Background

• Advocate for access to basic services, especially water, sanitation, education and health for vulnerable communities, including the collection, analysis and dissemination of information to humanitarian partners, and negotiation of access;
• Support the government efforts and humanitarian organizations in relocation of internally displaced and return.
• Coordinate the implementation of humanitarian response in Somalia with UN agencies and programmes, national and international NGOs and local authorities/communities as appropriate, with focus on strengthening the cluster approach;
• Enhance a protective environment that respects the human rights of all, including IDPs, returnees and minority clans.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Analyze humanitarian situation;
• Develop and implement proper strategies which will be suitable with local contexts;
• Develop and maintain coordination and cooperation mechanisms among stakeholders;
• Management of the Sub office;
• Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and management.

• Gather information on issues affecting the humanitarian situation, including political, security, social and economic developments, with a special emphasis on their impact on vulnerability, displacement and protection;
• Provide analysis of the operating environment, with the aim of assisting in the establishment of accepted frameworks for engagement and disengagement in areas of conflict;
• Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.

• Facilitate the development and implementation of strategies aimed at building the capacity of local authorities and communities to better respond to humanitarian crisis;
• Contribute to the development of appropriate strategies to improve the application of humanitarian principles and develop ground rules for humanitarian interventions;
• Support the development of strengthened protection strategies in the relevant area of operation, in particular for women, children, and minorities and displaced communities.

• Serves as the primary focal point for humanitarian partners in Beletweyne;
• Keeps abreast of latest developments, liaises with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc., ensures appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms; provides information and advice on a range of related issues;
• Support existing coordination mechanisms and assist in the establishment of new field coordination for a wherever required;
• Organizes and participates in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters;
• Liaise closely with the Office of the UNSOM, UN agencies, NGO’s and other partners to ensure a safe and effective operating environment;
• Facilitate and support the coordination of humanitarian interventions through developing routine information and idea exchange with local and international aid actors, and participating in and facilitating joint field assessments, evaluations and routine monitoring mechanisms;
• Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations;
• Seek ways to improve the participation of local actors in the relevant area of operation, including authorities, beneficiaries, and civil society, in the planning and implementation of aid activities;
• Undertakes and provides support to technical assistance and other field missions, including assessments using the Somalia Inter-Agency Initial Rapid Needs Assessment tool.

• In collaboration with the Department of Safety and Security (DSS) and Head of OCHA field office assist in ensuring Minimum Operation Security Standards (MOSS) compliance for vehicles, office premises;
• Ensure proper management of office assets;
• Provides guidance , and supervise sub office staff.

• Identification of sources of information related to coordination. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to country policy goals;
• Provision of referral services for agencies without field representation to access national institutions and processes and for national partners to access the expertise of agencies without field representation;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings to UN staff on coordination issues;
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Contributes to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritizing audiences and communication means;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work.

• Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to the UNDP’s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;
• Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.

• 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.

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• 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.

• Develops promotional activities based on monitoring/evaluation information identifying areas requiring higher visibility;
• Develops messages for use by UNDP staff when working with partners, internationally and nationally;
• Reviews documents and materials intended for use within and outside the organization in order to ensure consistency and validity of messages.

• Creates effective global advocacy messages/strategies;
• Contributes to the elaboration of a global advocacy strategy by identifying and prioritizing audiences and messages.

• Leverages different experiences and expertise of team members to achieve better and more innovative outcomes.

• 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

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in political science, sociology, law or international relations, Public Administration, Economics , Engineering, or related field.
• A first level university degree with a combination of relevant academic qualifications and experience or other related field may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree with 7 years of experience.

• Five (5) years of professional experience, in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required;
• Familiarity with UN policies, rules and procedures, particularly in relation to humanitarian response and coordination, and knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian assistance, especially the humanitarian reform agenda;
• Ability to research, analyzes, evaluate and synthesize information;
• Ability to express clearly and concisely, ideas and concepts in written and oral form;
• Relevant professional field experience in Somalia is desirable;
• Computer proficiency, including working knowledge of e-mail and MS Office products (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

• Fluency in English ( both oral and written) is essential;
• Knowledge of Somali is a requirement.