North Caucasus Theme Group

Background: The North Caucasus Theme Group (NC TG) was established in November 2007 as a successor to the NC Humanitarian Coordination Group. Comprising all UN agencies active in the NC, it constitutes the joint policy and strategic decision-making body for UN action in the region. In view of the continuing shift from humanitarian towards recovery and development assistance in the North Caucasus, increased alignment of UN work with national and local development plans is becoming a key priority of the coordination agenda. The NC TG is to ensure that the objectives and priorities of the UN support national strategies and plans.

Objectives: The NC TG covers the full spectrum of humanitarian, recovery, and development activities and while increasingly focusing on building the capacities of the local authorities, will maintain attention to finding durable solutions for the most vulnerable, including IDPs, and to addressing remaining humanitarian needs. It is to develop shared approaches for promoting recovery and define phase-out strategies for the achievement of UN priorities in the North Caucasus, which have been determined in consultation with the Government. It is to promote a common understanding of the situation and needs in the region based on the analysis of the best available information and data and will provide support to operations in the region, as required. It is to ensure effective inter-agency and inter-sectoral coordination, coordinate with the authorities, and ensure dialogue and coordination with main NC stakeholders through regular meetings of the North Caucasus Forum.

Membership:The NC TG consists of all UN agencies active in the North Caucasus – namely FAO, UNDP, UNDSS, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP and WHO – with SDC, ICRC1, and NGO Consortium as standing invitees. At North Caucasus level, membership shall be extended to Government counterparts at republican and Federal Okrug level.


1 While not being formally member of the NC TG, neither accountable to it, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is closely associated as standing invitee to the work of the NC TG. It supports the coordination with the UN and other agencies/NGOs involved to the extent necessary to achieve efficient operational complementarity and a strengthened response for people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence.


Chair: The responsibility of chairing the NC TG is to be shared by all agencies with offices in the NC on a rotation basis. Until 30 June 2008 UNHCR assumes this responsibility.

Meetings: The NC TG meets in Moscow (or in the field when warranted) at least once a month to bring forward the proposed agenda. The meetings are convened by the TG chair. Colleagues from the field may be invited to attend Moscow-level meetings.

Workplan: The NC TG develops an annual workplan, which provides a full picture of activities to be carried out by the group, the topics to be addressed, the resources needed, the timeframe and deadlines.

Accountability: The NC TG is accountable to the UN Resident Coordinator, who will in turn ensure coordination with the Government at the federal level. The NC TG will provide a periodic activity report to the RC.

The NC TG Secretariat prepares Information Bulletins which can be downloaded here:

September 2007 Infobulletin
October 2007 Infobulletin
November-December 2007 Infobulletin
Note: Beginning 2008, Information Bulletins will be issued on a quarterly basis.

You can also download previous years’ Transitional Workplans and Consolidated Appeals:

Update to 2007 Inter-Agency Transitional Workplan for the North Caucasus
2007 Inter-Agency Transitional Workplan for the North Caucasus
2006 Inter-Agency Transitional Workplan for the North Caucasus
2005 Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP)
2004 CAP
2003 CAP
2002 CAP
2001 CAP

For additional information please contact Tatiana Khabarova (khabarova@un.org) or Aizan Saratova (saratova@un.org).