Shelter/NFI Cluster Coordinator, Baghdad, Iraq
Closing Date: Tuesday, 11 February 2014
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Country: IraqClosing date: 11 Feb 2014 Background
Fighting erupted in the Ramadi area on December 30, when security forces cleared a year-old Sunni Arab protest camp. The violence then spread to another city of the western province, Fallujah, as fighters seized the centre of the city and parts of Ramadi after security forces withdrew. Fighting escalated in the mostly-desert province after security forces launched an offensive against fighters, including those affiliated with the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
More than 140,000 people have fled their homes in the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi heading to other districts west of Anbar province. As of 30 January, the number of families displaced following the armed conflict in Anbar reached 37,283 families (from the beginning of this month), a week ago this figure was 28,000 families. Out of all displaced, 3,575 families were registered by the Ministry of Displacement and Migration in Erbil Governorate and 410 families registered by Assayish in Suleymaniyah.
The Shelter/NFI Cluster in Iraq
Given the emergency situation the Humanitarian Country Team decided to structure the response using a similar coordination mechanism as the clusters. Although clusters have not formally been activated yet, it is envisaged that a recommendation will soon be sent to the Emergency Relief Coordinator. Given the shelter needs, it is expected that there will be a recommendation to activate the Shelter/NFI Cluster with UNHCR as the lead agency. Other clusters that might be activated are the Protection, Food, Health, Education, and Logistics.
Main duties and responsibilities
The Shelter/NFI Cluster Coordinator (hereinafter referred to as 'the Coordinator') will work under direct supervision of the UNHCR Country Representative in Iraq or as designated by him/her. The Representative represents UNHCR as the cluster lead in the Humanitarian Country Team. The Coordinator will also keep very close contact with the Shelter and Settlement Section in Geneva, which leads the cluster at the global level.
The main objective of the Coordinator is to ensure that the cluster fulfils its core functions :
- Supporting service delivery Provide a platform to ensure that service delivery is driven by agreed strategic priorities. Develop mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery.
- Informing strategic decision-making Needs assessment and response gap analysis (across sectors and within the sector). Analysis to identify and address gaps, obstacles, duplication, and cross-cutting issues including age, gender, environment and HIV/AIDs. Prioritization, grounded in response analysis.
- Planning and strategy development Develop sectorial plans, objectives and indicators. Apply and adhere to existing standards and guidelines. Clarify funding requirements, prioritization and cluster contributions for overall humanitarian funding considerations (CAP, CERF, and Emergency Response Fund/Common Humanitarian Fund).
- Advocacy Identify and undertake advocacy activities on behalf of cluster participants and the affected population.
- Monitoring and reporting the implementation of the cluster strategy and results recommending corrective action where necessary.
- Contingency planning/preparedness/capacity building.
Maintain and expand the contact with key sector stakeholders, including national and provincial authorities, national and international organizations, and representatives of affected populations for the cluster, respecting mandates and programme priorities of each of the stakeholders.
Prepare and maintain up-to-date the cluster core documents as defined by the Global Shelter Cluster guidance: Strategy, Technical Standards and Factsheet.
Be the focal point for the Shelter section of the CAP, the mid-year review and the end of year report. Act as focal point for all CAP queries.
Act as focal point for CERF/ ERF/ CHF allocations and advocate for funding from these funds to the shelter sector. If prioritised, manage the process of writing the strategy, assisting partners in preparing their proposals and allocate the funding in a transparent and inclusive way through a Strategic Advisory Group or working groups.
Act as focal point for the Cluster with the donors and, when requested, provide information on the Cluster's strategy, gaps and current resourcing. Advocate to donors for funding to meet the needs of the sector.
Ensure that the website of the shelter cluster is up-to-date and useful for shelter actors at the provincial, national and global level. Support can be provided from the Geneva Shelter and Settlement Section in this aspect.
Promote and adopt standardized methods, tools and formats for common use in shelter needs assessments by ensuring predictable actions within the framework of an agreed common shelter strategy. These methods, tools and formats will, when possible, be in line with those promoted by the Global Shelter Cluster in their partnership with the REACH initiative.
Ensure an appropriate distribution of responsibilities amongst cluster partners by ensuring their commitments in responding to needs and filling gaps with clearly defined focal points for specific issues where necessary.
Chair the Shelter Cluster coordination meetings in Baghdad. Ensure that the meetings are effective and action-oriented with smaller working groups or a Strategic Advisory Group. Ensure the same at sub-national level. Ensure utilization of participatory and community based approaches in the planning and implementation of projects in order to ensure that humanitarian responses build on local capacities.
Ensure effective links with other clusters; represent the cluster in inter-cluster coordination mechanisms; and ensure that the cluster is adequately represented in meetings of the Humanitarian Country Team and other relevant meetings.
Ensure the integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues in sectorial needs assessment, analysis, planning, monitoring and response (e.g. age, gender, environment, HIV/AIDS, and diversity).
Ensure that cluster partners are aware of relevant policy guidelines, technical standards and relevant commitments that the Iraqi authorities have undertaken; promote adherence to agreed standards and best practice by all cluster partners, taking into consideration the need for local adaptation; request guidance from the Global Shelter Cluster where necessary. Ensure exchange of good practices and lessons learnt amongst cluster partners by organizing presentations, joint visits, sharing documents and other activities. These include promoting common beneficiary selection criteria and mechanisms.
Develop an information management strategy for the effective integration and sharing of planning and reporting data within the cluster, as well as with OCHA and other clusters.
Coordinate NFI-related issues within the cluster and with other clusters as relevant.
Ensure common monitoring mechanisms are in place to review impact of the cluster and progress against implementation plans by ensuring partners' active contribution to and involvement in joint monitoring activities
Use the Coordination Performance Monitoring System periodically and at least every 6 months in order to assess how the cluster is achieving its objectives.
Activate global shelter cluster responsibilities at the national level and coordinate the reports on national interventions.
Maintain a communication channel with the Global Shelter Cluster through the UNHCR Shelter and Settlement Section in Geneva
QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED
Academic: Advanced University Degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering or related technical field
Experience and skills:
At least ten years relevant experience in different international organizations (e.g. UN agencies, INGOs, IOs, Donors, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement). Pervious work experience in Iraq and the region would be an advantage. Excellent leadership, coordination and information management skills. Excellent knowledge of the Humanitarian reform process and the role of the UN System, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, and the NGO humanitarian community in the Shelter Cluster. Extensive knowledge of current humanitarian issues. Good knowledge of shelter-related technical guidelines and standards, including Sphere. Demonstrated empathy and experience in understanding the position and needs of national partners, as well as building their capacity.
Capacity to travel to field locations throughout the affected areas and liaise with local authorities. Good skills in using Microsoft Office software and other commonly used software. Core Competencies:
Leadership and coordination Empowering and building trust Negotiation and conflict resolution Strategic planning and vision, including development of shelter strategic frameworks with special focus to cultural and social aspects, gender related issues and environmental considerations Planning and organization Judgment and decision making Analytical thinking Innovation and creativity Providing technical support and advice Management of resources and teams Coaching and developing staff including UNHCR and other stakeholders Managing performance, monitoring and evaluating Mobilizing external support Political awareness
Languages: Fluency in English is essential; working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
DESIRABLE
Training on Cluster Coordination (Shelter Cluster Coordination training or Coordination and Leadership training). Applied knowledge in UNHCR programme management, project formulation, its programme cycles and reporting standards. Previous exposure to cluster approach, preferably both at the global policy level and with a field implementation approach. Expertise in planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting on humanitarian operations. Proficiency in the languages spoken in the region.
Duration 6 months initial appointment with possibility of extension to 12 months.
How to apply: Please send your CV and cover letter by e-mail to HQSL00@unhcr.org (please note this address has two zeroes not two o's). Applications must be received no later than 11 of February 2014. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted
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