How to apply for Call for tender: WASH Cluster Coordinator & Assessment Specialist – Global WASH cluster/Field Support Team

About Action contre la Faim France

Action contre la Faim (ACF) is a leading international humanitarian organization fighting hunger and malnutrition worldwide, with a strong reputation for innovation and field-driven solutions. Its partnership with the Global WASH Cluster (GWC) through the Field Support Team (FST) places it at the heart of humanitarian coordination, offering unique opportunities to shape WASH responses in crisis-affected contexts. Working here means contributing to a legacy of impact while collaborating with top experts in the sector.

About the role

This role involves either coordinating national WASH clusters in humanitarian emergencies or leading assessments to improve WASH coordination and response. As part of the FST, you will provide surge support, remote technical assistance, and capacity-strengthening to country-level platforms, directly influencing the quality and effectiveness of humanitarian WASH interventions. The position is remote but may require deployments to crisis zones, making it both challenging and deeply rewarding.

A typical day

A typical day might involve providing remote support to a national WASH cluster, reviewing assessment data, facilitating a virtual coordination meeting, and developing tools or guidance for field teams. You could also be deployed to a crisis-affected country, where you would coordinate with local partners, lead assessments, and ensure that WASH responses are aligned with cluster priorities. The role is dynamic, requiring flexibility to shift between strategic coordination and hands-on support.

Who Action contre la Faim France is looking for

• Extensive experience in WASH coordination in humanitarian settings, including familiarity with cluster systems and the IASC coordination architecture.
• Proven expertise in assessments (for the Assessment Specialist role) or cluster coordination (for the Coordinator roles), with a strong understanding of needs analysis and response planning.
• Demonstrated ability to work remotely and adapt to diverse cultural contexts, with fluency in English and preferably French or another UN language.
• Experience in capacity building, tool development, and remote support to field teams, with strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your CV to highlight specific WASH cluster coordination or assessment experience, using keywords from the job description such as 'surge support', 'Helpdesk', 'remote technical assistance', and 'capacity-strengthening'.
• In your cover letter, explicitly state which role you are applying for (Assessment Specialist or WASH Cluster Coordinator) and why you are suited for that specific function.
• Demonstrate familiarity with the Global WASH Cluster and the FST project by referencing their tools, guidelines, or past deployments in your application.
• Provide concrete examples of how you have supported national coordination platforms in the past, including challenges faced and outcomes achieved.
• If applying for the roster, indicate your availability for time-bound surge assignments and any constraints, as this is a key consideration for the tender.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your understanding of the FST's role within the GWC and how you can contribute to its objectives.", 'Specific examples of successful coordination or assessment work in humanitarian WASH contexts, with measurable results.', 'Your ability to work remotely and provide surge support, including experience with remote tools and methodologies.', "Your commitment to ACF's values and the principles of humanitarian coordination, and how you would add value to the team."]

Research before applying

• Review the Global WASH Cluster website, particularly the Field Support Team page, to understand its structure, mission, and recent activities.
• Research Action contre la Faim's WASH programs and their approach to humanitarian coordination to align your application with their methodologies.
• Familiarize yourself with current humanitarian WASH crises and the coordination challenges in contexts where the FST is active.
• Understand the IASC cluster system and the role of the Global WASH Cluster within it, including key documents like the Humanitarian Programme Cycle.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Describe a time when you coordinated a WASH cluster in a complex emergency. What were the key challenges and how did you address them?
• How would you approach conducting a rapid WASH assessment in a new emergency, ensuring coordination with other sectors?
• What strategies have you used to strengthen the capacity of national WASH coordination platforms remotely?
• How do you ensure that WASH coordination is inclusive and accountable to affected populations?
• Discuss your experience with the Global WASH Cluster's tools and guidelines, and how you have applied them in practice.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic application that does not clearly specify which role you are applying for or demonstrate tailored experience.
• Failing to show familiarity with the Global WASH Cluster and the FST, indicating a lack of genuine interest in the specific project.
• Overlooking the remote nature of the role and not addressing how you manage remote work and deployments effectively.