Partnerships and Engagement Advisor (Somali nationals)

Job Overview:

Plan International has opened an office in Somalia/Somaliland and started programmes that focus on child protection, education and youth economic empowerment programming both humanitarian and development setting, working with/through partners and providing technical support to INGOs. The position is expected to be the focal person in Plan International southern interventions to coordinate and manage ongoing interventions within Plan International and also technically support local implementing partners and hence expected to possess extensive professional knowledge and experience in project management, coordination and proven track record in closely working with different actors including the government, clusters and donor engagement. The post holder will play a key role in establishing and maintaining sound working relationships and partnerships with local partner, donor and government counterpart and other civil society organizations. This position is based in Mogadishu with frequent travel to field sites and partners’ offices in the southern Somalia and reports to the Country Director.

Accountabilities and Scope of Work

Relations with Government/Business opportunities/donors networking 50%

• Build and maintain strong relations with relevant Line Ministries, UN Agencies, INGOs, Somaliland NGOs and other key stakeholders.
• Support the priority areas of intervention, sectors and specific added value for Plan International in line with the current strategy.
• Coordinate with the fundraising and programme team the identification of funding opportunities
• Maintain coordination networks with delegation of donors in country, UN agencies: identification of specific areas of interested aligned with Plan’s strategy in country;
• Participation in coordination meetings and other relevant forums to raise Plan’s profile.
• Support in identification of national partners suitable for implementation and capacity building support, support to screening/assessing local partners
• Serve as focal point for cluster or sub cluster meetings and activities in the assigned area (provincial level).
• Gather relevant information from cluster or sub cluster meeting share it to management team and submit 4W/5W based on response activities to cluster or sub cluster coordinator.
• Coordinate closely with EiE specialist, CP Specialist, Program development manager, and Program Manager understand and respond to sectoral needs and/or emerging concerns locally.
• Contribute to documentation of technical/project approaches, lessons learnt, and success stories.
• Attend working group and task force meetings on a local level (as required).
• Ensure adequate and accurate reporting of data on Activity Info, internal databases, and Sitreps.
• Provide regular updates on the networking and engagements

Programme development and implementation 15%

• Maintain regular communication and visits for project sites to ensure that the project achieves the goal.
• Collect, update and share information related to project’s progress with Programme Manager.
• Contributes that all Plan International and key donor compliance rules and regulations are adhered to for both Plan International and implementing partners.
• Provide coordination and administrative support in developing and carrying out partner staff trainings and development in the Somalia.
• Maintain ongoing surveillance of the developing humanitarian and security situation in target areas
• Contribute to the development of standards and guidelines for partnership management are regulated updated, understood, adhered and reflected in practice

Safety and Security 20%

• Provide an objective overview and analysis of security trends and their implications for Plan and its partners
• Produce a monthly proactive mapping of security hot spots across the country and upcoming events to the Country Management Team
• Assess application of security policies and protocols

Admin and logistics 10%

• Organize travel arrangements, visa, permits, security, arrangements alien registration for staff and visitors
• Ensure timely renewal certificate and tax clearance
• Organize meeting for staff and visitors to Mogadishu

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 5%

• Understand and put into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures;
• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• Bachelor degree in a relevant field such as project management, Social Science, Development Studies, Human Rights Law or any other relevant discipline.
• 3 to 5 years’ experience of designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating programmes specially in the humanitarian setting.
• Proven abilities in delivering results for humanitarian standards
• Understanding and commitment to principles of child rights and child protection.
• Ability to identify the main gaps in the emergencies and development interventions in the Somali context to inform a holistic response for children.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Somali, including excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment and /or international.
• Experience in advocacy, lobbying and training around child rights, child protection and child participation.
• Ability to maintain consistent high standards of professional behaviour and achievement, including when working alone.
• Ability to communicate and maintain appropriate and productive relations with a range of actors, including children, parents and local authorities in political and militarily sensitive environments.
• Experience of working with partners and community using a participatory approach.
• Budget development and financial monitoring skills.

Qualifications/ experience desirable:

• Proven track record and understanding for the humanitarian programmes, coordination and government engagement, child protection minimum standards
• Understanding of gender transformative programme, advocacy and policy influencing

Languages required: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Somali

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.

Female Candidates Are Strongly Encouraged to Apply