Cluster Coordination Guidance for Country Offices

The cluster approach was adopted to increase the effectiveness of humanitarian responses. At country level, it establishes a system for leadership and accountability of the international humanitarian response under the leadership of the humanitarian coordinator (HC). It makes clear the respective roles and responsibilities of the various agencies and provides a framework for effective partnership among international humanitarian actors, host governments, local authorities, local civil society agencies and affected populations. Globally, UNICEF is responsible for leading/co-leading three clusters: water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); nutrition; and education (co-led with Save the Children) and two areas of responsibility (AORs): child protection and gender-based violence (GBV) (co-led with the United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA), under the protection cluster. This document has been developed to assist UNICEF country offices to better fulfil Cluster Lead Agency  responsibilities in level 3 (L3) and other emergencies, with reference to relevant IASC protocols and guidance and relevant internal UNICEF reviews and evaluations.