Vacancy at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 30th March

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950, during the aftermath of the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes. We had three years to complete our work and then disband. Today, over 65 years later, our organization is still hard at work, protecting and assisting refugees around the world.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Cluster Coordinator (Shelter/NFI/CCCM)

Job ID: 16616
Location: Maiduguri

Organizational Context

• In response to the Nigerian Crisis, the cluster system was activated in August 2016 to ensure a coordinated response to the emergency humanitarian needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Recent major displacements triggered the declaration of L3-emergency in August 2016 to ensure effective response the emergency needs of IDPs. The total number of IDPs country-wide which has reached 1.8 million persons.
• The incumbent is accountable for the Shelter/NFI/CCCM response to the IDP situation in Nigeria, covering the entire country. As such the position is part of the of the cluster system. Based with UNHCR, the Senior Coordinator will act on behalf of the Shelter/NFI/CCCM cluster, not only on behalf of UNHCR as an agency. S/he must ensure the inclusion of key humanitarian partners within the sector, respecting their mandates and programme priorities.

Functional Statement
Accountability:

• Shelter/NFI& CCCM emergency response operations in Nigeria are well coordinated and effectively implemented in support the Nigerian authorities at national and sub-national level.
• The Shelter/CCCM needs of populations of concern are met through timely, appropriate, and coordinated action by all cluster members.
• Effective coordination mechanisms and tools, including information management, are established and maintained with cluster members, government counterparts and donors, ensuring timely and effective needs assessment, appropriate planning, prioritization, implementation, reporting and evaluation.
• Where appropriate, these mechanisms build up and reinforce existing national coordination mechanisms and build capacity.
• Strategies and activities delivered by the Shelter/CCCM Cluster enjoy political and/or financial support by other clusters, government, donors and other partners through effective prioritization, advocacy and resource mobilization.
• UNHCR performs its Shelter/NFI & CCCM Cluster co-Lead Agency functions in a manner consistent with IASC standards and guidelines governing the Cluster Approach, in particular the IASC Generic Terms of Reference for Cluster Coordinators at the country level.

Responsibility

• Ensure that Shelter/NFI & CCCM responses build on local capacities, context specific strengths and national response capabilities.
• Ensure the CCCM Cluster maps out the operational requirements for a CCCM response; and identify and establish (where necessary) standards and guidelines that facilitate interoperability to ensure that activities are carried out.
• Adapt relevant policies and guidelines and technical standards to context of crisis.
• Ensure that cluster members are aware of relevant policy guidelines and technical standards.
• Ensure that responses are in line with existing policy guidance and technical standards and relevant government, human rights, and legal obligations.
• Ensure adequate monitoring mechanisms are in place to review impact of CCCM activities and progress against implementation plans.
• Ensure adequate reporting and effective information sharing amongst all partners including camp/collective centre managers, other sector leads, disaggregating data by age and gender.
• Map and track who is doing what, where, when.
• Provide maps and matrices showing distribution densities and coverage by item, member and geographic area.
• Promote strategies to build up and strengthen confidence within communal settings and between displaced populations, surrounding and host communities.
• Ensure appropriate links with national and local authorities, State institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors (e.g. peacekeeping forces) and ensure appropriate coordination and information exchange with them.
• Involve all relevant partners in site needs assessment and analysis.
• Identify gaps, assess, verify, and map emerging assistance needs and protection issues conduct regular `gap analyses¿ based on verified needs.
• Develop ¿exit¿/transition strategy for communal settings (collective centres, camps, spontaneous sites, etc.).
• Develop/update agreed response strategies and action plans for the cluster and ensure that these are adequately reflected in overall country strategies.
• Ensure integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues in sectoral needs assessment, analysis, planning, monitoring and response (e.g. age, diversity, environment, gender, HIV/AIDS and human rights); contribute to the development of appropriate strategies to address these issues; ensure gender sensitive programming and promote gender equality ensure that the needs, contributions and capacities of women and girls as well as men and boys are addressed.
• Organize affected population¿s participation in communal setting governance and community mobilization, with particular emphasis on women¿s decision-making role and on persons with specific needs (such as the elderly and disabled).
• Ensure transparent governance of communal settings and effective access to justice for residents that conforms to relevant human rights standards.
• With the assistance of the Humanitarian Coordinator, advocate for the mobilization of resources.
• In close coordination with the sector lead agency at the global level, assist the Humanitarian Coordinator in the establishment of a resource mobilization strategy vis-à-vis donors present in the country.
• Identify core advocacy concerns at the national level and contribute key messages to broader, multi-sectoral advocacy initiatives.
• Represent the interests of the cluster in discussions with the Humanitarian Coordinator on prioritization, resource mobilization and advocacy.
• Ensure appropriate coordination with all humanitarian partners (including national and international NGOs, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, IOM and other international organizations), as well as with national authorities and local structures. Integrate assistance from global level clusters as needed.
• Ensure the establishment/maintenance of appropriate sectoral coordination mechanisms, including working groups at the national and sub-national level.
• Define the nature and extent of overlap and coordination between CCCM and other clusters particularly Shelter, Protection and WASH.

Authority:

• Lead and oversee the coordination and management of Shelter/NFI & CCCM emergency response operations for IDPs at national and sub-national level.
• Approve reporting and information products on Shelter/NFI & CCCM operations.
• Enforce field compliance with Shelter/CCCM policies, standards and procedures.
• Represent the Shelter/NFI & CCCM Cluster in meetings with sectoral and external partners, authorities and other relevant interlocutors.
• Co-chair cluster meetings with the relevant Government counterpart as appropriate.
• Issue reports and make advocacy statements on behalf of the Shelter/NFI & CCCM Cluster.
• Upon consultations with Shelter/NFI & CCCM Cluster members, take final decision over format and frequency of meetings, designation of focal points and the establishment of a strategic advisory group, sub-groups/working groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies for specific issues.
• Initiate measures to ensure that Principles of Partnership are fully respected in managing coordination mechanisms.
• Implement decisions on indicators to measure impact and performance of Shelter/NFI & CCCM Cluster members.
• Negotiate with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and cluster members the prioritization and inclusion of project proposals and common funding criteria for inclusion in inter-agency funding appeals.
• Manage the team deployed or hired in country to coordinate the Shelter/NFI & CCCM Cluster.

Essential Minimum Qualification and Professional Experience Required

• Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master’s) in Law, Political Science, Economics, International Relations, Business Administration, Social Science or related fields plus minimum 8 years of previous work experience in different international organizations (e.g. UN agencies, INGOs, IOs,  Donors, Red Cross Red Crescent). Work experience in the Region would be an advantage.
• Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
• Excellent knowledge of the Humanitarian reform process and the role of the humanitarian community (UN System, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, and NGO), preferably in Camp Coordination and Camp Management.
• Extensive knowledge of current humanitarian issues.
• Good knowledge of Shelter/CCCM and protection technical guidelines and standards.
• Excellent knowledge of English.

Desirable Qualifications and Competencies:

• Training on Cluster Coordination (Shelter Cluster Coordination training or Coordination and Leadership training).
• Camp Management Training.
• UNHCR Coordination Learning Programme (CO-LEAD).
• UNHCR Management Learning Programme.
• UNHCR Tri-Cluster Knowledge and Coordination Skills Training.
• UNHCR Workshop on Emergency Management.
• Applied knowledge in UNHCR mandate, its policies and priorities in relation to IDPs and CCCM.
• Demonstrated expertise in program management and reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of another relevant UN language or local language.

Deadline: 16th April, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online