Appel à manifestation d’intérêt : Consultance à temps plein pour le développement d’un guide sur la transition des clusters dans le cadre de la réponse de gestion de l’évaluation du CLA, Bureau régional de l’UNICEF pour l’Europe et l’Asie centrale basé à Genève, Suisse.

The second evaluation of UNICEF’s role as Cluster Lead Agency (CLARE II) published in 2022 identifies the need to address issues around deactivation and transition of clusters as a key area for further attention. Detailed activities to support the implementation of CLARE II recommendations, including working on a cluster transition guideline, have been included under an Evaluation Management Response endorsed by the UNICEF Executive Board in June 2022, holding the organisation accountable for its effective and timely implementation.

To deliver on our accountabilities and ensure the cluster approach remains fit for purpose, the Global Cluster Coordination Section (GCCS) is seeking to work with a consultant in the development of a guidance on cluster transition to ensure development of guidance on cluster transition to support clusters once priority issues of the emergency have been addressed to phase into sector coordination. Building on the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Cluster Coordination Reference Module (CCRM) and resources available with the Global Cluster Coordination Group (GCCG), the guidance should ensure that a system-wide approach to transition should be taken into consideration.

The Cluster Transition Guidance will help mitigate the use of clusters in inappropriate scenarios by developing models and tools for non-cluster coordination, including transition points for country offices, and establish clarity on the role of clusters, if any, for national capacity-building to ensure efficient and fit-for-purpose coordination approaches. This could include establishing clarity on preparedness, the role of national authorities, clusters as actors of capacity-strengthening of national and local actors, efficient and fit-for-purpose coordination approaches, development of an exit strategy, access to funding for local actors, communications and participatory engagement strategies for transition, etc. This work will align with UNICEF’s leadership role as CLA and will help improve transition to and from sectoral development and humanitarian coordination mechanisms as well as help avoid duplication with other disaster preparedness and risk reduction actors.

The development of the Cluster Transition Guidance should follow a comprehensive desk review of relevant documents, including OCHA guidance on transition and deactivation of clusters, a consultative process with key internal and external stakeholders, as well as documenting examples of best practice where transition was carried out successfully, or practice where important lessons can be drawn. Internal stakeholders should include, among other, the Global Cluster Coordinators of UNICEF-led clusters/AoR as well as UNICEF Programme Group, and UNICEF staff working at regional and country level. Close collaboration and engagement with OCHA counterparts, other clusters and partners will also be required. Of particular interest is inclusion of OCHA Heads of Office, RC/HCs, HCT members who have gone through cluster transition. A Refence Group will be established to support the work on the Transition Guidance with possible participation of external partners, particularly through the GCCG and through OCHA SWAPS/IASC team.

The Guidance document will ideally provide a step by step guidance, considerations of what is needed in the planning and live stages of clusters to prepare for transition, a transition strategy template, benchmarks to indicate when the transition is required and what activities are needed to develop specific capacity to facilitate this transition, and finally a step-by-step summary guidance document.

The consultancy will also work closely with the GCCG workstream on transition which has the following outputs in the GCCG 2023 workplan – defining benchmarks/timeline and step by step guide for transition and deactivation; and 2. develop ICC guidance on transition.

Minimum requirements:

• Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Public Policy, Economics, Social Sciences, or related fields. *A first level university degree with 3 more years of relevant experience will be considered.

• Oral and written fluency in English required
• Twelve years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in Emergencies and programming, at least half of which working with humanitarian coordination.
• Experience working directly in or with clusters, and in UNICEF country emergency management preferred.
• Experience as a Representative/Country Director and/or leading HCTs/UNCTs is an asset.

• Exceptional understanding of humanitarian and development coordination architecture, stakeholders, and realities such as politics, capacities, etc. (Preferably demonstrated across at least 3 country contexts).

• Outstanding strategic thinking.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience developing guidance, tools and resources related to cluster coordination is an asset.

Apply here

Deadline: 03 Mar 2023 W. Europe Standard Time