UNICEF Global Course on EiE
Module 1. Education in emergencies coordination
Cluster approach
1. Benefits and challenges
The coordination for Education in Emergencies is a challenge but it is needed because
the benefits are worth it.
Benefits
 Joint assessment/analysis, planning
and strategy.
 Avoids overlap, duplication of efforts
and activities.
 Maximises resources.
 Division of responsibility and
geographic coverage.
 Strengthens advocacy and
mobilization of resources.
 Strengthens support for the
government.
 Can lead to standardization of
approaches tools, and
implementation.
 Greater community participation.
Challenges
 Lack of clear definitions of roles and
responsibilities.
 Lack of leadership skills.
 Weak meeting and planning.
 Lack of joint objectives.
 No communication and information
strategies in data and information
management.
 Duplication of effort.
 Personality clashes.
 Competing agency agendas,
mandates or strategies.
 Too process-orientated.
 Resource constraints.
 Lack of accountability.
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UNICEF Global Course on EiE
Module 1. Education in emergencies coordination

2. The beginning of the cluster approach

In 2005, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) started a major reform

process to improve predictability, timeliness and effectiveness of response.

One of the key outcomes was the adoption of a cluster approach which is
the primary mechanism for interagency humanitarian coordination involving
United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations.

The Global Education Cluster was established in 2006.

Who? When to active it? When to deactivate

Clusters are  A response and it?
established as part of coordination gap  At least one of the
an international exists due to a sharp activation conditions
humanitarian response. deterioration or is no longer present.
They are based on an significant change in  National structures
analysis of a humanitarian acquire sufficient
humanitarian needs situation. capacity to
and coordination  The existing national coordinate and meet
capacities on the response or residual
ground and in coordination capacity humanitarian needs
consultation with is unable to meet in line with
national partners. needs in a manner humanitarian
that respects principles.
humanitarian
principles.

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UNICEF Global Course on EiE
Module 1. Case Study: Crisis Sensitive Education Sector Plan

3. Sector-specific clusters
There are eleven sector-specific clusters. Each one has a globally assigned lead
agency that will also usually be the lead agency at the country level.

The global education
cluster is co-led by
UNICEF and Save the
Children (the only
cluster
co-led by an NGO).
It is based in Geneva.
Work team
The Education Cluster Team is staffed by Save the
Children and UNICEF. The Cluster Team works to
support education clusters by providing guidance
and managing the deployment of the Rapid
Response Team. This Team coordinates information
management and has needs assessment experts
who are rapidly deployable to support coordination at
the country level in humanitarian crises.

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UNICEF Global Course on EiE
Module 1. Case Study: Crisis Sensitive Education Sector Plan

4. Cluster core functions

The role of education clusters at the national level is to help ensure effective
implementation of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC).

This objective means:

 coordinating needs
assessments and analysis for
a shared understanding of
needs.
 planning and developing
harmonized strategies for the
response, assisting with
effective and prioritized
mobilization of resources and
helping partners to implement
the response plan.
 managing and monitoring the
collective response and
facilitates evaluations
regarding the effectiveness of
the response.

The cluster core reference module is summarized into six core functions as
follows:
 To support education service delivery.
 To Inform the Humanitarian Coordinator and Humanitarian Country Teams
strategic decision-making for issues related to education.
 To plan and develop the education sector strategy.
 To monitor and evaluate education sector performance.
 To build national capacity in education preparedness and contingency planning.
 To advocate for education issues and accountability to affected people.

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UNICEF Global Course on EiE
Module 1. Case Study: Crisis Sensitive Education Sector Plan

5. Education cluster strategies

All education clusters should have a strategy in place that guides partners.

Strategy document Strategy development

This education cluster strategy is a
consultative-lead process from
inception to the developed document
with an operational plan for
responding to an emergency.
This document can be shared with
relevant stakeholders and updated.
The strategy development will bring
together cluster partners and key
stakeholders around a single unified
analysis and understanding of needs,
plus a coordinated plan for best
meeting those needs.
The education cluster strategy
development process is based on
four principles:
 Consultation.
 Evidence.
 Harmonization.
 Continuity and alignment.

6. Core humanitarian standard

Clusters are responsible for helping to ensure that the Core Humanitarian Standard
(CHS) on quality and accountability is considered and implemented throughout the
Humanitarian Programme Cycle.

The nine commitments in the

CHS aim to improve the
quality and effectiveness of
humanitarian assistance while
facilitating greater
accountability to communities
and people affected by crisis.

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UNICEF Global Course on EiE
Module 1. Case Study: Crisis Sensitive Education Sector Plan

7. Education cluster linkages

The education cluster is linked with many important key actors and stakeholders. It
includes:
 most importantly an affected population.
 the Ministry of Education and other government actors.
 education partners and stakeholders (also NGOs and UN agencies).
 the humanitarian country team and inter-cluster colleagues.
 donors, and development actors as well as links outside the country like the Global
Education cluster, regional offices and global strategic partners.

8. Support for the Ministry of Education

Education cluster objectives:
 Supporting the Ministry of Education
in leading the emergency response.
 Improving partnerships among all
education stakeholders.
 Strengthening capacity at a national
and local level.
How to achieve its goals?
 Facilitating information sharing.
 Joint programming.
 Shared technical expertise.
In doing so, the cluster takes into
account the long-term capacity for
disaster preparedness and response.

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