Somalia/Somaliland Project Coordinator

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JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Somalia/Somaliland Project Coordinator

LOCATION: Hargeisa-based, with frequent travel within the Somali region

PURPOSE: To support implementation of Saferworld's Somalia/Somaliland programmes

REPORTING TO: Project Manager - Non-State Actors Project

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Somalia/Somaliland Programme Manager

Head of Programme (Horn of Africa) Somali Programme Adviser

Project Officer - Non-State Actors Project

Advocacy and Research Officer - Non-State Actors Project

Project Coordinator - Community Safety Project Three Somali Non-State Actor platforms

Operations team (Nairobi and London)

BACKGROUND
Saferworld is an independent non-governmental organisation that works to prevent and reduce violent conflict and promote cooperative approaches to security. We work with civil society, governments and international organisations to encourage and support effective policies and practices through advocacy, research and policy development, and through supporting the development of local capacities and structures.
 

Saferworld has been working in Africa since 1997, with a primary focus upon East Africa and the Horn region. We have well-established programmes in Kenya, Uganda, Somalia and Sudan. In addition, Saferworld supports regional and international conflict prevention and security processes. Saferworld's headquarter is in London, with a regional offices in Nairobi and Kampala and a country office in Juba. The Somalia/Somaliland programme is managed from Saferworld's Nairobi office.
 

The main focus of this role is upon the implementation of Saferworld's Somali Non-State Actors projects, a process that Saferworld has been supporting for the past six years. The process aims to strengthen the participation of Somali Non-State Actors in national and international decision-making on peace, security and development through supporting the development and capacity-building of NSA platforms in the three Somali regions.

The Project (Field) Coordinator's primary role is to strengthen Saferworld's implementation of NSA project activities, especially as they relate to the capacity development of NSA platforms. The Field Coordinator will ensure good communication between Saferworld programme staff and the NSA platforms especially through regular face-to-face interaction with NSA platform secretariats. In collaboration with the Somali Programme Adviser, the Field Coordinator will provide timely, unbiased and culturally-sensitive advice to Saferworld's Programme Management and make Saferworld's approach to working with Non-State Actor platforms and other Somali partners as appropriate and constructive as possible. This entails developing strong institutional relationships with the three NSA platforms and other Somali stake-holders, and providing close support and technical advice with regard to capacity-building of the NSA platforms and their engagement in policy dialogue. The post-holder will work closely with the Somalia/Somaliland Project Manager who is responsible for managing the technical aspects of Saferworld's programme in Somalia/Somaliland, including planning and monitoring programme implementation and expenditure, and donor reporting.
 

The relevant strategic directions of the Somali programme are:

• To provide timely analysis and policy-relevant advocacy on peace, security and development issues

• To develop the organisational and institutional capacities of the NSA platforms in South-Central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland;

• To strengthen the capacities of NSAs to participate in policy dialogue on issues of peace, security and development with Somali and international actors;

• To enhance the capacity of key Somali stakeholders to address community safety in Somalia/Somaliland on a more sustained and inclusive basis and thereby lead to the reduction of armed violence.
   

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Context analysis and strategy development

• Help to elaborate Saferworld's strategy for building the capacities of the three NSA platforms;

• Support and advise the three NSA platforms regarding the development of their own strategies in line with the overall programme strategy;

• Contribute to Saferworld's Somalia/Somaliland general country strategy papers and new project proposals.

Programme implementation

• To maintain and further develop strong institutional partnerships between Saferworld and the NSA platforms;

• To identify capacity-building needs of the NSA platforms, and provide close support and technical advice in order to strengthen the platforms capacities;

• Support and advise the three NSA platforms on implementing their strategies and activities;

• To support the NSA platforms develop and implement internal policies, procedures, programme strategies, workplans;

• Support to NSA platforms consultation, policy dialogue and advocacy processes;

• To operationalise NSA programme monitoring frameworks;

• In collaboration with Saferworld and NSA platform teams to identify policy development opportunities, and provide technical support for NSAs participation in policy processes.

Reporting

• To provide feedback to NSA platform staff and other Somali partners on their reports;

• To provide regular internal reports to Saferworld management on progress with programme activities and planned results;

• To provide input into Saferworld narrative reports to donors, and other related documents, as required.

Representation

• Represent Saferworld and partners at meetings with other Somalia-related NGOs and agencies

• To maintain good relations with Saferworld¡¦s former Somali partner organisations, and to develop relations with other relevant actors, including the Somali authorities

• In coordination with the Programme Management to strengthen Saferworld¡¦s interaction with the NSA platforms and contacts and coordination with other Somali and international actors (governmental and NGO) engaged in Somalia

• In coordination with the Programme Management, to maintain good relations with the EC (Programmes and Finance sections) and other programme donors.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• A BA (MA an added advantage) in peace/conflict studies, development, international relations (or equivalent professional experience)

• A minimum of 5 years experience working on institutional development and policy dialogue processes with NSA networks in Somalia/Somaliland

• Good understanding of Somali political and cultural dynamics, and ability to work in a non-partisan manner, sensitive to ethnic differences

• Experience of working in complex and politically-sensitive contexts, and excellent political judgement especially within Somalia/Somaliland

• Experience of developing and implementing strategies for civil society capacity-building

• Project management skills and experience

• Extensive experience of building capacity through facilitation of training events and on the job capacity building

• Experience of supporting civil society/NSA engagement with state and international actors would be an advantage

• Knowledge of: security sector development, small arms control and/or conflict-sensitive development would be an advantage

• Good written and spoken English

• Excellent written and spoken Somali

• A team player: able to demonstrate a constructive, cooperative and problem-solving approach

• Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout Somalia/Somaliland (security permitting).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Location: The position is based in Hargeisa, Somaliland with frequent travel within Somalia/Somaliland and to Nairobi and other destinations
 

Probation: There will be a probationary period of three months
 

Salary: Competitive salary commensurate with experience
 

Pension: 6% pension contribution after 6 months service
 

Medical Ins.: For spouse and up to three children under 19 years
 

Holidays: There are 25 days holiday a year (Jan-Dec) in addition to relevant public holidays
 

Hours: Standard working week is 37.5 hours a week. However, the demands of the job are likely to be such that a willingness to work longer hours, as required, will be necessary
 

Travel: Frequent travel within Somalia/Somaliland (approximately six months of the year)
 

APPLICATION PROCESS
Please email covering letter, detailing how you meet the selection criteria along with your CV including the contact details of 3 references: recruitment@saferworld.org.uk . Please use subject heading: Ref: SFC.

Deadline for applications: 8th November 2010.
We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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