Associate Cluster Support Officer (CCCM)

Associate Cluster Support Officer (CCCM)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The conflict in Syria, into its fifth year, continues to cause massive displacement of Syrians now mostly within the country although sporadic influxes into Turkey continue.  Humanitarian needs in Syria have increased twelvefold since the beginning of the crisis, with 12.21 million in need of humanitarian assistance, including 7.6 million internally displaced people and more than 5.6 million children in need of assistance. Humanitarian needs in Syria have reached a record high, and the coping mechanisms of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and host communities are all but exhausted.
Recalling obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and UN guiding principles of humanitarian emergency assistance,  Resolutions 2139, 2165 & 2191 demands that all parties, in particular the Syrian authorities, facilitate the expansion of humanitarian relief operations and allow for rapid safe and unhindered humanitarian access for UN humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners, including across conflict lines and across borders, in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches people in need through the most direct routes.

Recognizing the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the systemic gaps in coordination, and following the adoption of resolutions 2139, 2165 and 2191 by the United Nations Security Council, humanitarian actors operating inside Syria from Damascus and from neighbouring countries launched the Whole of Syria (WOS) approach to develop a principled, predictable and coherent response to prioritized humanitarian needs.

Following the adoption of SCR 2165 in July 2014, UNHCR deployed a team to Gaziantep to support coordination, provided by OCHA, in the three clusters globally led by UNHCR to address the protection and assistance needs of the IDPs in Syria.

The Associate Cluster Support Officer (Camp Coordination and Camp Management) supports UNHCR to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The position reinforces the CCCM Cluster by supporting the daily responsibilities of Cluster Coordinator.

The Associate Cluster Support Officer (CCCM) is expected to facilitate the work of the CCCM Cluster through the provision of analysis, organization and reporting; and to impartially represent the interests of the members of the CCCM Cluster. This includes the provision of active support, as applicable, to sub-clusters or working groups of the Cluster which may be coordinated by other Agencies. As a result, the incumbent supports an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability, facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, in which respect the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- The CCCM needs of populations of concern are met through timely, appropriate, and coordinated action by all cluster members.
- Effective coordination mechanisms and tools, including information management, are established and maintained with cluster members, government counterparts and donors, ensuring timely and effective needs assessment, appropriate planning, prioritization, implementation, reporting and evaluation.
- Strategies and activities delivered by the CCCM Cluster enjoy political and/or financial support by other clusters, government, donors and other partners through effective prioritization, advocacy and resource mobilization.
- UNHCR performs its CCCM Cluster co-Lead Agency functions in a manner consistent with IASC standards and guidelines governing the Cluster Approach, in particular the IASC Generic Terms of Reference for Cluster Coordinators at the country level.

Responsibility
- Support the CCCM Cluster Coordinator provide coordination services, including organising meetings, in line with the Principles of Partnership, ensuring that cluster membership is inclusive, consultative and results-oriented.
- Ensure the availability of data to allow developing and designing various cluster related documents and tools.
- Ensure proper archiving of all CCCM strategic data and documents and act as the focal point to make the CCCM strategic document updated and accessible to the cluster members.
- Establish strong working relationships with all cluster members in order to facilitate effective collaboration and communication.
- Support conducting CCCM Cluster coordinated needs assessments indicatives, including participatory assessments and regular gap analysis.
- Ensure the timely access of the CCCM members to the CCCM analyses and work with the members to great a comprehensive assessment directory.
- Involve the cluster members to conduct an exhaustive mapping exercise for all on-going relevant needs assessments and gap analysis.
- Within the WoS responsibility, assist in developing context tailored assessment and monitoring tools with a special focus on the remote-management and remote-coordination approaches.
- Support conducting a capacity mapping exercise for the cluster members and identifying the main areas where capacity development activities are required.
- Assist in delivering CCCM and/or CM training activities for CCCM Cluster members, other local partners, and relevant authorities.
- Provide coaching and mentoring to the CCCM actors and CCCM team within UNHCR.
- Ensure that the logistical requirements of the capacity development initiatives are in place in terms of organising venues, developing the lists of participants and that the other relevant logistical and administrative requirements are met.
- Act as the focal point to ensure that the website of the CCCM is uploaded with all CCCM relevant documents and updates.
- Ensure that the meetings and other events calendar of the CCCM Cluster is updated on regular bases.
- Act as the focal point for the data filtering process and ensure that data is shared within the agreed data sharing protocol that was developed in agreement with the cluster members.
- Provide timely feedback on the progress reports for the CCCM related Humanitarian Polled Fund (HPF) projects and other activities. 
- Ensure that all reporting requirement of the CCCM are delivered on timely basis.
- Support Cluster Chair Coordinator in developing and/or improving information management within the cluster, including the development of standardized databases which can be used to capture relevant information for monitoring and planning purposes.
- Liaise with OCHA¿s Public Information Unit on the development of visual products and data-capturing systems in order to provide an effective service to cluster members and the humanitarian community as a whole.
- Contribute to reports and advocacy statements on behalf of the CCCM Cluster.

Authority
- Represent the CCCM Cluster in meetings with sectoral and external partners, authorities and other relevant interlocutors when needed.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- University degree in Law, Political Science, Economics, International Relations, Business Administration, Social Science or related fields or relevant field experience
- At least 4 years (2 years with advanced university degree) of relevant experience in different international organizations (e.g. UN agencies, INGOs, IOs, Donors, Red Cross Red Crescent). Work experience in the Region would be an advantage.
- Extensive knowledge of current humanitarian issues in the Middle East in general and in Syria specifically
- Sound knowledge of CCCM and protection technical guidelines and standards in remote management techniques.
- Excellent knowledge of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Demonstrated experience in cluster coordination, IASC guidelines and protection principles.
- Applied knowledge in UNHCR mandate, its policies and priorities in relation to IDPs and CCCM.
- Demonstrated expertise in program management and reporting requirements.