Food Security Cluster Coordinator (CST II) - Middle East - Syria - Damascus

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JOB PURPOSE 

The function of the Food Security Sector Coordinator is to ensure a timely, coherent and effective food security response by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a strategic and coordinated manner to the humanitarian crisis. The coordinator will operate in an inter-agency environment that requires high standards of accountability and demonstrable leadership, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills, and in which the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential. The Sector Coordinator will represent the Food Security Sector in coordination mechanisms and will advocate (or mainstreaming the integration of crosscutting activities into the sector's work, especially protection, age, gender, and diversity. He/she will work impartially with all members of the sector and its sub-components and will serve and represent the group as a whole, and not as an agency officer. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive) 

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director (Operations), the Food Security Cluster Coordinator, based in Damascus, will lead the Food Security Sector. The tasks and responsibilities are as follows: 

I. To drive service delivery by: 
- Facilitating a timely, coherent effective and coordinated food security response by mobilizing stakeholders in a strategic manner 
- Providing and maintaining a platform for humanitarian coordination mechanism that ensures cross functional coordination within the FSC partners and other clusters to ensure emergency preparedness and response is delivered in a coherent, integrated and efficient manner and is driven by the Whole of Syria Humanitarian Response Plan and transition priorities.
- Implementing common mechanisms to eliminate duplication and harmonization of service delivery. And actively promote application of common standards and harmonization of programmatic responses. 
- Ensuring that the Food Security Sector covers all identified food security needs of the affected population when possible, with a priority focus to the most food insecure. 

II. To inform the Humanitarian Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordination Team's strategic decision-making by: 
- Prepare and coordinate the Food Security Chapter of the Humanitarian Needs Overview based and the humanitarian response plan with inputs from food security assessments and analysis of gaps. 
- Supporting the Food Security Sector or inter-sector level food security needs assessments, including participatory assessments. 
- Identifying and finding solutions for (emerging) gaps, obstacles, duplication, and cross-cutting issues. 

III. To plan and implement the strategy by: 
- Provide transparent direction to the development of common funding criteria, resource mobilization and prioritization within the sector for inclusion in appeals and pooled funds processes. 
- Ensure an oversight and strong implementation of the Food Security and Agriculture Sector Strategy, and advocate and coordinate for a common prioritization and targeting approach across all sector partners and at WoS level. 
- Enhance subnational coordination in line with the food assistance targeting and prioritization strategy for 2024, strengthening subnational coordination to maintain operational coordination environment for the response. 
- Provide oversight to 4W' collection, collation, and dissemination of IM products to partners. Applying and adhering to common standards and guidelines. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (continued) 

IV. To monitor and evaluate performance by: 
- Periodically assessing the performance of the Food Security Sector through the utilization of the Cluster Performance Monitoring Tool and ensure that the information generated is then shared with partners for further learning and knowledge management. 
- Ensuring that sector coordination mechanisms are adapted over time to reflect the capacities of local actors and the engagement of development partners. 
- Ensure adequate reporting and effective information sharing, with due regard for age and sex disaggregation. 
- Ensure mainstreaming of cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues (e.g., gender, age, disability, environment, early recovery, protection, nutrition) and appropriate participatory and community-based approaches in cluster/inter-cluster needs assessments, analysis, planning , implementation and monitoring 
- Ensure timely, inclusive and regular information sharing and discussion with the cluster partners through various modalities including cluster meetings, email dissemination of cluster products and establishment of relevant technical working groups 

V. Build national capacity in preparedness and contingency planning. 
- Drawing lessons learned from past activities and revising transition implementation accordingly. 
- Serve as a forum devolving operational coordination and problem solving within the various Food Security coordination groups in the region. 
- Ensuring adequate contingency planning and preparedness for new emergencies and seasonal adaptation of responses at partner level at sub-national level. 

VI. Advocacy - Identifying concerns that contribute to HC and HCT messaging and action. 
- Undertaking advocacy on behalf of the sector, sector members, and affected people. 
- Represent the Food Security Sector in meetings with sectoral and external interlocutors.
 - Co-chair sector meetings with FAO or NGO co-coordinator. 
- Secure from sector participants, minimum commitments on participation in activities. 
- Initiate measures to ensure that Principles of Partnership are fully respected in managing coordination mechanisms. 
- Perform other duties as required. 

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

Education: Advanced university degree in international affairs, economics, agriculture economics, nutrition/health, agriculture, environmental science, social sciences, or other field relevant to international development assistance, or a first university degree with two (2) additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses. 

Experience: At least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience, preferably at international level, with a minimum of five (5) years of experience in humanitarian response including in the food security sector. 

Languages: Fluency in written and verbal English (Level C). Intermediate knowledge of Arabic (Level B) is desirable. 

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS 

Knowledge and expertise in food security modalities, excellent analytical and writing skills; excellent teamwork and management skills; excellent communication and interpersonal skills; and good negotiation and problem-solving skills. 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS International consultants have a competitive remuneration package, including medical insurance coverage. International consultants in Syria also benefit from monthly daily subsistence (DSA) allowance and danger pay allowances, and from a six (6) weeks R&R cycle. 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS In order to be considered, all applications must be received by 11:59pm (GMT+3) Monday 19/02/2024.

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