Education Cluster Coordinator, NO-C, Temporary Appointment for 364 days, Khartoum, Sudan, (Open for Sudanese Nationals ONLY)

Looking for EDUCATION Cluster Coordinator to provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, coherent, strategic, and effective EDUCATION response in Sudan by a mobilized and adequately resourced group of agencies, organizations, NGOs, local communities etc. The incumbent is to assist the Government of Sudan and state authorities in EDUCATION cluster visioning, strategy formulation and the articulation of a 'Road Map' to provide adequate EDUCATION responses to emergency-affected populations.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Position

On behalf of the IASC Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan and UNICEF (as the lead agency for the IASC EDUCATION cluster), and in collaboration with the State Authorities, the main purpose of the EDUCATION Cluster Coordinator post is to provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, coherent, strategic, and effective EDUCATION response in Sudan by a mobilized and adequately resourced group of agencies, organizations, NGOs, local communities etc. The incumbent is to assist the Government of Sudan and state authorities in EDUCATION cluster visioning, strategy formulation and the articulation of a 'Road Map' to provide adequate EDUCATION responses to emergency-affected populations.

 Key Expected Results

 1.Inclusion of key humanitarian partners

• Ensure inclusion of key Education humanitarian partners (including OIC, ICRC, UN, INGOs, LNGOs, Government, Civil Society Organizations) in a way that respects their mandates and programme priorities.
• Act as focal point for inquiries on the Education cluster's response plans and operations.

 Establishment and maintenance of appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms at National level            and at State level:

• Ensure appropriate coordination between all Education humanitarian partners (national and international NGOs, the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, etc), through establishment/maintenance of appropriate EDUCATION Cluster/sector coordination mechanisms, including working groups at the National, and State levels.
• Promote EDUCATION emergency response actions while at the same time considering EDUCATION within recovery and development planning through close interaction with the EDUCATION Section. Ensure inter-cluster and programme response planning with other Clusters/sector groups specifically in the areas of child protection, health, nutrition, WASH and other key sectors as appropriate.
• Represent the interests of the EDUCATION Cluster/sector in discussions with the Humanitarian Coordinator, OCHA, Inter Sector Working Group, and other stakeholders on prioritization, resource mobilization and advocacy.

1. Coordination with national/local authorities, State institutions, local civil society and other actors

• Ensure that EDUCATION humanitarian responses build on local capacities.
• Ensure appropriate links with national and local authorities, State institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors (e.g. peacekeeping forces) and ensure appropriate coordination and information exchange with them.
• Strengthen Government Capacity to support and co-chair cluster coordination mechanisms in the Khartoum and at the State Level.

     4.  Attention to priority cross-cutting issues

• Ensure integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues in EDUCATION assessments, analysis, planning, monitoring and response (e.g. age, diversity, environment, gender, HIV/AIDS and human rights)
• Ensure effective and coherent EDUCATION assessment and analysis, involving all relevant partners.

    5. Planning and strategy development

• Developing/updating agreed EDUCATION response strategies and action plans and ensuring that these are adequately reflected in the overall country strategies, such as the HPC, HNO and SRP, Contingency plans, and in the broader UNDAF as appropriate.
• Drawing lessons learned from past EDUCATION activities, revising strategies and action plans accordingly
• Developing an exit, or transition, strategy for the EDUCATION interventions and key cluster/sector partners.

    6. Application of standards

• Ensure that EDUCATION cluster/sector participants are aware of relevant policy guidelines, technical standards and relevant commitments that the Government/concerned authorities have undertaken under international human rights law
• Ensure that EDUCATION responses are in line with existing policy guidance, technical standards, and relevant Government human rights legal obligations.
• Ensure all agreed upon guidelines at country level are followed and adhered to in all EDUCATION response.

    7. Monitoring and reporting

• Ensure adequate monitoring mechanisms are in place (with OCHA and UNHCR support) to review impact of EDUCATION interventions and progress against implementation plans including monitoring indicators (quantity, quality, coverage, continuity and cost.  Target population data including desegregation by sex, age etc. of service delivery
• Ensure adequate EDUCATION impact reporting and effective information sharing (with OCHA and UNHCR support) to demonstrate the closing of gaps.
• Ensure the cluster adapts verification, monitoring, reporting and evaluation tools with innovations as appropriate such as mobile technology, third party monitoring, pictures, etc.
• Ensure that the cluster evaluates own performance on a regular basis and ensure corrective actions hence improved cluster coordination and response.

     8. Advocacy and resource mobilization

• Identify core EDUCATION advocacy concerns, including resource requirements, and contribute key messages to broader advocacy initiatives of the HC, OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF, Government, and other actors.
• Act as the media spokesperson for the cluster/sector highlighting the key issues, concerns and achievements within the cluster/sector to the outside world.
• Advocate for donors to fund EDUCATION actors to carry out priority EDUCATION activities in the sector concerned, while at the same time encouraging actors to mobilize resources for their activities through their usual channels.
• Produce and publish a quarterly EDUCATION cluster bulletin and other regular reports as tools to show onward progress on the cluster response in relation to the workplan/response plan. 

      9.  Training and capacity building

• Promote and support training of EDUCATION humanitarian personnel in areas such as Minimum Standards for Emergency EDUCATION and capacity building of humanitarian partners, based on the mapping and understanding of available capacity
• Support efforts to strengthen the EDUCATION capacity of the national/local authorities and civil society
• Build capacity of the cluster/sector partners in EDUCATION in Emergencies, cluster coordination, transformative agenda in order to effectively understand the cluster roles and responsibilities as well as be able to fully support cluster functions 

      10. Accountability to Affected Populations

• Ensuring that mechanisms, agreed upon by cluster partners are in place to consult and involve affected populations in decision-making about programme implementation
• Ensure that there is a system for community/ beneficiary complaints and a proper investigation mechanism is in place and actions drawn in a transparent manner.

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1.Rights-Based Programme with Results-Based Approach.

• Promote the quality of rights-based EDUCATION programme and programmes through participation in the formulation of programme/project goals, strategies and approaches for the sector. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to programme management processes using a results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

1. UNICEF and Government Accountability.

• Advocate for due attention and support to be given to environmental and sustainable development issues (pertaining to EDUCATION) in all sectors and line ministries.
• Ensure adequate attention is given to Disaster Risk Management, including emergency preparedness.

1. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership.

• Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts.
• Overall coordination with Global and HQ Clusters. Collaborate with other sectors to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other sectors.

 Qualifications of Successful Candidate

 Education

 Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, international law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably a combination of management, administration, and relevant technical fields.

Work Experience

At least five years of progressively responsible relevant professional work experience in the UN or other international development organization, national government or the private sector. Specialized training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable. Experience in field work and with the the IASC Cluster approach coordination.

Language Proficiency

Written and spoken fluency in Arabic and English required. Knowledge of a local working language of the duty station an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication [II]
• Working with People [II]
• Drive for Results [II]

Functional Competencies

• Leading and Supervising [II]  
• Analyzing [II]
• Deciding and Initiating Action [III]
• Persuading and Influencing [III]
• Applying Technical Expertise [III]
• Planning and Organizing [II]
• Adapting and Responding Change [III]
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks [III]

 To view our competency framework, please click here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.