NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICER

Vacancy Notice No: VN/IOMSO/060/2013

Position Title: National Program Officer

Grade: NOA

Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya

Unit: Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA)

Duration: One Year Fixed Term, possibility of extension

Closing date: 13 September 2013

Background information

22 years of conflict have forced most of the Somalis who can to leave the country. Some of them end up as refugees in the neighboring countries and some in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Finland, among others. The result of the mass exodus is depleted institutions with no capacity to fulfill their mandates. Today, most Somali institutions can barely perform the most basic functions, let alone international best practice.

Cognizant of the importance of functioning institutions to future peace and stability in Somalia, IOM Somalia makes one of its core missions to assist the

Somali Government to rebuild its state institutions. Since 2009, IOM has been working with government of authorities in all three regions through its Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA). MIDA is IOM primary diaspora recruitment mechanism to help rebuild Somalia. MIDA is in the process of recruiting more Somali diaspora from all over the world to contribute to a new Somalia.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission for Somalia and under the direct supervision of the Program Manager – MIDA, National Program Officer will be responsible for providing specialized support in the planning, managing, and timely implementation of the Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) program for Somalia. In particular, he/she will:-

• Develop and monitor work plans for implementation of the Six MIDA projects and revises as may be required with changing circumstances;
• Supervise and direct the work of project assistants.
• Coordinate and provide administrative and technical support to IOM staff in South-Central Somalia, Puntland, and Somaliland, Diaspora Liaison Assistants and consultants in the diaspora, and the MIDA participants in assignment;
• Identify, recruit and place consultants for the different MIDA placements;
• Coordinate with the Ministries of Planning in all three regions of Somalia in the implementation of all MIDA Program components (QUESTS-MIDA, MIDA FINNSOM, JSB-MIDA, TIS-MIDA and TRQN III, and SIDA-MIDA);
• Coordinate with partners such as UNDP, USAID, and other relevant stakeholders, including Labour and Facilitated Migration and Emergency-Post Conflict departments in Geneva.
• Liaise with IOM Helsinki, IOM London, IOM Washington, IOM Oslo, as well as relevant UN Agencies with mandates related to the TOR of a MIDA consultant;
• Produce briefs on project implementation progress reports as needed, with a goal to highlight success stories;
• Oversee diaspora engagement and recruitment at IOM Somalia, including assessing IOM’s outreach to the Somali diaspora and make recommendations for improvement;
• Oversee the support and monitoring of participants in the training and capacity-building of institutions and their staff in Somalia, including direct travel to Somalia and coordination with UNDP’s Somali Institutional Development Project and the UN Joint Program and Local Governance, as well as other project funded by SIDA;
• Organize and participate in validation workshops and make presentations of the findings from MIDA surveys, and any other finding during the implementation of the program;
• Prepare progress and final narrative and financial reports for the donor;
• Provide inputs in the formulation of strategies for the design and implementation of other migration for development projects for Somalia;
• Assist in drafting new MIDA projects, work plans and other related migration for development project documents for Somalia in close coordination with the MIDA Coordinator, project development staff, service area, the Somalia Support staff, IOM missions and relevant authorities and public/private institutions;
• Liaise and network with IOM relevant partners and government agencies (e.g. UN, NGOs, IGOs, private and public sector etc.);
• Provide technical support and assistance to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of government officials and institutions in Somalia;
• Represent IOM in coordination meetings with other development partners, UN agencies as well as national and international workshops, seminars and conferences;
• Perform other duties as maybe assigned from time to time.

Desirable Competencies

Behavioural :

• Takes responsibility with ability to work under minimal supervision,
• Manages constructive criticism,
• Works effectively with all clients and stakeholders
• Promotes continuous learning; communicates clearly
• Takes initiative and drives high levels of performance management,
• Plans work, anticipates risks, and sets goals within area of responsibility,
• Displays mastery of subject matter,
• Contributes to a collegial team environment,
• Creates a respectful office environment free of harassment and retaliation, and promotes the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (psea),
• Incorporates gender-related needs, perspectives, and concerns, and promotes equal gender participation,
• Displays awareness of relevant technological solutions,
• Works with internal and external stakeholders to meet resource needs of iom

Technical:

• Delivers on set objectives in hardship situations;
• effectively coordinates actions with other implementing partners;
• woks effectively with local authorities, stakeholders, beneficiaries, and the broader community to advance MIDA objectives.

Education, experience and competencies:

• University Degree in Political, Social Science or Business Administration, International Relations, Law, Labour relations or alternatively an equivalent combination of relevant training and experience, Master’s degree preferred;
• Minimum six years professional and managerial experience in Migration and Development in Somalia.
• Minimum four years’ experience working on institutional-capacity building and diaspora migration issues in particular;
• Knowledge of Somalia and working with Somali diaspora or Somali government institution-building;
• At least three years direct work experience in project management and implementation and managing and monitoring a programme budget;
• Excellent operational, organizational and communication skills and the ability to work harmoniously with other colleagues from diverse backgrounds;
• Proven experience in general fundraising, writing project proposals and reports,
• Strong computer skills, specifically hands-on experience in usage of MS Office;
• Kenyan National
• Fluency in English. Somali language an added advantage

Method of Application: Interested candidates should submit CV and a cover letter indicating the Vacancy Notice Number, with three professional references and contacts (email or telephone) to the:

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Somalia Coordinating office in Nairobi

Human Resources Department,

Gitanga Groove, off Gitanga Road

P.O. Box 1810 - 00606

Nairobi

Or send by email to: hrsomalia@iom.int

ONLY SHORT-LISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED.

Categories: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, UN