One of the ways InterAction aids and supports the work of its member organizations is by convening a wide variety of issue-based working groups where members gather to discuss and share vital information, receive training and produce joint materials or products. Typically, these groups are developed according to member interest in an issue or topic around which they feel their collective voices will clarify or strengthen responses.
InterAction's current roster of working groups is listed below. For more information on a specific working group, click the staff contact's name to send an email inquiry.
To request membership in any working group you must register using the recognized email address of a member organization, complete the relevant contact information and check the relevant box(es) at the bottom of this page before clicking the "Request Membership" button.
| Group | Description | Staff Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan Reconstruction Working Group |
Meets once a month to discuss the current humanitarian situation, the role of NGOs and other actors in Afghanistan, and advocacy efforts. |
Abby Bruell |
| Aid Effectiveness |
The group strives to advance thinking on, engage with and influence the aid and development effectiveness agendas internationally and nationally. |
Danielle Heiberg |
| Civil-Military Relations Working Group |
Meets regularly with DOD, State Department and USAID officials to discuss civil military issues. |
Tracy O'Heir |
| Climate Change |
The Climate Change Working Group supports US NGOs in helping vulnerable developing countries respond to the enormous challenge of climate change. |
Danielle Heiberg |
| Disability Working Group |
The Disability Working Group promotes inclusion of people with disabilities as a human rights issue and a critical component of effective development |
Danielle Heiberg |
| Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group |
Meets monthly with members to discuss field case studies, latest DRR research, international developments, and advocacy strategy. |
Abby Bruell |
| DRC Working Group |
Meets once a month and focuses on raising awareness of the crisis in DRC and increasing USG assistance. |
Lucy de los Reyes |
| Evaluation and Program Effectiveness Working Group (EPEWG) |
The EPEWG aims to build organizations' capacity to evaluate impact, demonstrate effectiveness, & contribute to global aid effectiveness initiatives. |
Laia Grino |
| Food Security & Agriculture Working Group |
This group provides NGOs with a forum to support relevant policy reform, exchange best & innovative practices, & discuss areas of concern |
Danielle Heiberg |
| GIS Working Group | A forum for discussion and collaborative action around GIS and spatial data management. | Danielle Heiberg |
| Gender Integration Working Group |
Provides a forum for members to share strategies and advance gender integration in the policy and practice of InterAction and their own organization. |
Danielle Heiberg |
| Gendering of Foreign Assistance Reform Task Force (GOFAR) |
GOFAR integrates a gender agenda into InterAction’s overall Foreign Assistance Reform advocacy and actions. |
Danielle Heiberg |
| Gifts-in-Kind Working Group |
Gfits-in-Kind Standards and Best Practices |
Taina Alexander |
| Haiti Working Group |
Meets once a month to discuss the current humanitarian situation in Haiti, recovery and reconstruction efforts, the role of NGOs and coordination with |
Lucy de los Reyes |
| Health in Crises Working Group |
The Health in Crisis working group focuses on advocacy, workshops and engaging with other actors in the humanitarian health community. |
Elizabeth Bellardo |
| Horn of Africa Working Group |
Meets every other month to discuss the current humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa focusing on Ethiopia and Somalia, through a regional persp |
Lucy de los Reyes |
| Humanitarian Policy and Partnerships Working Group |
A Forum for discussion and collaborative action around changing dynamics within the humanitarian community |
Elizabeth Bellardo |
| ICCC |
InterAction CTO, CIO Council |
Allen Abtahi |
| Integrating Health in Relief and Development |
Deals specifically with the effective delivery of health services and the strengthening of health systems within the relief and development contexts. |
Danielle Heiberg |
| LRA Working Group |
Meets monthly to focus on mobilizing protection and assistance for IDPs, and continued support for the peace process. |
Lucy de los Reyes |
| Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) |
The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Working Group meets monthly to discuss and plan advocacy strategies for issues pertaining to the MCC |
Ken Forsberg |
| Outreach and Communications Working Group |
A skills-building and information sharing forum for member staff with grassroots advocacy, communications, and outreach responsibilities. |
Filmona Hailemichael |
| Pakistan Working Group |
Meets monthly to share information and to raise awareness about the current humanitarian situation in the country. |
Abby Bruell |
| Pandemic Preparedness Working Group |
The Pandemic Preparedness Working Group meets to address national and international planning for NGOs to respond to a pandemic influenza |
Elizabeth Bellardo |
| Public Policy Committee |
InterAction's General Public Policy Working Group |
Ken Forsberg |
| Shelter and Settlements Working Group | The shelter and settlements working group meets once a month to improve the collaboration, capacity, practices and programmatic impacts of shelter and settlements organizations and the program impacts. | Mohamed Hilmi |
| Security Advisory Group |
The Security Advisory Group advances the strategic development of InterAction member organization's safety and security management |
Elizabeth Detwiler |
| Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Sub-Working Group |
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Sub-Working Group |
Margot Bokanga |
| Sudan/Chad Working Group |
Meets twice monthly to discuss programming needs in Sudan and Chad, access and security issues, the CPA, and resolution of the violence in Darfur. |
Lucy de los Reyes |
| Task Force on Foreign Assistance Reform (TF) |
A forum for discussing and planning advocacy strategies on foreign aid reform |
Filmona Hailemichael |
| Urban Poverty - Urban Issues | InterAction recognizes that the complexity and singularity of each urban setting. | Suzanne Kindervatter |
|
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Working Group |
The WASH Working Group meets monthly to discuss comprehensive integration of WASH into U.S. and multilateral development programs. | Stephanie Cappa |
| West Bank/Gaza Working Group |
The West Bank/Gaza Working Group meets monthly to discuss humanitarian access issues, coordinate Hill visits, and share operational issues |
Lucy de los Reyes |
