Summary of capacity building initiatives in the Global Clusters

The Global Nutrition Cluster Coordination Team with the support of RedR is happy to release the scoping report on the summary of capacity building initiatives in Cluster Coordination and Information Management at global level. 

The Global Nutrition Cluster is developing a Competency Development Strategy for the country-level and subnational coordination teams to establish a systematic and structured approach to learning and support UNICEF’s cluster coordination and information management functions in the context of an increasingly complex humanitarian environment. It recognizes the need to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies within cluster coordination staff and partners to support and improve cluster coordination functions.

RedR UK supported GNC through three projects:

1. Identification and analysis of the Coordination and Information Management capacity building initiatives among IASC Global Clusters (current report)
2. Analysis of Coordination and Information Management capacity building initiatives provided by the Global Nutrition Cluster partners, and  
3. The development of a competency framework for cluster coordination and information management 

The purpose of this report is to detail existing initiatives that are being carried out by the Humanitarian Clusters, at global level, to address Coordination and Information Management (IM). The findings are based on a combination of desk research and interviews with eight Global Cluster representatives.  

As the scoping report was prepared for the GNC, it excludes information on the capacity building initiatives of the GNC. For the summary of the GNC capacity building initiatives, visit its website here: https://www.nutritioncluster.net/CapacityStrengtheningbytopic

 Key Trends in Cluster Coordination and Information Management capacity building among global clusters identified as below.

• The use of competency frameworks to underpin capacity building initiatives is inconsistent.
• Combined cluster coordination and information management learning pathways offer a positive, if logistically complex, learning experience.
• The cost to develop and implement capacity building initiatives is difficult to isolate.
• Simulated Exercises (SimEx) are provided by several clusters and offer learners a dynamic and immersive opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in a practical context.
• Several clusters offer common content that relates to the core competencies of coordination and/or information management and are willing to share material
• Only the Shelter Cluster offers accredited training, though other clusters expressed an interest in pursuing accreditation
• All clusters interviewed expressed an interest in the development of capacity building initiatives that address inter-cluster coordination and information management

 Recommendations :

• Clusters should explore ways of sharing existing resources where possible.
• Where possible clusters should explore e-learning as a modality for delivering the theoretical aspect of coordination and IM training.
• Clusters should explore the possibility of an inter-cluster coordination training programme.
• Where possible clusters should explore andragogical approaches that bring together both coordination and IM in a multidisciplinary setting.
• Although not essential, programme accreditation is a way to add value for participants and encourage course participation.