From Relief to Self-Reliance

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

2. 1. Introduction and objective From Relief to Self-Reliance

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

4. 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 followAttitude: 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 wholeTime: total 1h30 (1 hour presentation + 30min questions and answers)

5. 2. Definitions: Humanitarian reform, transformative agenda and the cluster approach From Relief to Self-Reliance

6. Briefhistory Humanitarianreform 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

7. 2011 – IASC Principals Agree to Set of Transformative Actions • Strategic use of Clusters • Simplified Cluster management • Minimum Commitments for participation in Clusters • Strengthening NGO representation in the Humanitarian Country Team • Roster of Emergency Coordinators for Level 3 Emergencies • Empowered Leadership • Inter-Agency Rapid Response Mechanism • Leadership Training • Common Humanitarian Programme Cycle to achieve collective results • Assessment, strategic statement, resource allocation, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation • Common Performance and Reporting Framework • Accountability to Affected People

8. The Cluster System

9. The Cluster Approach Remember WHAT IS IT? • 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 • Enhanced accountability to affected populations .

10. The Cluster Approach Remember 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

11. QuestionTRUE 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:

12. 3. Roles, responsibilities and accountabilities within the cluster approach From Relief to Self-Reliance

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

14. Key roles and responsibilities within a cluster

15. Global Level Country Level Cluster Lead Agency Nutrition Cluster: Question: How is it in your country? 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 co-lead e.g. South Sudan CLA with NGO as co-lead e.g. more on sub-national level

16. The 7 core functions of a cluster Informing strategic decision-making of the HC/HCT for the humanitarian response Supporting Service Delivery Be accountable to affected population Planning and strategy development Contingency planning/preparedness/capacity-building Advocacy Monitoring and reporting

17. 4. Minimum commitments for participation in the cluster approach From Relief to Self-Reliance

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

19. Partner Commitments as per the Transformative Agenda… They should be regarded as an absolute minimumanda 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)

20. …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 responsibilitiesassociated 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

21. A Statement of Commitment Build on comparative advantage Communication Complementarity Transparency Results- oriented Equality Principles of Partnership Responsibility Mutual respect Coordinate capability & capacity Commit only what can deliver

22. 5. International Medical Corps engagement in the cluster approach From Relief to Self-Reliance

23. 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

24. … IMC responsibilities within the Nutrition Cluster… • Endorse and adhere to cluster coordination aims, objectives and principles of partnership (ToR) 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

25. …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

26. 6. Conclusion From Relief to Self-Reliance

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

28. Key messages Partnershipiskey to have an effective cluster coordination mechanism Participating to the cluster is a winwinactivity All partners are equaly important among the cluster coordination group

29. 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 workplanAttitude: 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 wholeTime: total 1h30

30. 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=content-template-default&bd=87 • Reference Module for Cluster Coordination: file:///C:/Users/agrant/Downloads/4.%20Reference%20module%20for%20Cluster%20Coordination.pdf • Humanitarian Programme Cycle Reference Module: http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc/downloadDoc.aspx?docID=6732 • Nutrition Cluster Handbook: http://nutritioncluster.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/09/GNC_Handbook_v1_FINAL_no_links1.pdf • IASC Transformative Agenda – Operational Implications for NGOs: http://www.interaction.org/sites/default/files/IASC%20Transformative%20Agenda%20-%20Operational%20Implications%20for%20NGOs.pdf

31. Thank you for your time and participation! From Relief to Self-Reliance