UNICEF is a key UN agency working in Somalia in various aeras such as WASH, Child Protection, Social Policy, Health and Nutrition, and Education sectors. With a population of 3,798,828 people and a significant youth and adolescent proportion forming a huge youth bulge, Somalia faces an unprecedented challenge in addressing the youth and adolescent needs of the people in a complex context where conflict, natural disasters and climate change divert resources from the needs of this important cohort of the population. Approximately 62% of the population is between 5-29 years old, while three-quarters (72%) of the population is less than 30 years old. The unemployment rate is high (estimated at 50%) that also contributes to poverty.

UNICEF is committed to support humanitarian coordination through the cluster approach. Introduced as part of the humanitarian reform, the cluster approach, aims at ensuring clear leadership, predictability and accountability in international responses to humanitarian emergencies by clarifying the division of labor among organizations and better defining their roles and responsibilities within the different sectors involved in the response. UNICEF works along with national and local stakeholders (including national and local authorities, CSOs, and communities) to support humanitarian coordination and to improve the collective impact of humanitarian response.

In order to achieve the above, the Somalia Country Office has developed a cluster coordination governance structure which will be rolled out in 2026. Under this structure, UNICEF overall accountability lies with the Representative and is delegated to the relevant Section Chiefs, who report through the Deputy Representative–Programme (DRP). Overall technical accountability rests with the respective Section Chief/cluster coordinator, with implementation responsibilities delegated within the section based on capacity, and with a clear vision for progressive transfer of skills. In the case of the WASH cluster, an International UN Volunteer is required to support the Chief of WASH and his team by providing coordination related deliverables outlined in the section below.

The International UN Volunteer will not assume managerial, supervisory, representational, or decision making responsibilities reserved for UNICEF staff. All leadership, partner engagement, external representation, and accountability remain fully with UNICEF staff. International UN Volunteer will provide specialized, time bound technical support to the UNICEF Somalia WASH Section to develop analytical products, frameworks, strategies, and coordination tools required for effective WASH Cluster coordination.

Under the overall direction of the Representative and working closely under the supervision of Chief of WASH, the IUNV will facilitate the processes that will ensure an efficient, effective, and well-coordinated response to the humanitarian crisis by building relationships with stakeholders and support the overall coordination of the WASH sectoral response and inter-sectoral collaboration by undertaking the following deliverables and outputs:

Cluster Coordination:
• Works with UNICEF to ensure a coordination mechanism is established and maintained that facilitates the effective achievement of the cluster functions (as outlined by the IASC Reference Module) and the requirements of the HPC (HNO, HRP and CCPM), and which builds on pre-existing coordination structures where appropriate and furthers the development of current or future national and subnational capacities.
• Works with UNICEF on the functioning of any sub-national or hub Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group where they exist, ensuring alignment of work and priorities, effective communication, reporting, engagement and coordination between the levels.
• Ensures appropriate coordination and builds partnerships with all relevant sector stakeholders including government counterparts and national authorities, local, national and international organizations and affected populations.
• Build complementarity of partner actions within the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group, pro-actively negotiating with a wide range of partners to avoid and resolve duplication and gaps and taking action to resolve any conflict or systemic challenges arising from within or beyond the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group,
• Coordinate and collaborate with stakeholders across all sectors, including through inter-cluster coordination fora, developing cross-sectoral relationships as appropriate.

Needs assessment and analysis:
• Support the planning and implementation of needs assessment and analysis and taking a leading role in multi-sectoral needs assessments and joint analysis of need, at national and subnational levels.
• Analyze needs assessment data and work collaboratively with the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group partners to create analytical products, including an HNO based on evidence-based information.

Strategic response planning:

• Support strategic planning, recommend response prioritization and the development of the sectoral response plan that is based on the HNO and aligned with national priorities, policies and plans,
• Ensure all programme delivery modalities (in-kind, cash, voucher and services) are given equal consideration in the strategic response planning and establish and implement systematic measures for supporting their consideration and use.
• Provide high-level technical expertise to drive strategic-level discussion and ensure the sectoral response addresses national priorities and affected populations' needs drawing on the latest innovations and research,
• Ensure that the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group response plan is updated regularly according to evolving needs and that it establishes indicators by which performance of the cluster can be measured.
• Engage with OCHA and other AoRs/ Clusters/ Sectors/ Working Groups to contribute to the development of the HRP, advocating for a response that reflects and addresses the concerns of the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group.

Resource mobilization and advocacy:
• Support and coordinate the mobilization and equitable allocation of adequate resources as determined by UNICEF/Cluster to ensure the effective functioning of the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group and its response, identifying and taking actions or make recommendations to resolve any ongoing or potential future challenges that impact partners' access to resources and subsequent handing over and establishment of medium to long term capacities when the cluster approach is deactivated;
• Monitor, analyse and communicate information about the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group’s financial situation and resource mobilization and identify recommendations and appropriate actions to address gaps or constraints.
• Advocate for improved sectoral outcomes, by developing an advocacy strategy, networking with advocacy allies, influencing stakeholders' decision-making and ensuring that advocacy activities are adequately resourced.

Implementation and monitoring:
• Monitor, evaluate and report on the coverage, equity, quality and progress of the response against the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group strategy, priorities and agreed results.
• Plan and oversee gap and coverage analysis to identify spatial and temporal gaps, overlaps and coverage of the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group humanitarian response.
• Monitor Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group adherence to IASC cluster approach principles, relevant humanitarian and sectoral agreements, standards, initiatives and guidelines and provide systemic advice and support to make improvements.

Operational peer review and evaluation:
• Support the annual cluster coordination performance monitoring (CCPM) exercise and annual review and contribute to other sectoral and humanitarian evaluations as appropriate.

Accountability to affected populations:
• Support the establishment of inclusive and consultative feedback mechanisms, creating meaningful opportunities for the involvement of the affected population in the response and encouraging partners to operate accountably,
• Ensure the inclusion of cross cutting issues (age, child protection, disability, gender, gender-based violence (GBV) mitigation and response and HIV & AIDS) in Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group activities throughout the HPC.
• Support the establishment and implementation of systematic measures for supporting inclusive work practices and processes.
• Adhere to child safeguarding and PSEA policies including procedures for challenging and reporting incidents and ensure other members of the coordination team comply.

Strengthen national and local capacity:
• Encourage participation of local and national actors in Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group activities and strategic decision-making, removing barriers to access.
• Support the development of a capacity assessment and capacity strengthening strategy for Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group members and oversee implementation and harmonization of initiatives.
• Support early warning, contingency planning, and emergency preparedness efforts for the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group, ensuring adequate cluster participation in inter-cluster early warning, contingency planning and emergency preparedness activities.