The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. IRC works in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities to help restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home. The International Rescue Committee has been working in Somalia since 2006, providing essential services to conflict and disaster affected communities. The IRC is operational in Banadir, Southwest, Galmudug and Puntland regions implementing interventions in the areas of Economic Recovery and Development, WASH, Women Protection and Environment, Governance, and Health and Nutrition.
Jobe Overview:
Based in Somalia, the Somalia Nutrition cluster Co-coordinator will work closely with the nutrition cluster coordinator to strengthen coordination performance, to improve the quality and coverage of the Nutrition Cluster response, and to enhance NGO representation and participation in nutrition coordination. He/she will also execute other IRC designated responsibilities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Support service delivery*:*
- Regularly liaise with the “Lead agencies” and CLA LGA facilitators at the LGA level to identify progress, gaps, bottlenecks, and challenges in implementation of nutrition responses, and communicate/feedback to the Cluster coordinator and propose corrective actions (if needed)
- Support the Cluster Coordination team in organizing of and participating in regular cluster coordination meetings and information sharing to ensure appropriate coordination between all nutrition humanitarian partners, including provision of inputs for the agenda, information and evidence sharing to inform cluster partners discussions, and facilitation of sessions related to strengthening emergency nutrition responses in priority locations;
- Identify and liaise with FSL and other cluster’s partners to advocate for integration of nutrition sensitive interventions and nutrition indicators into their respective response plans and where feasible; propose corrective actions, if needed.
- Provide regular inputs from cluster’s partners for Nutrition cluster information management products, bulletins, etc., including needs, gaps, supply pipeline updates, etc;
- Act as a Cluster Coordinator in the absence of the CLA Cluster Coordinator by, which includes management of another cluster coordination team member (IMO).
- Information strategic decision-making of the HC/HCT for the humanitarian response.
- Participate or coordinate and support the cluster coordinator to input into humanitarian needs overview (HNO/HRP), Cadre Harmonize analysis, etc.,
- Represent the cluster coordination team in the ISWG in the absence of the Cluster coordinator and other relevant technical working groups where needed and lead discussion related to analysis of nutrition information.
- Coordinate with the UNICEF/WFP RRM and other rapid response mechanisms in identifying location for intervention based on cluster priorities, mobilizing partners to participate in the Missions and analyzing all data generated by RRM teams.
- In collaboration with the SPHCDA, IMTWG and with other clusters, ensure nutrition assessments are conducted using standardized tools and methods.
- Ensure representation of nutrition cluster in the Food Security & Livelihoods, WASH, Health and Education Clusters by regularly attending meeting organized by those clusters/clusters.
- Prioritization, grounded in response analysis.
- Support the development of Nutrition Cluster strategies and plans, based on solid analysis of the situation; for the cluster to prepare for and respond appropriately to emergencies.
- As a member of the cluster coordination team, provide relevant inputs to the development and revision of the Nutrition Cluster Strategic Response Plans (HRP) as required. As part of this process, ensure that gaps and duplications are identified and appropriately addressed.
- As member of the cluster coordination team, develop a contingency and preparedness plan for new emergencies, including the related assessment and analysis needed and capacity required by cluster partner, and ensure this is adequately reflected in the overall humanitarian country strategy and response plan.
- Ensure that OCHA identified priority crosscutting issues, including gender, disability, HIV and environment; are fully integrated into the nutrition cluster strategy and nutrition cluster partner projects, in line with ISAC guidance and international best practices with specific focus on ensuring cross-cutting issues are addressed in nutrition survey plans, methodologies, etc.
- Advocacy
- Conduct analysis and write up of the nutrition cluster information from the various sources and share nutrition briefings with stakeholders and monthly situation analysis with the humanitarian community.
- Identify core nutrition advocacy concerns, including resource requirements related to nutrition response, surveys/assessments, and contribute key messages to the broader advocacy initiatives of the HCT.
- Advocate for donors to fund Nutrition Cluster partners to carry out activities in line with the Nutrition Cluster strategies and identified priorities while at the same time encouraging cluster participants to mobilize resources for their activities through the usual channels.
- Monitoring and reporting the implementation of the cluster strategy and results
- In collaboration with the Cluster Coordinator, guide the work of the Information Management Officer to maintain a functional Nutrition Cluster Information Management system; which includes Monthly Partner Reporting, Nutrition Partner database and 5W Matrixes; Gap analysis mapping database, Repository of Nutrition Surveys and Cluster Website.
- Ensure regular monitoring of nutrition surveys/assessments activities and coordination against cluster indicators, including activity at operational level (quality, coverage, continuity, and cost).
- Submit regular Cluster reports to OCHA and UNICEF in line with reporting requirements (monthly/quarterly).
- The cluster co-lead is expected to spend at least 40% of his/her time in field monitoring responses and supporting partners in improving quality coordinated response.
- Training and capacity development of national/local authorities and civil society
- Identify capacity-building needs for the cluster, coordinate and support the training/ capacity strengthen activities of humanitarian partners; based on capacity mapping and understanding of available personnel and institutional capacities.
- Support efforts to strengthen the capacity of FMOH and other subnational level authorities and civil society on emergency nutrition coordination, responses, and assessments.
- Collaborate with the nutrition cluster TWGs to organize/conduct training aimed at improving the capacity of partners in conducting SMART surveys, IYCF-E and CMAM programs coverage assessments.
- Accountability to affected population (AAP)
- Support in ensuring that the nutrition cluster framework on accountability to affected population is integrated, implemented by nutrition cluster partners, monitored, and reported accordingly.
- Monitor the implementation of the core cluster indicators on AAP that have been agreed with all nutrition cluster partners.
- NGO Focal person:
- Act as a focal point for receiving NGO concerns or complaints in order to raise these with the Nutrition Cluster Coordinator and the Cluster Lead Agency to strengthen accountability and transparency of the cluster’s decisions and work.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- At least 5 years of experience in global health or humanitarian policy, advocacy, or research uptake required.
- At least three years of nutrition policy, advocacy, research uptake, or communications required.
- Demonstrable technical understanding of nutrition and/or public health and the humanitarian and cluster system.
- Prior experience working directly with the Ministry of Health and with civil society organizations.
- Experience working with UN an asset.
DEMOSTRATED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
- Expertise in communications: proven ability to develop materials e.g strategy papers, Concept notes, SOPs, ToRs, and presentations for external audiences.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills; ability to communicate with many and diverse audiences; you listen intently and actively to all audiences; your communication is direct, simple, and respectful.
- Strong negotiation, influencing and networking skills.
- Advocacy experience with Somali national policies strongly desired
EDUCATION:
- Master’s degree in nutrition, public health, public policy, or another closely related field strongly desirable.
PREFERED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
- Good understanding of cluster and the humanitarian system.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
- Standard office working environment. You may be required to share workspace.
- Some travel as needed up to 20%
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, physical or mental ability, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.
IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
