Background

The Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) supports the Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team (UNCT) to increase the effectiveness of the UN’s programmes in Somalia by encouraging greater coherence, strategic analysis and planning. As part of the RCO’s overall purpose, the Hargeisa Office aims to increase effectiveness of the programmes of the 21 UN entities in Somaliland by encouraging greater coherence. The practical aims are to:

1. Improve coordination within the UN
2. Reduce the burden on the government 
3. Promote national development priorities and coordination structures

Somaliland is located in the northwest region of Somalia bordered by Ethiopia, Djibouti and the Puntland region of Somalia. Following the fall of the Siad Barre regime in 1991, Somaliland declared its independence from the rest of Somalia. Somaliland is characterized by relative stability, which has enabled the UN to increase its presence. Continued relative peace and stability, a transparent and participatory democratization process; a robust civil society, combined with a remarkable recovery effort in the creation of a vibrant, emerging, though still fragile, economy signal a renewed opportunity for development engagement in Somaliland. 

According to Somaliland’s National Development Plan (NDP), Somaliland remains one of the world’s least developed regions. Somaliland's population is one of the youngest in the world, with an estimated population growth rate of 3.14% in 2004. Half of the Somaliland population lives below the poverty line and the Somaliland economy is heavily dependent on remittances. 

Somalia provides a unique challenge in aid coordination. The country requires a complex mix of relief, recovery, and development interventions in an insecure and unpredictable operating environment. Despite historical instability, the UN and World Bank undertook a Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) in 2006-7 which led to a 2008-2012 Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). In response to the RDP, the UN first produced a joint UN Transition Plan for Somalia from 2008-2010 which was followed by a UN Somali Assistance Strategy (UNSAS) for 2011-2015.

The 2011-2015 UNSAS provides a five-year framework for the UN’s humanitarian, recovery and development work and is premised on the need for a longer-term commitment to Somalia, including Somaliland.   It is based on the Somali priorities agreed in the RDP and linked to MDGs. In Somaliland. The UNSAS is also being aligned with the Somaliland National Development Plan for 2012-2016. 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of RCO, the Resident Coordination Advisor (RCA) reinforces the capacity of the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team to deliver an integrated and more effective UN programme of recovery and development assistance to Somaliland. The RCA provides field-based support for joint planning, programming and implementation and provision of coordination services to the UN, Government of Somaliland and wider international community. The role has a challenging scope and requires substantial experience working with development and humanitarian agencies and other partners in insecure and complex environments. The Resident Coordination Advisor supervises and leads the staff of the RC Office in Somaliland. The Resident Coordination Advisor works in close collaboration with UN Hargeisa Team (UNHT) members, programme and operations teams of the Agencies, RCO staff in Nairobi and Puntland, Somaliland Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful and transparent coordination of UNHT activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Coordinate the UN in Somaliland, establish and lead field coordination mechanisms and identify reporting structures; working closely with national and international staff of UN agencies, under the leadership of the RC/HC.
2. Lead development and implementation of the UNSAS in Somaliland, in support of the UNSAS Task Force and Outcome Leads, ensuring alignment with Somaliland plans and priorities through wide-ranging consultations with key partners.
3. Lead and maintain strategic partnerships with all key players in the Government including the highest levels in a complex political environment; maintain excellent direct relations with a range of external partners such as Donors, Civil Society and NGOs.
4. Provide advice and support to the Head of the RC Office, the UNCT and the RC/HC in ensuring that Programme and Operational decisions are taken in the best interests of the people of Somaliland.
5. Manage the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Somaliland

1. Coordinate the UN in Somaliland, establish and lead field coordination mechanisms and identify reporting structures; working closely with national and international staff of UN agencies, under the leadership of the RC/HC:

• Lead and coordinate the UN Hargeisa Team - organizing and chairing UNHT meetings, ensuring follow-up on decisions taken, guidance needed from Nairobi, common solutions to shared problems, coordination of shared resources as necessary, and information sharing to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and outreach of the UN programmes in Somaliland.
• Ensure appropriate UN participation and contribution to national planning processes and structures. 
• Promote Gender Equality through: support to the UNCT Senior Gender Advisor; field support to the Gender Theme Group and UN Women, based in Nairobi; ensuring Gender is promoted in UNHT meetings, the UNSAS, UN in Somaliland publications and with partners.
• Support or lead the work of other cross-cutting working groups, for example related to issues like Youth, Prisons or Disaster Risk Management.
• Handle official UN affairs on behalf of the UNCT, the RC and the RC Office; Represent the UNCT and RC, when so requested.
• Provide feedback and suggestions on security related issues affecting the operations of the UN agencies in the Area Security Management Team.
• Support humanitarian coordination of inter-agency cluster efforts so as to help build necessary linkages between humanitarian and development interventions in priority sectors. Liaise closely with OCHA to ensure complementarities in programme development, coordination mechanisms and field presence. In coordination with OCHA, support the CAP process with the regional dimension.
• Facilitate division of responsibilities between agencies for joint UN activities including joint work plan activities, joint programme activities and joint projects of the UN system.
• Support various UN organized missions to the field, including the bi-annual visits of the UNCT to the authorities in the region and follow-up to these meeting.
• Facilitate and supports the implementation of the Harmonization and Simplification agenda.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing amongst UN staff on issues relating to the UN Reform Agenda and post conflict transition.
• Ensure that regional disparities, inter-sectoral linkages, and cross-cutting issues are taken into account in UN activities for recovery and reconstruction, including promoting conflict-sensitive approaches.
• Contribute, on behalf of the UNCT, in efforts to establish and strengthen coordination and implementation as well as monitoring mechanisms for the UNSAS, NDP and overall assistance in the region possibly including the operationalization of joint funding mechanisms and report progress of UN activities in the region.
• Improve communication with all partners through regular updates and information sharing with the UNHT and Somaliland partners.

2. Lead development and implementation of the UNSAS in Somaliland, in support of the UNSAS Task Force and Outcome Leads, ensuring alignment with Somaliland plans and priorities through wide-ranging consultations with key partners:

• Coordinate development and implementation of the UNSAS in Somaliland, including regular information sharing and negotiations with UNHT and external stakeholders, providing guidance to Outcome Leads, supporting the M & E process and keeping the UNSAS benchmarks on target.
• Contribute, on behalf of the UNHT, in efforts to establish and strengthen coordination and implementation as well as monitoring mechanisms for the UNSAS, supporting the UNSAS Task Force and UNSAS Board in Nairobi.
• Produce information products on the UNSAS in Somaliland, working with the UNSAS Outcome Leads. 
• Facilitate external meetings for each Outcome group with external partners, including the GoSL, donors, and civil society to monitor progress and identify milestones. 
• Provide UNSAS briefings to the UNHT, new UN colleagues in Somaliland and external partners.
• Promote Gender Equality by ensuring Gender is realized as a cross-cutting issue in UNSAS milestones and UNSAS reporting.

3. Lead and maintain strategic partnerships with all key players in the Government including the highest levels in a complex political environment; maintain excellent direct relations with a range of external partners such as Donors, Civil Society and NGOs.

• Serve as the focal point to the GoSL on all matters related to the UN in Somaliland. 
• Provide advice to Ministries and Government entities on key functions and processes, in particular on aid coordination structures, aid effectiveness principles and international agreements and standards.
• Provide advice, and consolidate UN comments, on the design of different Government policies.
• Identify and suggest possible capacity building support measures for Ministries and other Government institutions.
• Co-Chair the Inter-Sector Coordination Forums, and provide extensive support to the High Level Aid Coordination Forum.
• Promote national and local ownership of programmes through increased consultation and participation of key stakeholders at all hierarchical and representational levels to ensure that UN’s activities are complementary to common and nationally owned reconstruction strategies (e.g. the NDP and the UNSAS). Participate in, or ensure adequate UN representation in, sectoral coordination meetings at the regional level.
• Support and conduct UN-NGO coordination as well as coordination with donors; Co-Chair the Somaliland Partners Forum with the NGO Consortium and the local Donor representative.
• Provide substantive inputs, political/operational guidance and logistical support to donor missions and missions of appropriate external experts. 
• Improve communication with all partners through regular updates and information sharing on behalf of the UNHT. 
• Provide inputs, as needed, to the NGO Consortium, Somali Donor Group and CISS ExCom.

4. Provide advice and support to the Head of the RC Office, the UNCT and the RC/HC in ensuring that Programme and Operational decisions are taken in the best interests of the people of Somaliland.

• Provide regular updates, guidance, reports and support to the Somalia Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) and the RC Office (RCO) in Nairobi on development, humanitarian and political issues and events in Somaliland, and their impact on UN programmes and development planning efforts.
• Organize all RC/HC missions to Somaliland, proposing agendas, drafting talking points and background notes, coordinating with the UNHT, GoSL and other relevant partners, drafting mission reports and ensuring follow-up on the action points. 
• Preparation of official communications, letters, etc., as well as UN in Somaliland informational products.
• Develop and implement the RCO Hargeisa Work Plan, in line with the RCO Somalia Work Plan and donor proposal. Draft annual reports and proposals for funding when needed.
• Contribute Somaliland inputs to reports and surveys of the UNCT and HQ.
• Support the work of RCO and UNCT consultants, including providing substantive regional briefings and inputs, facilitating relevant missions and meetings.
• Advise, train and guide new RCO staff on RCO Somaliland/UNHT issues when required.
• Support the Head of the RC Office, the RC/HC and UNCT in developing and implementing a strategy to engage bilateral and multilateral donors on support to national priorities (in particular as represented in the NDP, the CAP and the UN Assistance Strategy.

5. Support the RC in the development and implementation of a UN strategy on common services and common premises in Hargeisa and field offices.

• Manage the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Somaliland.
• Lead the RC Field Office Hargeisa – including management of three RCO staff and all financial assets and resources.
• Oversee all day-to-day activities to ensure that the RCO Workplan is fully implemented, and UNDP administrative and operational policies are adhered to.
• Identify surge capacity and training needs.
• Undertake such other related tasks as may be requested by the Head of RC Office or the RC/HC.

The key results will have an impact on the success of the UN Country Team and UN Hargeisa Team activities, strengthening of overall coordination capacity, implementation of the UN System reform and partnerships with local authorities. In particular, the key results will have an impact on the design and operation of UN activities, implementation of the UN Somali Assistance Strategy (UNSAS), and support of Somaliland-driven strategies, priorities and coordination structures.

Competencies

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Creates effective advocacy strategies
• Contributes to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritizing audiences and communication means.
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

• Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach
• Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and time-frames and reports on it
• Makes use of a variety of resources based on UN/UNCT priorities to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches
• Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at country level

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UN/UNCT’s strategic agenda
• Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to the UN/UNCT’s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts
• Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen UN/UNCT’s mandate
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
• Effectively attentive to programmatic synergies in inter-agency meetings

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals
• Generates for regional and innovative ideas and effective solutions to problems
• Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and building them into the design of new approaches
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations
• Documents successes and uses them to project a positive image

Resource Mobilization

• Develops detailed knowledge and understanding of key donors, their priorities and areas of interest and adapts content and approach of resource mobilization activities to their requirements
• Builds and maintains relationships with donors demonstrating professionalism in providing advice and information on UN activities and sensitivity to donor concerns

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
• Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff
• Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals

• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level

Client Orientation

• Anticipates client needs
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
• Building support and political acumen
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation
• Building and promoting effective teams
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

Required Skills and Experience

• Masters Degree or higher in Development, International Relations, Political Science, Economics or a related subject.

Experience:       

• A minimum of 7 years progressive professional work experience in coordination and provision of management advisory services in post-conflict countries.
• Experience in crisis or post-conflict countries or experience in Islamic societies and/or in Africa and the Arab worlds.
• Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects is desirable.
• Proven experience in challenging transition and development coordination and resource mobilization.
• Experience representing and mediating across complex stakeholders and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments.
• Sound knowledge of the UN system’s procedures and operational activities for development is desirable.
• Familiarity with the UN, particularly the UN Reform Agenda is desirable.
• Solid experience in using MS Office package and web-based management systems.

• Fluency in English, both written and presentation skills.