visualization tools to facilitate decision-making and coordination efforts in humanitarian crisis. As an ETC partner since February 2023, they leverage their expertise in information management to support the ETC in enhancing the impact and effectiveness of emergency responses.

IRC

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. We deliver lasting impact by providing health care, helping children learn, and empowering individuals and communities to become self-reliant, always with a focus on the unique needs of women and girls. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, we now work in over 40 countries as well as communities throughout Europe and the Americas.

Jangala

Jangala is a UK-based technology charity dedicated to creating open-source, scalable solutions that bring essential internet connectivity to some of the world’s most excluded and underserved communities. Formally established in 2018, Jangala has connected 100,000 people across 37 countries through its Big Box and Get Box solutions.

MapAction

MapAction is a UK-based NGO that provides geospatial services across the disaster management cycle, from anticipatory action and risk modeling to emergency response operations. MapAction also provides geospatial capacity building and consulting to NGOs, governments, and UN agencies.

Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT)

OICT provides crucial connectivity services to UN peacebuilding operations and collaborates closely with the ETC in the field.

Ookla

Ookla supports ETC’s humanitarian response efforts by providing network connectivity insights and data-driven expertise that helps ETC operations better measure the impact of and recovery from disasters.

Global Standing Invitee (special status)

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

ICRC has been engaged with the ETC for a long time and collaborated in several ETC working groups and initiatives

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

IFRC is a long-standing partner of the ETC at a global level.