Education Cluster Coordinator UNICEF Juba, South Sudan
Education Cluster Coordinator
Listed on 09/01/2012
Organization: UNICEF
Details:
TA position, unaccompanied. Juba, South Sudan
Background:
In April 2010, the Humanitarian Country Team Juba Satellite adopted the cluster system to strengthen and improve humanitarian coordination mechanisms, ensuring that coordination structures match the challenge of addressing the complex and pressing humanitarian situation in Southern Sudan. The cluster approach seeks to make humanitarian assistance more effective by introducing an enhanced system of sectoral coordination with predictable and accountable leadership. Building on existing sector coordination the approach aims to optimize humanitarian response mechanisms ensuring a more coherent, principled, timely, effective and predictable humanitarian assistance to people in need. In line with the Humanitarian Reform, NGOs, international organizations and UN agencies operating in the same sector are brought under the leadership of an agreed cluster lead and co-lead, to identify gaps, plan and prioritize response, and to implement and monitor activities in a spirit of partnership. Actions are undertaken in full consultation with relevant government counterparts, where feasible. While the principles of increased accountability, predictability and strengthened partnership that underpin the cluster approach are not new, the situation in Southern Sudan has made their systematic application more urgent. A deteriorating humanitarian situation reinforces a need for more accurate mapping of humanitarian crises, response activities and monitoring. The value of the cluster approach is that it addresses precisely this problem – the need to build on existing collaboration and information-sharing, towards shared assessment, planning, prioritization and new partnerships. The cluster approach also strengthens the focus on local capacity building, which is crucial for the efficiency and sustainability of emergency response and development in Southern Sudan. The workload associated with the implementation of the cluster approach, particularly of the UN and partners work plan for South Sudan places particular pressure on those UN agencies that have been designated as Sector Leads. Organizing consultations and developing cluster plans with a diverse group of partners including the government, UN agencies, NGOs and donors is a complex and time consuming process. In order to provide an effective response to the increasing demands on existing staff, a Cluster Coordinator is proposed. The consultant will support the Cluster lead in the coordination, planning and reporting processes within the UN and Partners humanitarian programmes.
Responsibilities:
This Education Specialist, Cluster Coordination will work to strengthen UNICEF Emergency capacity and response as lead of the Education Cluster. The consultant will perform the following tasks:
1. Partnerships: Expand and maintain the cohesion of the inclusive group of humanitarian partners working on education in emergencies in South Sudan, including both the National and State Ministry of Education, as well as National and International NGOs, Education Institutions; local civil society; faith based organisations, and other stakeholders in the sector.
2. Coordination: Establish and maintain appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms, and coordinate with all partners, co-leading the National Education Cluster, supporting 10 State Level Education Clusters, ensuring effective links with the Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator, other Clusters, OCHA and donors.
3. Planning and Strategy Development: Lead the Cluster in the development of national and sub-national plans and strategies to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including the development and defense of the Consolidated Appeal, Contingency Plans. Provide technical inputs into national government plans and policies to ensure full inclusion of education in emergencies as part of broader educational development efforts.
3. Inter-Cluster Coordination: Strengthen inter-Cluster collaboration to facilitate a multi-sectoral response to emergencies, ensuring education is fully integrated into humanitarian response and leveraged where possible to support broader humanitarian objectives. Represent the Education Cluster in the Inter-Sector Working Group.
4. EiE, INEE and CCC Standards: Ensure that all Cluster partners are familiar with and adhere to relevant policy guidelines, minimum quality standards and relevant commitments, in particular the South Sudan Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies (based on the INEE Minimum Standards) and the UNICEF Core Commitments for Children.
5. Capacity Development: Undertake training and capacity development for the Cluster, based on capacity analysis. Identify education personnel and involve them appropriately, develop training materials and conduct national and state level trainings, support State Level Clusters to undertake State and County level trainings.
6. Community based approaches: Ensure appropriate participatory and community based approaches are utilized in Education Cluster activities. 7. Assessment and Preparedness: Support State Education Cluster Focal points and partners to participate in needs assessments. Use evidence based analysis for coordination of emergency preparedness plans.
8. Monitoring and Reporting: Ensure regular monitoring of education response activities and coordinate the measurement of the impact of emergency education programmes on the lives of children and youth affected by acute emergencies; report progress towards Cluster indicators; work with Monitoring and Reporting Specialist UNV and Cluster partners to create and maintain monitoring systems. Submit regular Cluster and UNICEF reports in a timely manner.
9. Information Management: Oversee the maintenance and upkeep of the Education Cluster information management system. Support State Cluster Focal Points to collect, analyse, and share information to make informed, evidence-based, strategic decisions on the educational needs of affected populations. Use data to inform the prioritisation of needs and available resources for response, identify gaps, map capacity, report and for advocacy purposes. Compile special reports, such as the occupation of schools, mid-and end year CAP and HAC Reporting. Maintain the Education Cluster website with regular updates and relevant documents.
10. Advocacy and Fund Raising: Identify advocacy issues for the Cluster, and develop appropriate messages in consultation with the communication team for appropriate use. Undertake advocacy on the right of children and youth to education in emergencies and to recognition of the need for education in emergencies as a first phase response. Support partners to develop Project Sheets and funding proposals in line with the Education Cluster Strategy. Provide guidance and technical support to facilitate partners timely inputs into the Consolidated Appeal Process; Central Emergency Response Fund; Flash Appeals and other available resourcing opportunities as may arise. Encourage and support initiatives by Cluster members to raise funding for their programmes.
11. Cross Cutting Issues: Ensure that cross-cutting issues are identified and included in the education in emergencies response strategy in accordance with existing and emergent needs.
Requirements:
• Advanced University degree in Education or related Social Sciences;
• Minimum of five years of significant experience in emergency contexts preferably as UN or NGO at middle management level;
• Knowledge of the cluster approach guidelines and terms of reference and knowledge/experience in applying them;
• Demonstrable ability to work with diverse groups of stakeholders and to develop consensus and partnerships;
• Demonstrable technical expertise in education in emergencies, early recovery and post crisis transition. An understanding and training in INEE Minimum Standards for education in emergencies would be an added advantage;
• Formal training in cluster coordination and or demonstrable experience of effective co-ordination at sector or national level would be preferable;
• Ability to use and adapt cluster coordination tools (e.g. stakeholder mapping, CERF, CAP, Flash Appeals);
• Capacity to present ideas in a clear, concise and convincing manner while listening to and acknowledging other people’s perspectives;
• Fluency in English (verbal and writing) and another UN language preferred;
• Solid analytical, organizational, negotiating, advocacy and planning skills. At least a Master’s Degree in social sciences, education, international development or related technical field. At least five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national or international levels in a related field. This post is office-based (mainly in Juba) but there will be significant travel within South Sudan.
Timeline & Start Date:
One year contract, starting 22nd October 2012.
Application Procedure:
Submit P11, CV and cover letter to jubavacancies@unicef.org by 5.00pm (EAT) Friday, 14th September.
Listed on 09/01/2012
Organization: UNICEF
Details:
TA position, unaccompanied. Juba, South Sudan
Background:
In April 2010, the Humanitarian Country Team Juba Satellite adopted the cluster system to strengthen and improve humanitarian coordination mechanisms, ensuring that coordination structures match the challenge of addressing the complex and pressing humanitarian situation in Southern Sudan. The cluster approach seeks to make humanitarian assistance more effective by introducing an enhanced system of sectoral coordination with predictable and accountable leadership. Building on existing sector coordination the approach aims to optimize humanitarian response mechanisms ensuring a more coherent, principled, timely, effective and predictable humanitarian assistance to people in need. In line with the Humanitarian Reform, NGOs, international organizations and UN agencies operating in the same sector are brought under the leadership of an agreed cluster lead and co-lead, to identify gaps, plan and prioritize response, and to implement and monitor activities in a spirit of partnership. Actions are undertaken in full consultation with relevant government counterparts, where feasible. While the principles of increased accountability, predictability and strengthened partnership that underpin the cluster approach are not new, the situation in Southern Sudan has made their systematic application more urgent. A deteriorating humanitarian situation reinforces a need for more accurate mapping of humanitarian crises, response activities and monitoring. The value of the cluster approach is that it addresses precisely this problem – the need to build on existing collaboration and information-sharing, towards shared assessment, planning, prioritization and new partnerships. The cluster approach also strengthens the focus on local capacity building, which is crucial for the efficiency and sustainability of emergency response and development in Southern Sudan. The workload associated with the implementation of the cluster approach, particularly of the UN and partners work plan for South Sudan places particular pressure on those UN agencies that have been designated as Sector Leads. Organizing consultations and developing cluster plans with a diverse group of partners including the government, UN agencies, NGOs and donors is a complex and time consuming process. In order to provide an effective response to the increasing demands on existing staff, a Cluster Coordinator is proposed. The consultant will support the Cluster lead in the coordination, planning and reporting processes within the UN and Partners humanitarian programmes.
Responsibilities:
This Education Specialist, Cluster Coordination will work to strengthen UNICEF Emergency capacity and response as lead of the Education Cluster. The consultant will perform the following tasks:
1. Partnerships: Expand and maintain the cohesion of the inclusive group of humanitarian partners working on education in emergencies in South Sudan, including both the National and State Ministry of Education, as well as National and International NGOs, Education Institutions; local civil society; faith based organisations, and other stakeholders in the sector.
2. Coordination: Establish and maintain appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms, and coordinate with all partners, co-leading the National Education Cluster, supporting 10 State Level Education Clusters, ensuring effective links with the Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator, other Clusters, OCHA and donors.
3. Planning and Strategy Development: Lead the Cluster in the development of national and sub-national plans and strategies to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including the development and defense of the Consolidated Appeal, Contingency Plans. Provide technical inputs into national government plans and policies to ensure full inclusion of education in emergencies as part of broader educational development efforts.
3. Inter-Cluster Coordination: Strengthen inter-Cluster collaboration to facilitate a multi-sectoral response to emergencies, ensuring education is fully integrated into humanitarian response and leveraged where possible to support broader humanitarian objectives. Represent the Education Cluster in the Inter-Sector Working Group.
4. EiE, INEE and CCC Standards: Ensure that all Cluster partners are familiar with and adhere to relevant policy guidelines, minimum quality standards and relevant commitments, in particular the South Sudan Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies (based on the INEE Minimum Standards) and the UNICEF Core Commitments for Children.
5. Capacity Development: Undertake training and capacity development for the Cluster, based on capacity analysis. Identify education personnel and involve them appropriately, develop training materials and conduct national and state level trainings, support State Level Clusters to undertake State and County level trainings.
6. Community based approaches: Ensure appropriate participatory and community based approaches are utilized in Education Cluster activities. 7. Assessment and Preparedness: Support State Education Cluster Focal points and partners to participate in needs assessments. Use evidence based analysis for coordination of emergency preparedness plans.
8. Monitoring and Reporting: Ensure regular monitoring of education response activities and coordinate the measurement of the impact of emergency education programmes on the lives of children and youth affected by acute emergencies; report progress towards Cluster indicators; work with Monitoring and Reporting Specialist UNV and Cluster partners to create and maintain monitoring systems. Submit regular Cluster and UNICEF reports in a timely manner.
9. Information Management: Oversee the maintenance and upkeep of the Education Cluster information management system. Support State Cluster Focal Points to collect, analyse, and share information to make informed, evidence-based, strategic decisions on the educational needs of affected populations. Use data to inform the prioritisation of needs and available resources for response, identify gaps, map capacity, report and for advocacy purposes. Compile special reports, such as the occupation of schools, mid-and end year CAP and HAC Reporting. Maintain the Education Cluster website with regular updates and relevant documents.
10. Advocacy and Fund Raising: Identify advocacy issues for the Cluster, and develop appropriate messages in consultation with the communication team for appropriate use. Undertake advocacy on the right of children and youth to education in emergencies and to recognition of the need for education in emergencies as a first phase response. Support partners to develop Project Sheets and funding proposals in line with the Education Cluster Strategy. Provide guidance and technical support to facilitate partners timely inputs into the Consolidated Appeal Process; Central Emergency Response Fund; Flash Appeals and other available resourcing opportunities as may arise. Encourage and support initiatives by Cluster members to raise funding for their programmes.
11. Cross Cutting Issues: Ensure that cross-cutting issues are identified and included in the education in emergencies response strategy in accordance with existing and emergent needs.
Requirements:
• Advanced University degree in Education or related Social Sciences;
• Minimum of five years of significant experience in emergency contexts preferably as UN or NGO at middle management level;
• Knowledge of the cluster approach guidelines and terms of reference and knowledge/experience in applying them;
• Demonstrable ability to work with diverse groups of stakeholders and to develop consensus and partnerships;
• Demonstrable technical expertise in education in emergencies, early recovery and post crisis transition. An understanding and training in INEE Minimum Standards for education in emergencies would be an added advantage;
• Formal training in cluster coordination and or demonstrable experience of effective co-ordination at sector or national level would be preferable;
• Ability to use and adapt cluster coordination tools (e.g. stakeholder mapping, CERF, CAP, Flash Appeals);
• Capacity to present ideas in a clear, concise and convincing manner while listening to and acknowledging other people’s perspectives;
• Fluency in English (verbal and writing) and another UN language preferred;
• Solid analytical, organizational, negotiating, advocacy and planning skills. At least a Master’s Degree in social sciences, education, international development or related technical field. At least five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national or international levels in a related field. This post is office-based (mainly in Juba) but there will be significant travel within South Sudan.
Timeline & Start Date:
One year contract, starting 22nd October 2012.
Application Procedure:
Submit P11, CV and cover letter to jubavacancies@unicef.org by 5.00pm (EAT) Friday, 14th September.
Post a Comment