Description of assignment title: WASH Cluster Coordinator

Assignment country: Somalia

Duty stations: Mogadiscio

Work location: UN Premises

Expected start date: 02/15/2026

Duration: 12 months(with possibility of extension)

Sustainable Development Goal: 6. Clean water and sanitation

Host entity: UNICEF

Modality: Onsite

Type: International

Volunteer category: Specialist

Work arrangement: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives:

• UNICEF is a key UN agency working in Somalia in various aeras such as WASH, Child Protection, Social Policy, Health and Nutrition, and Education sectors. With a population of 3,798,828 people and a significant youth and adolescent proportion forming a huge youth bulge, Somalia faces an unprecedented challenge in addressing the youth and adolescent needs of the people in a complex context where conflict, natural disasters and climate change divert resources from the needs of this important cohort of the population. Approximately 62% of the population is between 5-29 years old, while three-quarters (72%) of the population is less than 30 years old. The unemployment rate is high (estimated at 50%) that also contributes to poverty.

Context:

• • UNICEF is committed to support humanitarian coordination through the cluster approach. Introduced as part of the humanitarian reform, the cluster approach, aims at ensuring clear leadership, predictability and accountability in international responses to humanitarian emergencies by clarifying the division of labor among organizations and better defining their roles and responsibilities within the different sectors involved in the response. UNICEF works along with national and local stakeholders (including national and local authorities, CSOs, and communities) to support humanitarian coordination and to improve the collective impact of humanitarian response.
  • In order to achieve the above, the Somalia Country Office has developed a cluster coordination governance structure which will be rolled out in 2026. Under this structure, UNICEF overall accountability lies with the Representative and is delegated to the relevant Section Chiefs, who report through the Deputy Representative-Programme (DRP). Overall technical accountability rests with the respective Section Chief/cluster coordinator, with implementation responsibilities delegated within the section based on capacity, and with a clear vision for progressive transfer of skills. In the case of the WASH cluster, an International UN Volunteer is required to support the Chief of WASH and his team by providing coordination related deliverables outlined in the section below.
  • The International UN Volunteer will not assume managerial, supervisory, representational, or decision making responsibilities reserved for UNICEF staff. All leadership, partner engagement, external representation, and accountability remain fully with UNICEF staff. International UN Volunteer will provide specialized, time bound technical support to the UNICEF Somalia WASH Section to develop analytical products, frameworks, strategies, and coordination tools required for effective WASH Cluster coordination.

Task description:

• Under the overall direction of the Representative and working closely under the supervision of Chief of WASH, the IUNV will facilitate the processes that will ensure an efficient, effective, and well-coordinated response to the humanitarian crisis by building relationships with stakeholders and support the overall coordination of the WASH sectoral response and inter-sectoral collaboration by undertaking the following deliverables and outputs:
• Cluster Coordination:
• Works with UNICEF to ensure a coordination mechanism is established and maintained that facilitates the effective achievement of the cluster functions (as outlined by the IASC Reference Module) and the requirements of the HPC (HNO, HRP and CCPM), and which builds on pre-existing coordination structures where appropriate and furthers the development of current or future national and subnational capacities.
• Works with UNICEF on the functioning of any sub-national or hub Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group where they exist, ensuring alignment of work and priorities, effective communication, reporting, engagement and coordination between the levels.
• Ensures appropriate coordination and builds partnerships with all relevant sector stakeholders including government counterparts and national authorities, local, national and international organizations and affected populations.
• Build complementarity of partner actions within the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group, pro-actively negotiating with a wide range of partners to avoid and resolve duplication and gaps and taking action to resolve any conflict or systemic challenges arising from within or beyond the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group,
• Coordinate and collaborate with stakeholders across all sectors, including through inter-cluster coordination fora, developing cross-sectoral relationships as appropriate.
• Needs assessment and analysis:
• Support the planning and implementation of needs assessment and analysis and taking a leading role in multi-sectoral needs assessments and joint analysis of need, at national and subnational levels.
• Analyze needs assessment data and work collaboratively with the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group partners to create analytical products, including an HNO based on evidence-based information.
• Strategic response planning:
• Support strategic planning, recommend response prioritization and the development of the sectoral response plan that is based on the HNO and aligned with national priorities, policies and plans,
• Ensure all programme delivery modalities (in-kind, cash, voucher and services) are given equal consideration in the strategic response planning and establish and implement systematic measures for supporting their consideration and use.
• Provide high-level technical expertise to drive strategic-level discussion and ensure the sectoral response addresses national priorities and affected populations’ needs drawing on the latest innovations and research,
• Ensure that the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group response plan is updated regularly according to evolving needs and that it establishes indicators by which performance of the cluster can be measured.
• Engage with OCHA and other AoRs/ Clusters/ Sectors/ Working Groups to contribute to the development of the HRP, advocating for a response that reflects and addresses the concerns of the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group.
• Resource mobilization and advocacy:
• Support and coordinate the mobilization and equitable allocation of adequate resources as determined by UNICEF/Cluster to ensure the effective functioning of the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group and its response, identifying and taking actions or make recommendations to resolve any ongoing or potential future challenges that impact partners’ access to resources and subsequent handing over and establishment of medium to long term capacities when the cluster approach is deactivated;
• Monitor, analyse and communicate information about the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group’s financial situation and resource mobilization and identify recommendations and appropriate actions to address gaps or constraints.
• Advocate for improved sectoral outcomes, by developing an advocacy strategy, networking with advocacy allies, influencing stakeholders’ decision-making and ensuring that advocacy activities are adequately resourced.
• Implementation and monitoring:
• Monitor, evaluate and report on the coverage, equity, quality and progress of the response against the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group strategy, priorities and agreed results.
• Plan and oversee gap and coverage analysis to identify spatial and temporal gaps, overlaps and coverage of the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group humanitarian response.
• Operational peer review and evaluation:
• Support the annual cluster coordination performance monitoring (CCPM) exercise and annual review and contribute to other sectoral and humanitarian evaluations as appropriate.
• Accountability to affected populations:
• Support the establishment of inclusive and consultative feedback mechanisms, creating meaningful opportunities for the involvement of the affected population in the response and encouraging partners to operate accountably,
• Ensure the inclusion of cross cutting issues (age, child protection, disability, gender, gender-based violence (GBV) mitigation and response and HIV & AIDS) in Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group activities throughout the HPC.
• Support the establishment and implementation of systematic measures for supporting inclusive work practices and processes.
• Adhere to child safeguarding and PSEA policies including procedures for challenging and reporting incidents and ensure other members of the coordination team comply.
• Strengthen national and local capacity:
• Encourage participation of local and national actors in Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group activities and strategic decision-making, removing barriers to access.
• Support the development of a capacity assessment and capacity strengthening strategy for Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group members and oversee implementation and harmonization of initiatives.
• Support early warning, contingency planning, and emergency preparedness efforts for the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group, ensuring adequate cluster participation in inter-cluster early warning, contingency planning and emergency preparedness activities.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 – 80

Required experience: 3 years

Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience:

• 10 years

Languages:

• English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, sciences, social fields, environmental sciences or any other relevant specialization.

Competencies and values:

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organizing
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Skills and experience:

• Minimum of 10 years professional relevant experience related to humanitarian support and coordination, particularly in the areas related to Water, Hygiene and Sanitation.
• Professional experience in WASH-related programme planning and management.
• Professional experience in the area of WASH Cluster/Sector/Working Group coordination.
• Experience in emergency response in international settings;
• Relevant experience in programme management in Water, Hygiene and Sanitation related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Experience in humanitarian contexts is required with experience in development contexts an added advantage.
• Fluency in English

Area(s) of expertise:

• Development programmes, Energy and environment , Engineering and construction

International consultant- WASH Cluster Coordinator, Mogadishu, Somalia-11 Months

Job no: 590600

Position type: Consultant

Location: Somalia

Division/Equivalent: Nairobi Regn’l(ESARO)

School/Unit: Somalia

Department/Office: Mogadiscio, Somalia

Categories: WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to the prevention, care, and hope.

How can you make a difference?

1.Cluster Coordination:

• • Works with UNICEF to ensure a coordination mechanism is established and maintained that facilitates the effective achievement of the cluster functions (as outlined by the IASC Reference Module) and the requirements of the HPC (HNO, HRP and CCPM), and which builds on pre-existing coordination structures where appropriate and furthers the development of current or future national and subnational capacities.
  • Works with UNICEF on the functioning of any sub-national or hub Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group where they exist, ensuring alignment of work and priorities, effective communication, reporting, engagement and coordination between the levels.

• • Ensures appropriate coordination and builds partnerships with all relevant sector stakeholders including government counterparts and national authorities, local, national and international organizations and affected populations.

• Build complementarity of partner actions within the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group, pro-actively negotiating with a wide range of partners to avoid and resolve duplication and gaps and taking action to resolve any conflict or systemic challenges arising from within or beyond the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group,
• Coordinate and collaborate with stakeholders across all sectors, including through inter-cluster coordination fora, developing cross-sectoral relationships as appropriate.

2. Needs assessment and analysis:

• Support the planning and implementation of needs assessment and analysis and taking a leading role in multi-sectoral needs assessments and joint analysis of need, at national and subnational levels;
• Analyze needs assessment data and work collaboratively with the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group partners to create analytical products, including an HNO based on evidence-based information.

3. Strategic response planning:

• Support strategic planning, recommend response prioritization and the development of the sectoral response plan that is based on the HNO and aligned with national priorities, policies and plans,
• Ensure all programme delivery modalities (in-kind, cash, voucher and services) are given equal consideration in the strategic response planning and establish and implement systematic measures for supporting their consideration and use.
• Provide high-level technical expertise to drive strategic-level discussion and ensure the sectoral response addresses national priorities and affected populations’ needs drawing on the latest innovations and research,
• Ensure that the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group response plan is updated regularly according to evolving needs and that it establishes indicators by which performance of the cluster can be measured.
• Engage with OCHA and other AoRs/ Clusters/ Sectors/ Working Groups to contribute to the development of the HRP, advocating for a response that reflects and addresses the concerns of the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group.

4. Resource mobilization and advocacy:

• Support and coordinate the mobilization and equitable allocation of adequate resources as determined by UNICEF/Cluster to ensure the effective functioning of the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group and its response, identifying and taking actions or make recommendations to resolve any ongoing or potential future challenges that impact partners’ access to resources and subsequent handing over and establishment of medium to long term capacities when the cluster approach is deactivated;
• Monitor, analyse and communicate information about the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group’s financial situation and resource mobilization and identify recommendations and appropriate actions to address gaps or constraints;
• Advocate for improved sectoral outcomes, by developing an advocacy strategy, networking with advocacy allies, influencing stakeholders’ decision-making and ensuring that advocacy activities are adequately resourced.

5. Implementation and monitoring:

• Plan and oversee gap and coverage analysis to identify spatial and temporal gaps, overlaps and coverage of the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group humanitarian response.
• Monitor Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group adherence to IASC cluster approach principles, relevant humanitarian and sectoral agreements, standards, initiatives and guidelines and provide systemic advice and support to make improvements.

6. Operational peer review and evaluation:

• Support the annual cluster coordination performance monitoring (CCPM) exercise and annual review and contribute to other sectoral and humanitarian evaluations as appropriate.

7. Accountability to affected populations:

• Support the establishment of inclusive and consultative feedback mechanisms, creating meaningful opportunities for the involvement of the affected population in the response and encouraging partners to operate accountably,
• Ensure the inclusion of cross cutting issues (age, child protection, disability, gender, gender-based violence (GBV) mitigation and response and HIV & AIDS) in Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group activities throughout the HPC.
• Support the establishment and implementation of systematic measures for supporting inclusive work practices and processes.
• Adhere to child safeguarding and PSEA policies including procedures for challenging and reporting incidents and ensure other members of the coordination team comply.

8. Strengthen national and local capacity:

• Encourage participation of local and national actors in Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group activities and strategic decision-making, removing barriers to access.
• Support the development of a capacity assessment and capacity strengthening strategy for Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group members and oversee implementation and harmonization of initiatives.
• Support early warning, contingency planning, and emergency preparedness efforts for the Cluster/ Sector/ Working Group, ensuring adequate cluster participation in inter-cluster early warning, contingency planning and emergency preparedness activities.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Bachelor degree in Engineering, sciences, social fields, environmental sciences or any other relevant specialization.
• A minimum of 10 years professional relevant experience related to humanitarian support and coordination, particularly in the area of WASH.
• Professional experience in WASH-related programme planning and management.
• Professional experience in the area of WASH Cluster/Sector/Working Group coordination.
• Experience in emergency response in international settings
• Relevant experience in programme management in WASH related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Experience in humanitarian contexts is required with experience in development contexts an added advantage.
• Fluency in English.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

Kindly include an all-inclusive financial proposal. Applications without the financial proposal will not be considered.

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Advertised: Jan 26 2026 E. Africa Standard Time

Application close: Feb 04 2026 E. Africa Standard Time