Dear colleagues,
As we enjoy the summer season, we’re excited to bring you many valuable resources and updates! Did you miss our recent webinar on the newly updated Guide on Cluster Lead Agency Accountabilities and Humanitarian Coordination? You can now watch the recording at your convenience.
We’re also thrilled to announce the launch of our new website which will also host a revamped platform to conduct country Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring. Check it out to see all the improvements.
In this edition, you will find compelling field perspectives on the critical role of coordination drawn from the nutrition response in Gaza and insights from our WASH Cluster Coordinator in Somalia. Additionally, there are other interesting articles included. We hope you find these updates interesting and useful. Happy reading!
The GCCS Team
NEW! Country Office Guide on Cluster Lead Agency Accountabilities and Humanitarian Coordination
On the 3rd of July, the newly updated Country Office Guide was presented in a multilingual webinar, engaging colleagues from country, regional and HQ levels. The event highlighted UNICEF’s crucial role in humanitarian coordination and the concrete implications for how we function.
In her opening remarks, Hazel de Wet, EMOPS Deputy Director, emphasized that UNICEF’s role as a Cluster Lead Agency is a collective responsibility, and highlighted UNICEF’s diverse capacities in supporting coordination efforts.
Nisar Syed, Chief of the Global Cluster Coordination Section, outlined that the guide aligns with UNICEF strategic humanitarian dimension. He stressed that the guide is instrumental for UNICEF to remain effective and accountable, ultimately delivering results for children.
An overview of the guide was then provided, highlighting the fact that it was structured and designed as a reference tool: easy and efficient to consult. The guide comprises two parts: the Thematic Guide, organized by topic; and Pathways, organized by roles in Country Offices. During the Q&A session, participants sought technical clarifications and discussed coordination realities in Country Offices.
For those who missed the event, recordings are available in English, French and Spanish through the links below. Throughout the year, information will be shared for additional clinics to continue the discussion, supporting country offices with their specific questions and challenges.
Webinar in English
Webinar en français
Webinar en español
ANNOUNCEMENT
ClusterConnect: UNICEF's Humanitarian Coordination Hub
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new website:
Cluster Connect: UNICEF's Humanitarian Coordination Hub
Here's what you can find on the new site focused on cluster/AoR coordination:
- Cluster Coordination Information: Learn about the cluster approach, the Humanitarian Programme Cycle and UNICEF role as Cluster Lead Agency.
- Cross-Cutting Thematic Areas: Discover an overview of the thematic areas and how they link to coordination, with quick links to important resources.
- Latest News: Stay updated with the latest news from EMOPS’ Global Cluster Coordination Section, including our quarterly newsletters.
- Resources & Learning: Access a wealth of resources on cluster coordination.
- Initiate a country CCPM Exercise: Cluster Coordinators can now easily initiate a Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring exercise. The redesigned CCPM platform will allow for greater transparency and autonomy for cluster teams, as well as better data analysis.
Check it out and let us know what you think to help us improve!
Two Years in, Progress on CLARE II Implementation and Way Forward
As Cluster Lead/Co-Lead Agency for three sectors and one Area of Responsibility, UNICEF’s humanitarian coordination leadership is the largest across all UN Agencies. In 2023, sectors led by UNICEF accounted for 26% of the overall humanitarian funding allocated to reach 277 million people in need of humanitarian aid.
In response to the second Cluster Lead Agency Role Evaluation (CLARE II), UNICEF has taken substantial steps over the past two years to strengthen its support for humanitarian coordination. This progress focuses on three key areas: ensuring predictable cluster funding and staffing, mainstreaming CLA accountabilities within UNICEF, and strengthening thought leadership in interagency fora. To date, 40% of the CLARE II actions have been completed, with 52% in progress.
In 2023, HRP funding for UNICEF-led sectors increased by 20% in countries with at least one dedicated staff. This correlation between staffing and increased funding highlights the value of dedicated personnel in achieving effective outcomes. Central to coordination are the people involved in it and, in response to CLARE II, UNICEF is updating its staffing model for cluster coordination and information management to attract and retain highly skilled and motivated cluster staff who works closely with their management.
UNICEF has better integrated coordination into internal processes, including the updated Accountability Framework, humanitarian response plans templates and evaluations. The updated Country Office Guide on Cluster Lead Agency Accountabilities and Humanitarian Action helps further communicate the shared Cluster Lead responsibilities across UNICEF’s country, regional and headquarters offices. Learning initiatives for humanitarian leaders, staff and partners worldwide -- including participation in the Humanitarian Leadership Workshop and the launch of the Humanitarian Coordination Learning Channel --further reinforce UNICEF´s commitment to agile and effective humanitarian coordination.
UNICEF is also leading inter-agency policy efforts on cluster transition and people-centered approaches. It has proactively contributed to interagency dialogue on JIAF 2.0, HPC simplification, boundary setting in humanitarian response plans and area-based coordination, further demonstrating its commitment to improving coordination.
A recent Pulse Check Survey to UNICEF staff revealed that 91% of respondents view cluster coordination as crucial for achieving operational objectives. However, opinions on the integration of CLA responsibilities varied, with only 31% rating it as "Highly effective" and 33% as "Reasonably effective".
The varied responses suggest that while there is a recognition of the value of CLA roles, further enhancements are needed to ensure these responsibilities are more effectively aligned with the organization's strategic objectives.
As UNICEF reviews its progress and sets priorities beyond 2025, sustaining ongoing efforts and ensuring robust coordination remains central to UNICEF's humanitarian efforts to address the growing complexities of humanitarian challenges and achieve impactful results for children.
Strengthening the humanitarian response in Gaza: coordination insights from the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC)
“The role of the Nutrition cluster in Gaza has been transformative, enabling lifesaving nutrition support and significantly strengthening the collective humanitarian response.”
Rasha Al-Ardhi, Deputy Global Nutrition Cluster Coordinator
In the face of a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, UNICEF’s rapid and effective coordination leadership has been crucial. UNICEF’s (co)-led Global Clusters and Area of Responsibility (AoR) have provided rapid surge support to maintain fully functional coordination mechanisms at national and subnational levels, emphasizing partnership mobilization, data collection and analysis, strategic planning, and advocacy to deliver the most effective humanitarian aid to children and families in Gaza’s highly constrained context.
One notable achievement is the advocacy done by the GNC and UNICEF’s Country and Regional teams, which led to the activation of the standalone Nutrition Cluster (previously a sub-working group under the Health Cluster).
We had the opportunity to speak with Rasha Al-Ardhi, Deputy Global Nutrition Cluster Coordinator, who walked us through the Nutrition Cluster's significant efforts in Gaza.
Initially, there was a general misconception among local authorities and humanitarian actors that nutrition was not a priority in Gaza. However, the persistent efforts of the Nutrition Cluster have changed this perception, leading to active engagement and support from various actors, including local partners, who are now committed to improving child and maternal survival, even in the most inaccessible areas in Gaza.
The standalone national Nutrition Cluster for the State of Palestine was activated in November 2023, whereas the Gaza Nutrition Cluster was established in January 2024. Since then, the GNC support has been instrumental in several key areas.
With no recent data available, the Nutrition Cluster was instrumental in collecting data from partners to develop projections and a nutrition vulnerability analysis that included innovative response approaches. In addition, joint statements and calls for action emphasized maternal and child nutrition during the emergency response; regular meetings with donors and partners ensured sustained funding; Technical Working Groups and linkages with Cash Voucher Assistance interventions enabled comprehensive support for nutrition activities; while training sessions for front-line workers strengthened local capacities, which has been instrumental to help estimate resource requirements and advance the nutrition agenda in Gaza to address the most urgent needs of children and mothers, reduce human suffering and prevent further loss of life.
To sum up, the advocacy, coordination and programme support from the Nutrition Cluster have elevated nutrition as a priority, ensuring a targeted and effective response. The feedback from partners, donors, and other stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive – the transformative impact of strategic coordination and advocacy has aided in strengthening the collective humanitarian response in Gaza, making a profound difference in the nutritional well-being of the affected populations.
This illustrates the significant advantages of coordination when the right capacities are in place, highlighting UNICEF’s potential to enhance humanitarian responses as the Cluster Lead Agency of four sectors, in any context.
For additional information on the Nutrition Cluster response in Gaza please visit the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Nutrition | ReliefWeb Response and GNC website.
Interview with Begna Edo, Cluster Coordinator in Somalia
“First and foremost, humanitarian coordination saves lives”
Begna Edo, WASH Cluster Coordinator, Somalia
At the center of UNICEF’s humanitarian leadership is its role in fostering collective impact as Cluster (co-) Lead for child protection, education, nutrition and WASH. Begna Edo shared his experiences as Cluster Coordinator, highlighting the benefits of effective coordination and how UNICEF can better support the well-being of children in crisis-affected areas.
Read the interview here!
Why not Cash? Transforming WASH in Mali using market-based responses
Sanoussi Dado Natatou, WASH Cluster Coordinator in Mali, believes that market-based responses using humanitarian cash transfer (HCT) are important in creating transformational change in Mali's nexus and humanitarian aid system.
Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) significantly improves timely and equitable access to safe drinking water and excreta disposal, helping sustain good hygiene practices. HCT has also proven suitable in Mali's hard-to-reach locations. By giving people the resources to choose how they meet their WASH needs, CVA ensures that, even in hard-to-reach locations, the most vulnerable populations can maintain good hygiene practices.
Cash assistance continues to be scaled by UNICEF, and the Global annual results reported that $520 million was distributed through cash modalities in 2023. In close support of the Cash Working Group, Sanoussi is leading multiple initiatives at the inter-agency level, such as training WASH partners in cash and market-based responses to build stronger relationship with the private sector and local artisans. This approach promotes the use and development of local markets, making humanitarian aid more responsive, inclusive and empowering for those who need it most.
Sanoussi Dado Natatou
WASH Cluster Coordinator in Mali
Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) Champion
Discussions on Humanitarian Coordination: Insights from the 2024 Humanitarian Leadership Workshop
The Humanitarian Leadership Workshop (HLW) series is a UNICEF learning initiative led by EMOPS to improve UNICEF’s leadership and response capacity in humanitarian crisis. The aim is to equip UNICEF managers in the field with leadership abilities, knowledge, and skills to prepare for and manage humanitarian crises and emergency preparedness and response, consistently and systematically, in line with our Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action.
Two cohorts of UNICEF managers attended the latest HLW from May 27th to June 7th in Istanbul. Alongside content on Security, Access, Humanitarian Advocacy and much more around leadership, GCCS worked with participants to break down the complexities around decision making for good cluster coordination. As the agency that leads or co-leads the most sectors in emergencies, UNICEF faces high levels of scrutiny and reputational risk. In acute crises, being prepared is the key to making the right decisions, and taking the time to really "know your stuff” in advance will make all the difference.
If you too would like to be prepared, here are some of the materials used as pre-learning on cluster coordination for the HLW:
For additional information on the work of each cluster/area of responsibility please click on the images below.
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