Project Officer Job Vacancy – NGO

Saferworld

Job title: Project Officer, Non-State Actors (NSA), Somalia

Location: Hargeisa or Mogadishu

Reporting to: NSA Project Manager

Key Relationships: Somalia Programme Adviser, Somalia Country Director, Somali Finance Officer, Participatory Governance and Peacebuilding (PGP) Programme Manager, PGP programme Coordinator

Contract duration: Fixed Term – Until July 2018

Annual salary: USD 22,899 to 27,342

Grade: National

Description of Saferworld Somalia/land programme:

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 on 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 headquarters is in London, with a regional office in Nairobi, a Somalia/land office in Hargeisa, and country offices in Kampala and Juba. 

The Somalia/land programme is managed from Saferworld’s Nairobi office.

Saferworld’s programme of work in Somalia/land has three components. 

The first aims to strengthen the participation of Somali non-state actors (NSA) in decision-making on peace, security and development. Key themes in this project are participatory decision-making, inclusiveness and capacity building of ‘platform’ structures so that they more effectively channel NSA voices in policy dialogues. 

The second entails engagement through civil society on democratisation processes in Somalia and Somaliland inclusive of the Somaliland 2017 elections and the Somalia 2016 political transition process. The third strand relates to research into federalisation and reconciliation in Jubaland. 

The post will be dedicated to the first programmatic aim, but will engage with other components as and where required.

Job purpose: The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate activities carried out under Saferworld’s Somalia/land Non-State Actors project in support of programme objectives. 

The position has a particular focus on:

• Supporting NSA partners in Hargeisa, Garowe and Mogadishu in institutional organisation and capacity building
• Coordinating relevant Saferworld led activities with key partner agencies
• Supporting the monitoring of project activities conducted both by Saferworld and partner agencies
• Supporting NSAs to develop and implement programme development and fundraising initiatives
• Supporting NSAs to develop and implement monitoring, evaluation and learning within their programmes
• Supporting research into governance, justice, reconciliation and democratisation as and where required
• Supporting project reporting and documentation requirements as per project needs.

Key areas of responsibility and related duties:

1: Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of activities 

• In collaboration with other Somalia/land programme team members, develop and keep updated work plans
• Ensure timely and high quality completion of planned activities
• Monitor and periodically report on activities and progress towards results
• Support partners in their development and implementation of monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Provide close support to partners in delivering planned activities and developing capacities, management and governance systems
• Provide support to partners in developing new programme activities, programme development and fundraising.

2: Support timely and accurate reporting by Saferworld and partners

• Provide feedback to NSA platform staff and other Somali partners on their reports
• Provide regular internal progress reports
• Assist in developing narrative reports to donors and other related documents as required.

Ensure partner and Saferworld reports and documentation are collated and managed.

3: Ensure effective management of project finances

• Support the development of realistic budgets for project activities
• Ensure the timely preparation and submission of partner budgets and funding requests for planned activities
• Monitor expenditure against budgets.

4: Support organisational strategy development

• Actively participate in routine context analysis and programme planning sessions
• Contribute to Saferworld’s strategies for Somalia/Somaliland and the region
• Provide support to partners on strategy development.

5: Build and maintain positive external relationships

• Represent Saferworld in external meetings as required
• Raise awareness of Saferworld’s NSA project and partners among the international community
• Maintain good relations with Saferworld’s partners
• Help to develop relations and improve coordination with other international actors working on Somalia/land.

6: Ensure effective relations are maintained within Saferworld

• Maintain a good working relationship with all members of the Somalia programme team 
• Ensure effective communication of project activities, results and lessons within Saferworld.

Qualifications

Essential requirements:

• A BA (MA an added advantage) in peace/conflict studies, development, international relations, or related area (or equivalent professional experience)
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in international development, peacebuilding or related issues
• Project management skills and experience
• Experience of report writing
• Experience of working in complex and politically-sensitive contexts, and good political judgement
• Ability to work in a non-partisan manner, and sensitivity to ethnic and cultural differences
• A team player: able to demonstrate constructive, cooperative and problem-solving approaches
• Willingness to travel within Somalia/land (security permitting) and to Nairobi.
• Strong communication skills
• Experience conducting capacity building or technical support on project implementation or institutional good practice
• Good written and spoken English and Somali
• Ability to work without close daily supervision, using own initiative and showing flexibility
• A flexible and dynamic approach to work is essential.

Desirable:

• Experience of supporting civil society/NSA engagement with national and international actors
• Understanding of Somali political and cultural dynamics
• Knowledge of key policy issues relevant to Somalia/land (democratisation, development, state-building, security sector reform, peace and conflict theory, humanitarian aid, aid effectiveness).

Annual salary range: USD. 22,899 USD to 27,342 per annum
 

Probation: There will be a probationary period of three months
 

Leave entitlement: 28 days holiday a year (Jan-Dec) in addition to relevant public holidays
 

Hours: Standard working week is 37.5.

Recruitment information: 

To apply, please fill in an application form (a copy of which can be found at www.saferworld.org.uk/jobs/jobs) and send it tojobs@saferworld.org.uk   

Please state, PoNSA in the cover line.

Application Deadline: 2nd August 2017

Please note that only electronic applications will be considered and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  Do not send a CV as this will not be accepted in the place of, or in addition to, a completed application form.