ECW’s governance has three levels: the High-Level Steering Group (HLSG), the Executive Committee (ExCom) and the ECW Director.
High-Level Steering Group
The High-Level Steering Group (HLSG) is ECW’s highest governing body, composed of senior leaders from donor governments, UN agencies, the private sector, civil society and crisis-affected countries. It sets the Fund’s strategic direction, approves key policies and priorities, and mobilizes high-level political and financial support. Members serve in a non-compensated capacity and are selected based on their leadership, influence, and institutional affiliation. Meeting up to twice a year, the HLSG steers decisions of critical strategic importance to ECW’s mission and also validates recommendations from the Executive Committee.
Chair: Sigrid Kaag of The Netherlands
Access High-Level Steering Group Meeting Documents
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee (ExCom) serves as ECW’s operational decision-making body, supporting the HLSG in the strategic governance of the Fund. It oversees implementation by approving budgets, grants, workplans and key policies. Composed of senior representatives from donor governments, crisis-affected countries, the private sector, civil society, UN agencies and key partners, ExCom ensures accountability, coherence and risk management. Meeting at least three times annually, it refers matters of strategic importance to the HLSG and guides the Secretariat’s programmatic and operational direction. Members, appointed by their constituencies/institutions, serve in a non-compensated capacity.
Co-Chair: Dr. Heike Kuhn, Head of the Education Division, BMZ, Germany
Co-Chair: Dominik Stillhart, Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid, Deputy Director General of Swiss Development Cooperation, Ambassador, Switzerland
Terms of Reference
Access Executive Committee Meeting Documents
ECW Director
The Director has broad responsibility, under the authority of the HLSG and its Chair, to provide strategic leadership to ECW and manage the ECW Secretariat. The Director’s functions include strategy and policy development and implementation, advocacy, partnership building and development, resource mobilization, and management of and oversight over ECW investments and the work of the ECW Secretariat.
Regulatory Framework
ECW is hosted by UNICEF and is regulated by the Standard Contribution Agreement (SCA). The SCA has been operationalised through the ECW Operational Manual and its appendices.
The Operational Manual outlines policies and procedures related to the operations of ECW as the global fund dedicated to education in emergencies and protracted crises. It is informed by established standards and principles for crisis-sensitive programming in humanitarian contexts and aligned with ECW’s Strategic Plan. The approach adopted strikes a balance between predictability and the need for flexibility that working in crisis-settings requires.
