Somalia: Senior Shelter Cluster Coordinator

Organisational Context

The drought emergency situation in Somalia is increasingly complex with numerous and ongoing displacement occurring in conjunction with a number of returnees from Kenya and Yemen.. Over 500,000 people have been displaced internally as a result of the drought. UNHCR is the designated Emergency Shelter Cluster (ESC) Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach in Somalia and the position of Cluster Coordinator performs a dedicated coordination, strategy development and advocacy function. The Senior Cluster Coordinator (Shelter) reports directly to the UNHCR Representative who has final accountability for the performance of UNHCR as Cluster Lead Agency. Also the ESC coordinator liaises with the Global Shelter Cluster Coordinator who has global responsibility for the performance of UNHCR as Global Cluster Lead Agency.

The Cluster Coordinator (Shelter) effectuates UNHCR's commitment to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The UNHCR ESC Lead Agency functions, embodied in the role of Cluster Coordinator, are critical in ensuring UNHCR’s leadership within a diverse shelter community. The Cluster Coordinator (Emergency Shelter) is expected to perform UNHCR's lead role in the ESC and to impartially represent the interests of the members of the Emergency Shelter Cluster, including the provision of active support, as applicable, to sub-national clusters which may be coordinated by other Agencies. As a result, the Cluster Coordinator (Shelter) leads an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability and demonstrable leadership, coordination, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, and in which the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential.

The Cluster Coordinator (Shelter) represents the ESC in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms. S/he ensures appropriate cross-sectoral coordination with other related clusters such as WASH, CCCM, Protection (HLP) and others, advocates for shelter in the humanitarian response, leads the mainstreaming of early recovery activities in the Emergency Shelter Cluster, and spearheads the integration of cross-cutting issues into the work of the Emergency Shelter Cluster, especially age, gender, diversity, HIV, environment.

The incumbent works closely with and/or directly supervises a multi-functional ESC Support team, including, but not limited to, the areas of information management, needs assessment, technical support, shelter recovery, reporting and advocacy.

Roles and Responsibility

Strategic Direction and Coordination

• Develop and/or update ESC Strategy in a consultative process with ESC partners including the local government and ensure that the shelter response is driven by this strategy.

• Ensure that the ESC Strategy is integrated into the Humanitarian Country Team’s common humanitarian action plan.

• Provide coordination services, including meetings, in line with the Principles of Partnership, ensuring that cluster coordination is inclusive, consultative and results-oriented.

• Ensure coordination with government counterparts and other relevant authorities.

• Ensure that contingency planning and emergency preparedness measures are updated and developed.

• Update as appropriate the ESC Strategy: ensure proper linkages with disaster risk reduction, relief, and recovery and development efforts. Ensure that appropriate transitional measures are in place for handing over to recovery and development actors.

• Ensure the establishment and maintenance of the cluster structure including the cluster core documents as defined by the Global Shelter Cluster guidance: Strategy, Technical Standards, and Factsheet.

Needs Assessment, Resources Mobilization and Allocation

• Lead, coordinate and conduct within the ESC or at Inter-Cluster level shelter needs assessments, including participatory assessments and infrastructure mapping exercises.

• Ensure that the ESC covers all identified shelter needs of the affected population and not only those relating to the specific mandate of individual members of the Emergency Shelter Cluster.

-Provide transparent strategic direction to development of common funding criteria, resource mobilisation and prioritization within the ESC for inclusion in Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds processes.

-Establish mechanisms for accountable and transparent financial resource allocation within the cluster.

Capacity Development

-Coordinate the delivery of shelter training activities for ESC members, other local partners, and relevant authorities.

-Coordinate initiatives to build the shelter capacity of the national and local government, partners and civil society.

Standard Setting and Implementation

-Ensure that the shelter response is informed by appropriate relevant Technical Standards including among others Sphere, and good practice.

-Ensure appropriate collaboration with shelter response-related clusters of CCCM, Early Recovery, Education, Health, Logistics, Protection and WASH in the work of the Emergency Shelter Cluster.

-Coordinate the integration of cross-cutting issues in the work of the Emergency Shelter Cluster, including age, gender, environment, diversity.

-Through Cluster-wide consultative processes, provide input into the development of global shelter policy and standards led by the Global Shelter Cluster.

Information Management, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

-Ensure that the ESC has a functional information management strategy and mechanism to report and share information within the Emergency Shelter Cluster, with the other clusters, with the government, with the overall humanitarian community including donors, with UNHCR internal mechanisms, and with the Global Shelter Cluster.

-Ensure that the ESC produces analytical shelter reports, including the Factsheet; Promote that information on affected population is dissagregated by sex and age.

-Ensure that the ESC maintains an updated website and produces regular updates on the shelter concerns of the affected population, the response by the shelter actors, the gaps, challenges and recommendations.

-Promote and ensure monitoring and evaluation of the impact of operations carried out by cluster members and the performance of the coordination team.

-Appraise the performance of any directly supervised personnel of the ESC coordination team.

Advocacy and Promotion

-Identify core advocacy concerns for the ESC through a consultative process: develop joint cluster/ inter-cluster initiatives to ensure regular and consistent advocacy.

-Ensure a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related UNHCR and IASC legal standards and policies for the adequate provision of shelter.

-Ensure the Emergency Shelter Cluster’s adherence to international human rights instruments, the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as well as other relevant international and regional instruments; in cooperation with the Humanitarian Country Team.

Qualifications and Professional Experience

REQUIRED

Academic:

Advanced University Degree in Architecture, Engineering or related discipline.

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). Work experience in the region would be an advantage.

· Previous experience in complex humanitarian emergencies.

· 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/NFI Cluster.

· Extensive knowledge of current humanitarian issues.

· Good knowledge of shelter technical guidelines and standards, including SPHERE.

· Good knowledge of cluster roles and responsibilities, methodologies, monitoring and advocacy.

· Demonstrated experience in understanding the position and needs of national partners, as well as building their capacity.

· Capacity to travel to field locations throughout Iraq and liaise with local authorities.

· Good skills in using Microsoft Office software and other commonly used software.

Core Competencies:

· Leadership and coordination

· Capacity to work in a team

· 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

· Sound judgment and decision making skills

· Analytical thinking

· Innovation and creativity

· Providing technical support and advice

· Management (including remote) 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. 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.

Location, Start Date and Duration

Mogadishu, Somalia

ASAP for 6 months with an initial three month probation period.

Please send your CV and P11 with cover letter by e-mail to HQShelter@unhcr.org including the name and location of the position in the title of the e-mail. Applications must be received no later than 04.06.2017. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.