Charting the way forward: HPC 2026

Within this new landscape, the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) 2026, guided by the HPC Steering Group, charts a way forward for humanitarian planning and resource mobilization amid unprecedented uncertainty. Following the dramatic contraction of humanitarian funding in 2025, the HPC process is being significantly lightened to focus on its core strategic value: delivering principled, inclusive, and accountable action. Charting the way forward in a new reality (the HPC 2026 Discussion Paper), calls for a simplified, more coherent process built around four key elements: needs analysis, response planning, financial tracking, and response monitoring. Each of these components is firmly grounded in community priorities and protection principles.

The role of the Health Cluster

Within the Humanitarian Programme Cycle, the Health Cluster plays a key role in coordinating the health response. It ensures that health needs are accurately assessed, prioritized, and addressed through coordinated interventions. Working closely with national health authorities, other clusters, and humanitarian partners, the Health Cluster develops and implements strategies that protect and improve the health of crisis-affected populations.

It also monitors the health situation, reports on progress, and adapts strategies as needed. By guiding the use of health data and supporting the collection and analysis of health indicators, the Health Cluster ensures that health interventions are evidence-based and aligned with the overall humanitarian response plan.

Humanitarian response plans (HRPs) are required for any humanitarian crisis requiring the support of more than one agency and are prepared by humanitarian country teams (HCTs) based on a humanitarian needs overview. The most recent in-depth guidance and templates are available below.