The International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) is a platform for increased collaboration and coordination between NGOs and other humanitarian actors, which is crucial to improving the lives of communities affected by humanitarian crises. The vision of ICVA is a world in which crises-affected populations are effectively protected, assisted, and enabled to rebuild their lives and livelihoods with dignity. ICVA is a global network of non-governmental organisations whose mission is to make humanitarian action more principled and effective by working collectively and independently to influence policy and practice. Established in 1962 by a small coalition of refugee and migration focused non-governmental organisations (NGOs), ICVA has grown into a diverse network of NGOs operating at global, regional, national and local levels. ICVA advocates for principled humanitarian action, enhanced recognition by governments and international organisations of the vital role of NGOs, and high quality partnerships among humanitarian stakeholders.  ICVA promotes a rights- and needs-based approach.  ICVA maintains its historical focus on forced displacement while at the same time addressing fundamental and emerging elements of concern to NGOs related to all crisis-affected populations.