Evaluation of UNICEF's Cluster Lead Agency Role in Humanitarian Action

The cluster approach is an important vehicle to ensure adequate coordination of humanitarian response. Introduced in 2005 within the wider context of humanitarian reform, the cluster approach is organized along a two-tiered structure involving roles and responsibilities at both global and country levels. UNICEF serves as Global Cluster Lead Agency (CLA) for three Clusters: Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and, as co-CLA with Save the Children, for Education. In addition, UNICEF is Focal Point Agency for Child Protection area of responsibility (AOR) and co-Focal Point Agency with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the Gender-based Violence (GBV) AOR. UNICEF is the organization with the most clusters and AORs under its remit, and its cluster coordination accountabilities are enshrined in the organization’s Core Commitments for Children in emergencies (CCCs).

The UNICEF Evaluation Office commissioned a global evaluation of UNICEF’s CLA role to generate credible evidence for results achieved or not achieved by UNICEF in exercising its CLA role. By taking a forward-looking view while drawing on lessons from the past, this evaluation serves the dual purpose of promoting learning and accountability. The evaluation focuses on UNICEF’s fulfilment of its CLA role, not the wider results achieved by the clusters and their partners. Rather, the evaluation focuses more narrowly on UNICEF’s management of its own CLA responsibilities.