About the role :
This is a 24 month, replacement role with unaccompanied terms based in Mogadishu, Somalia with an annual salary of Grade 4 41,604 – €46,226. You will travel frequently to Hargeisa, Baidoa and Nairobi.
You will report to the Programme Director and will line manage one Emergency Programme Manager.
You will also work closely with the Country Director, Systems Director, Country Financial Controller and Finance Team, Deputy Programme Director, Somaliland Area Coordinator, Programme Coordinators and Managers, Grants & Information Manager, M&E unit, Partnership Advisor, senior staff of partner organisations, Dublin-based Desk Officer and Emergency Directorate.
We would like you to start on 15th September or earlier.
Your purpose :
The overall purpose of this position is to lead design and implementation of Concern’s emergency operations, ensuring that emergency response, preparedness and recovery plans and activities for Concern Somalia/Somaliland are successfully implemented according to the respective project budgets and timeframes and to the highest standards of quality and accountability. The position ensures that all activities are aligned with the objectives of the Country Strategic Plan and donor guidelines; and that emergency response activities synergised with parallel longer-term Resilience and Durable Solutions programming. Concern’s current emergency portfolio comprises of large-scale multi-purpose cash transfers, WASH, nutrition, health, emergency education, and NFI distribution activities. Particular attention should be given to mainstreaming of protection and conflict-sensitivity.
You will be responsible for :
Overview :
With support from the Programmes Director (PD), ensure overall management, implementation and development of the emergency preparedness and response component of Concern’s Somalia/Somaliland programme :
- Ensure adherence to all programme budgets and work plans ;
- Ensure that the programme is adequately staffed and managed; mentor emergency staff and build capacity within the team ;
- Identify the needs and recommend appropriate adjustments to planned interventions ;
- Develop plans for emergency response within the Somalia/Somaliland context ensuring linkages with Concern’s other resilience and development programmes ;
- Identify and respond to opportunities to expand programme funding and their impact ;
- Liaise with other NGOs, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders for effective coordination, co-operation and communication for mutual understanding and acceptance of Concern’s mandate, activities and objectives, project progress and implementation ;
- Ensure activities of Concern’s partners are in line with proposals, budgets and Concern/donors’ guidelines.
Emergency preparedness, response and recovery planning and programme implementation :
- Monitor the early warning information being gathered from Concern as well as that of UN agencies, government and other INGOs. Share information on any alerts with the Country Director (CD), Programme Director and other Programme Coordinators/Managers ;
- Monitor potential emergency/humanitarian needs and advise the Senior Management Team on appropriate responses ;
- Coordinate and lead rapid needs assessments in areas affected by shocks or where early warning information suggests a need for early action ;
- Regularly update Concern Somalia/Somaliland’s Preparedness for Effective Emergency Response (PEER) plan ;
- Ensure that emergency response programmes are implemented in line with National, international and Cluster quality standards ;
- Ensure programmes are designed and implemented in accordance with the Core Humanitarian Standard of Quality and Accountability (CHS).
Financial Management :
- Manage expenditure of approved emergency budgets ensuring compliance with donor requirements and Concern’s financial procedures ;
- In collaboration with the finance team, Emergency PM and the PD, develop emergency project budgets ;
- Assist direct reports with financial management ;
- Ensure all projects have detailed procurement plans; share and monitor progress together with the Logistics team in a timely way.
Team Management :
- Manage direct reports and ensure their on-going development, following Concern’s objective setting and Performance Development Review processes and tools and building the management capacity of the team members ;
- Identify staffing needs in line with programming and assist in the timely recruitment of staff ;
- Ensure staff comply with the Code of Conduct and associated policies (which includes the Programme Participant Protection Policy, Child Safeguarding Policy and Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy), and the CHS; contribute to the establishment of preventive measures to reduce potential for abuse within Concern’s programme.
Programme Funding and Reporting :
- Lead development of narrative and financial project proposals and reports, in compliance with donor requirements, templates and deadlines; ensure close collaboration and timely information flow with the Grants and Information Manager and Desk Officer as required ;
- Together with the PD, build relationships with current and potential donors ;
- Provide brief updates (bi-weekly or weekly) to the PD and members of the SMT, and to Concern Head Office as relevant as well as timely responses to queries ;
- Report any new developments, problems and challenges encountered in implementing emergency response projects in a timely manner and through appropriate channels.
Networking and Coordination :
- Ensure proper representation of Concern Somalia programme at Cluster, working groups and other emergency preparedness and response related meetings (in consultation with the PD and other PMs) ;
- Ensure Concern’s programmes are coordinated with other actors and included in all relevant databases, 4W matrices, etc. ;
- Ensure good collaboration and working relationship with government and other relevant partners.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability :
- Conduct frequent supervision and monitoring visits to programme areas (per security clearance) and identify any issues needing attention related to implementation, donor compliance and programme quality standards ;
- Take responsibility, together with Emergency PM, for development of detailed costed work plans at the start of each project and then ensure monthly updates are made to the output databases ;
- Working with the M&E unit, Emergency PM and the Deputy PD as relevant, plan and lead on baseline/end line surveys, post-distribution monitoring etc. as well as any external evaluations, ensuring timely analysis and reflection on findings to inform programme adaptation and learning ;
- Ensure that beneficiaries have access to feedback mechanisms and that data is monitored and responses given within appropriate time periods.
General :
- Ensure staff members under your reporting strictly comply with programme security management plan and SOPs ;
- Assist in the reviews of the security management plans ;
- Any other ad hoc duties as may be assigned by PD that are consistent with the nature of Concern operations.
Your skills and experience will include :
Essential :
- Master’s Degree in Development Studies, Humanitarian Response or a relevant technical subject (health, nutrition, WASH, Education, Protection, etc.) ;
- At least 5 years professional experience with a humanitarian agency, of which at least 3 overseas, with minimum 2 years in a senior management role ;
- Good managerial and leadership skills, ability to work effectively with people ;
- Commitment to building capacity of national staff for effective emergency response ;
- Experience of working in insecure environments, preferably in Africa or context similar to Somalia ;
- Experience of designing, carrying out, analysing and reporting on multi-sectoral emergency assessments, in line with internal and donor requirements ;
- Experience managing complex emergency response programmes through both direct implementation, through local partner organisations and within consortia arrangements ;
- Able to provide training on and implement Red Cross Code of Conduct, SPHERE and Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) ;
- Knowledge and experience of multi-purpose cash transfer programming ;
- Demonstrated familiarity with grant management and compliance requirements of major institutional donors (eg ECHO, DFID, UN CHF, Irish Aid, etc) ;
- Strong proposal and report-writing writing skills and prior success in accessing funding from diverse sources ;
- Ability to represent the organisation in external meetings (cluster/working groups, consortia, donors), share timely information and influence key stakeholders ;
- Strong written and verbal communications skills and good command of English.
Desirable :
- Experience of working in Somalia/Somaliland, East/Horn of Africa or other similar context ;
- Experience of mainstreaming cross-cutting issues into humanitarian programmes: equality (esp. gender), safeguarding, protection, conflict-sensitivity, DRR ;
- Experience of remote management ;
- Experience of implementing and strengthening a complaints response mechanism in humanitarian setting ;
- CaLP (Cash Learning Partnership) level 1 or level 2 certification.
All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by closing date. CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length.
Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date.
Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.