State level- Somalia WASH Cluster State Coordinator

POLISH HUMANITARIAN ACTION IS LOOKING FOR STATE- Somalia WASH Cluster State Coordinator-Galmudug State  

General information:

·         Organization: Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH)

·         Position: State level- Somalia WASH Cluster State Coordinator-Galmudug State

·         Location: Hir-shabelle and Galmudug state.

·         Reporting to WASH Cluster Co-lead

·         Job terms: 12 months, with possible extension

·         Starting date: 1st  Dec 2023

About PAH:

Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH) is a non-governmental organization whose mission is to make the world a better place. For over 20 years, we have been providing relief in big and small emergencies worldwide alongside running long-term missions in several countries in crisis. Our interventions – of both humanitarian and development character – have been carried out in 44 countries so far. Our focus is on ensuring sustainable and stable development of regions suffering the consequences of war and/or natural disasters. We possess long-standing expertise in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), but we also implement projects in Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), as well as Nutrition and Education. For more information, please refer to www.pah.org.pl. PAH Mission in Somalia:

PAH is an international humanitarian organization with it is headquarters in Warsaw Poland. Present in Somalia since 2011, PAH has specialized in integrated programs including WASH, Nutrition, Cash, Food Security and Livelihoods, and community-based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). PAH has active operations in Banadir, Lower Shebelle, Middle Shebelle, and Galmudug regions of Somalia and Hiraan region through a Cooperating partner(Mercy USA).

PAH holds the national WASH cluster co-lead position and is the lead WASH cluster State Coordinators both in Hirshabelle and Galmudug states. Competent and qualified dedicated staff are recruited and deployed for cluster Coordination roles.

The Humanitarian Cluster approach was adopted by the IASC as a key strategy to address the gaps in humanitarian response. The aim of the cluster approach at the global level is to strengthen system-wide preparedness and coordination of technical capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies by ensuring that there is predictable leadership and accountability in all the main sectors or areas of humanitarian response. Similarly, at the country level, the aim is to strengthen humanitarian response by demanding high standards of predictability, accountability, and partnership in all sectors or areas of activity. The success of the cluster approach will be judged in terms of the impact it has on improving the humanitarian response to those affected by crises.

In September 2005, IASC Principals agreed to designate global cluster lead agencies in the critical programme and operational areas and also agreed that the cluster approach should be applied at the country level. Country: At the country level, the aim of the Cluster is to ensure a more coherent and effective response by mobilizing groups of agencies, organizations, and NGOs to respond in a strategic manner across all key sectors or areas of activity. The Humanitarian Coordinator – with the support of OCHA – retains responsibility for ensuring the adequacy, coherence, and effectiveness of the overall humanitarian response and is accountable to the Emergency Relief Coordinator (Source: IASC Guidance note on using the Cluster approach to strengthen Humanitarian Response - 24 November 2006)

The objectives of the State Cluster are to:

·         Operationalize a technical framework for dialogue and coordination between humanitarian actors and the state government on emergency and development interventions related to the WASH sector

·         Reinforce the complementarity of partner actions by avoiding duplication and gaps

·         Provide regular information and decision-making support to the WASH cluster partners and decision-makers in general on the status of needs and responses in the WASH sector

·         Support real-time implementation of the Humanitarian Response Plan and address cross-cutting and multidimensional issues, including age, gender, environment, HIV/AIDs, minority groups, disabilities, and links with Protection sector advisers for guidance

·         Establish information sharing and effective links with other sectors, S-ICCG, and line Ministries

·         Inform the national cluster, humanitarian actors, state-level government, and policymakers of the emergency situation, needs, and priorities related to WASH interventions

·         Support the national cluster to advocate for adequate resources and ensure that resources are allocated according to agreed priorities and in a manner that fulfills the cluster response plan

·         Strengthen accountability to the affected population, by ensuring that women, men, girls, and boys have equal opportunity to participate throughout the program cycle, including through feedback and complaint mechanisms that are inclusive and consultative

State-Level WASH Cluster Coordinator Role and Responsibilities

1.  Support Service Delivery

Establish and maintain an appropriate state-level WASH humanitarian coordination platform that ensures service delivery is driven by the Humanitarian Response Plan and strategic priorities:

·         Build and maintain close working relationships with WASH partners and line Ministries

·         Organize and facilitate regular state cluster coordination meetings (i.e. every month), developing meeting agendas, sharing meeting minutes, and following up/supporting the progress on action points

·         Develop mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery

·         Establish and update the WASH partners’ contact list on a regular basis (i.e. every month)

·         Update the state-level information-sharing platform (Google Drive) on a regular basis (i.e. every month) with coordination meeting minutes, operational presence maps, assessments, contact lists

·         Collect and share capacity-building resources with WASH partners and on the information-sharing platform (Google Drive)

·         Conduct workshop/training on the SOCL (Somalia Operational Coordination and Leadership) and on the use of the WASH cluster tools

·         Undertake training and capacity building in collaboration with the national WASH cluster and relevant technical leads in the cluster to facilitate technical training and capacity building

2.  To Inform Strategic Decision Making

Ensure needs assessment and analysis of gaps to inform the setting of priorities:

·         Organize and coordinate partners-led WASH assessments using Somalia WASH cluster standardized tools and methodologies

·         Contribute to multi-sector assessments across and within clusters

·         Set up a mechanism to collect and analyze assessment data from WASH partners and other sectors (i.e.CCCM, Protection, Health) and formulate priorities based on analysis

·         Identify and find solutions for (emerging) gaps, obstacles, and cross-cutting issues

3.      To Plan and Implement Cluster Strategies

Ensure the application and adherence to common WASH standards and guidelines:

·         Build partners’ understanding of Somalia WASH standards and guidelines

·         Monitor partners’ compliance with Somalia WASH standards and guidelines, report non-compliance with WASH standards, and identify and implement corrective solutions

·         Apply lessons learned from past activities and feedback from beneficiaries to revise strategies and action plans accordingly

·         Set up technical working groups to develop contextualized standards and/or adapt existing national standards

·         Ensure inter-sectoral synergies by integrating operational WASH cluster strategies with other clusters on WASH in Health, AWD/cholera preparedness response plan, WASH in Nutrition, and WASH in Schools

·         Invite other clusters to WASH cluster meetings, participate in other cluster meetings, and actively represent the WASH cluster at S-ICCG meetings

.  To Monitor and Evaluate Performance

Ensure adequate WASH response monitoring and evaluation:

·         Mobilize WASH partners to timely report on the 4Ws

·         Update and disseminate - with support from the national IMO - state-level dashboard and partners’ operational presence maps

·         Ensure partners’ participation in the annual exercise of the Cluster Coordination

Performance Monitoring (CCPM)

·         Organize and conduct regular field visits with WASH partners and line Ministries, develop field visits ToRs, draft, and share field visit reports

5.  To Build Subnational Capacity in Preparedness and Contingency Planning

Coordinate state-level cluster-wide emergency preparedness to ensure WASH emergency preparedness and response plan is defined and operational:

·        Develop/update state-level WASH emergency response plan and contingency planning for high-risk or recurring disasters: AWD/cholera outbreaks, flooding, and mass displacements (Emergency Preparedness resources)

·        Conduct partners’ capacity mapping to assess their operational, technical, surge, and contingency stock capacities (WASH capacity mapping resources)

·         Ensure Regional Supply Hubs have the capacity to meet the emergency response plan and contingency planning requirement

6.  To Support Robust Advocacy

Contribute to Somalia WASH cluster advocacy initiatives:

·         Identify advocacy concerns at the state level and contribute to cluster resource mobilization and prioritization

·         Undertake advocacy activities at the state level on behalf of the national cluster and through engagement with the national cluster when needed

7.  Strengthen Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)

Ensure that women, men, girls, and boys of all ages and diversity backgrounds, affected by a crisis have equitable and meaningful access to WASH humanitarian assistance:

·        Ensure WASH partners’ application and adherence to the 5 WASH Minimum commitments for the safety and dignity of affected populations (Minimum Commitments for Safety Dignity resources), which guarantee affected populations have equitable and meaningful access to:

o  Appropriate, relevant, and timely information

o Two-way communications channels that facilitate feedback and complaints and provide redress for complaints

o Means to participate in decisions that affect them, including fair and transparent systems of representation

o Active involvement in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of the goals and objectives of programmes

·         Monitor partners’ feedback and complaints mechanisms functionality

·         Include in the coordination meeting a standing agenda on complaints and feedback received and treated by WASH partners

·         Include cross-cutting issues such as gender, age, minority groups, and environmental factors in all aspects of the WASH response

Requirements

General qualifications

·         Be committed to putting aside their NGO’s organizational interest and working on behalf of all cluster members equally

·         Be technically competent in the cluster systems, procedures, and governance structures.

·         Able to maintain good relationships with all relevant stakeholder counterparts.

·         Be able to work with diverse stakeholders to develop consensus.

·         Understand and have experience in setting, chairing and preparing minutes of meetings.

·         Know how to present ideas effectively and clearly while listening and acknowledging others’ perspectives and views.

·         Demonstrate an understanding of the international humanitarian response and coordination mechanisms, and humanitarian reform.

·         Able to take into consideration the interests of NGOs (international and national) while advocating or lobbying for any cause. The cluster is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, and advocacy for all.

·         Able to represent the cluster at any forum.

·         Demonstrate personal and professional integrity in all interactions.

·         Able to provide effective leadership.

These skills, knowledge, and experience are important for effective performance.

·         University degree (preference at master’s degree level) qualification desirably in subjects/ areas of WASH e.g. Health Promotion or Education, Civil or Public Health Engineering, Public Health (MPH), Environmental Health. Note that work experience may substitute for higher degree qualification.

·         A minimum of 3-5 years of experience with either the UN and/or NGO.

·         Experience in managing emergency WASH programs

·         Experience and strong knowledge in Cluster coordination as well as managing a team;

·         Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required, and a working knowledge of the local language is preferred.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit an application form here including the following documents prepared in ENGLISH:

·         Resume including relevant information on your education and so far work experience;

·         Cover letter summarizing your motivation to join PAH's team and indicating your

experience and skills that you consider useful for this position.

The deadline for applying is 14th Nov 2023. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and invited for interviews and tests. Interviews for shortlisted candidates are planned in Mogadishu.

Candidates interested in the position must be ready to attend the test and interview in Mogadishu.