Clusters are intended to be temporary coordination structures, which may be activated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) when government capacity to coordinate a humanitarian response is limited or constrained. IASC policy sets out the formal criteria for cluster activation and deactivation, and outlines requirements and principles for cluster transition leading to deactivation. Yet in some contexts, transitions and deactivation processes remain inconsistently planned or executed, with insufficient time and emphasis on the actions needed to ensure coordination is sustainably led by local and national actors within and beyond the activated cluster system.

As humanitarian contexts evolve, effective transition and deactivation of clusters are essential to sustaining gains, strengthening national systems, and enabling locally led coordination models. This session will bring together global, regional, and country coordination teams to unpack practical actions, emerging practices, and context-specific lessons that support locally led coordination during cluster transition and deactivation processes. Drawing from recent experiences in both protracted and sudden-onset emergencies, the session will explore:

1. What “responsible transition and deactivation” looks like through a localisation lens
2. Practical tools and guides for locally led transitioning and deactivation
3. Examples of effective engagement with government entities, national NGOs, and local civil society during transition and
   deactivation processes
4. Success factors and pitfalls drawn from country case studies