TRAINING ON CLUSTER APPROACH Maximising International Medical

TRAINING ON CLUSTER APPROACH ~ Maximising International Medical Corps’s Engagement at Country Level From Relief to Self-Reliance

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Question What type of involvement do you have with cluster or sector coordination in your country? 16 mars 2018 3

Objectives of the training Knowledge: Participants know the minimum commitments for participation in the cluster approach as well as the seven core cluster functions and the deliverables associated with these Skills: Participants are able to enhance participation in the cluster and guide improvements to core cluster functions within their own country contexts → Development of a workplan to follow Attitude: Participants are aware of the responsibilities and benefits of working within the cluster approach, for International Medical Corps as an organisation but also for the humanitarian response a whole Time: total 1 h 30 (1 hour presentation + 30 min questions and answers) 16 mars 2018 4

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Brief history Humanitarian reform in 2005 to improve the effectiveness of the humanitarian response Pakistan Floods Haiti Earthquake 2010 ►Then the humanitarian community learnt some new lessons… there were still some weaknesses and inefficiencies Transformative Agenda - 2010 UN Photo/Evan Schneider UN Photo/Logan Abassi

2011 – IASC Principals Agree to Set of Transformative Actions • Roster of Emergency Coordinators for Level 3 Emergencies • Empowered Leadership • Inter-Agency Rapid Response Mechanism • Leadership Training • Strategic use of Clusters • Common Humanitarian • Simplified Cluster Programme Cycle to achieve management collective results • Minimum Commitments • Assessment, strategic statement, for participation in Clusters resource allocation, • Strengthening NGO implementation, monitoring, representation in the reporting and evaluation Humanitarian Country • Common Performance and Team Reporting Framework • Accountability to Affected People

The Cluster System

The Cluster Approach WHAT IS IT? Remembe r • Activation more strategic, less automatic and time limited • A dynamic approach that facilitates joint efforts, one voice representing all humanitarian actors serving the host government . • It supports the strategy and leadership of the national authority, strengthening existing national-led coordination mechanisms to the extent possible • Cluster partners sharing responsibility for effective and timely humanitarian response • Professional, predictable response to agreed standards • Streamlining of cluster functions with more focus on results rather than processes 9 • Enhanced accountability to affected populations

The Cluster Approach Rememb er WHAT IT IS NOT? • It is not an attempt to undermine the government response, but strives to help strengthen government or existing coordination • It is not UN-centric; it depends on the active participation of all humanitarian members, e. g. NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, UN agencies and of course…. . the Government • It is not a “one size fits all” approach; in each emergency it is up to humanitarian actors on the ground, in consultation with relevant government counterparts, to determine the priority sectors for the response 10

Question TRUE or FALSE • • The Nutrition Cluster (NC) is a physical structure The NC has a legal status The NC has programme funding The NC is a coordination mechanism The NC has only funding for the coordination team The NCC represents all members This man has nothing to do with the Cluster:

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How are we accountable within the cluster system? (Formal and informal) Humanitarian Coordinator Government CLA UNICEF Country Rep Cluster Information Manager Coordinator SAG Cluster Participating Agencies: NGOs, civil society, UNICEF Section chief, etc… CLA UNICEF global office TWGs

Key roles and responsibilities within a cluster Cluster Lead Agency Cluster Coordinator Cluster Partners • Defining the nutrition cluster coordination structure • NCC, IM and required staff are hired and oriented. Define expectations and TORs • Ensure that security, administrative and operational support procedures are clear • Advocacy • resource mobilization • preparedness • NCC need to act as neutral representative of the Nutrition Cluster • coordination of sector • strategic planning • prioritization – interventions and resources • Advocacy • application of standards • Provider of last resort • Endorse the overall aim and objectives of NCCoordination • Agreeing to and sharing responsibilities • Maintaining coordination • Be proactive in exchanging information • Identifying advocacy concerns • Respect and adhere to agreed principles, policies, priorities and standards

Nutrition Cluster: Cluster Lead Agency • Global Level • Country Level • CLA (UNICEF) • Government with CLA as co-lead e. g. Philippines, Mali • NGO lead • Government with NGO as co-lead • Government with CLA and NGO as colead e. g. South Sudan • CLA with NGO as co-lead e. g. more on sub-national level Question: How is it in your country? 15

The 7 core functions of a cluster Informing strategic decision-making of the HC/HCT for the humanitarian response Be accountable to affected population 16 mars 2018 16

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Question What you think should be minimum commitments for participation in the nutrition cluster? 18

Partner Commitments as per the Transformative Agenda… They should be regarded as an absolute minimum and a starting point: • Commitment to Humanitarian Principles and Principles of Partnership • Willingness to take on leadership (in working groups, sub-national level, etc. ) • Active participation • Capacity to contribute to Cluster’s Strategic Response Plan (SRP) 19

…Partner Commitments as per the Transformative Agenda • Readiness to participate in actions that specifically improve accountability to affected people • A demonstrated understanding of the duties and responsibilities associated with membership of the cluster, as defined by IASC • Commitment to mainstream cross-cutting issues (age, gender, etc) • Committed staff member • Commitment to work cooperatively with other cluster partners • Undertake Advocacy 20

A Statement of Commitment Build on comparative advantage Communication Complementarity Transparency Equality PRINCIPLES OF PARTNERSHIP Mutual respect Responsibility Commit only what can deliver Resultsoriented Coordinate capability & capacity

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IMC can expect from the Nutrition Cluster… • Coordination activities that support service delivery (tackling bottlenecks) • Strategic direction • Situation analysis/Trend analysis • Identification of needs, gaps and priorities in the response and adequate representation of these at higher levels • Mapping of activities, gaps and duplications • Monitoring and analysis of the response as a whole • Impartial discussion around humanitarian space • Joint advocacy • Common preparedness and contingency planning • Transparent resource allocation 16 mars 2018 23

… IMC responsibilities within the Nutrition Cluster… • Endorse and adhere to cluster coordination aims, objectives and principles of partnership (To. R) along with priorities and standards • Incorporate cluster objectives and support into agency workplans/ strategic planning • Sharing responsibilities : – Leadership role in co-lead of national/sub-national clusters (to be reflected in job descriptions 30%-100% of time depending on cluster) – Active member of strategic advisory group, technical working groups, collaborative assessments, project reviews • Contributing and guiding strategic debate and planning of nutrition cluster • Identifying advocacy concerns • Supporting preparedness activities • Providing technical expertise, opinion, debate and feedback on cluster activities and documents • Pro-active information-sharing and dissemination of IMC’s cutting edge innovative technical and programming experiences 16 mars 2018 24

…IMC’s participation in the Nutrition Cluster can improve • Cooperation and coordination with other partners (vital strong NGO “voice”, balance group dynamics) • Increased participation and capacity of local NGOs (coaching and mentoring of local partners to participate in cluster) • Information sharing and management given IMC’s strong M&E capacity key role to play in strengthening standardized cluster M&E systems • Participatory approaches • Use of relevant standards • Integration of cross-cutting issues and integration with other sectors Improve effectiveness of nutrition programming as a collective Increase impact of nutrition sector as a whole, not just IMC response, on affected populations • Based on what you have learned you will need to TASK develop a workplan to scale up IMC participation in the Nutrition Cluster of your country 16 mars 2018 25

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Question Myths regarding the cluster approach • The lack of technical partneris abe represented by CD, A staff can limitation for FALSE program coordinator, etc. . attendance to cluster activities Cluster coordination is part of the on-going job FALSE • Need programme of partner staff at dedicated to to be staff 100% field level and needs reflected/accounted participation nutrition cluster activities for active for in JD FALSE Cluster approach is a IASC concept • Cluster approach is only a UN approach

Key messages Partnership is key to have an effective cluster coordination mechanism Participating to the cluster is a win activity All partners are equaly important among the cluster coordination group

Wrap-up: did we meet our objectives for this training? Knowledge: Participants know the minimum commitments for participation in the cluster approach as well as the seven core cluster functions and the deliverables associated with these Skills: Participants are able to enhance participation in the cluster and guide improvements to core cluster functions within their own country contexts → Development of a workplan Attitude: Participants are aware of the responsibilities and benefits of working within the cluster approach, for IMC as an organisation but also for the humanitarian response a whole Time: total 1 h 30 16 mars 2018 29

Resources • http: //www. buildingabetterresponse. org/ • Global Nutrition Cluster Website: http: //nutritioncluster. net/ • Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC – interagency coordination for humanitarian assistance): http: //www. humanitarianinfo. org/iasc/ • Transformative Agenda Protocols: http: //www. humanitarianinfo. org/iasc/pageloader. aspx? page=contenttemplate-default&bd=87 • Reference Module for Cluster Coordination: file: ///C: /Users/agrant/Downloads/4. %20 Reference%20 module%20 for%2 0 Cluster%20 Coordination. pdf • Humanitarian Programme Cycle Reference Module: http: //www. humanitarianinfo. org/iasc/download. Doc. aspx? doc. ID=6732 • Nutrition Cluster Handbook: http: //nutritioncluster. net/wpcontent/uploads/sites/4/2013/09/GNC_Handbook_v 1_FINAL_no_links 1. p df • IASC Transformative Agenda – Operational Implications for NGOs: http: //www. interaction. org/sites/default/files/IASC%20 Transformative%2 0 Agenda%20 -%20 Operational%20 Implications%20 for%20 NGOs. pdf 30

Thank you for your time and participation! 16 mars 2018 31 From Relief to Self-Reliance