Somalia: Coordinator - Somalia National NGO Forum

Background

The Somalia National NGO Forum is composed of National organizations that undertake humanitarian and development programs in Somalia. Its objective is to ensure that the activities of such organizations are coordinated, and that humanitarian and development action in Somalia is in line with the Somalia’s developmental and humanitarian needs, its programs is principled, timely, effective and efficient. The overall purpose of the SONFORUM is to alleviate the sufferings of the needy Somalis and improve their wellbeing through appropriate programming such that people’s lives, livelihoods and dignity are protected.

Job Summary

The incumbent shall be required to represent Sonforum members to internal and external stakeholders at a local, national and global level providing high level liaison, information, coordination, and advocacy services acting as the first point of contact for the forum members and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities.

Leadership:

• Regularly communicate with forum Country Directors on project activities;
• Convene and chair regular (e.g. monthly, quarterly) forum steering committee meetings to discuss programme and financial issues, disseminate minutes and follow up on action points;
• Carry out weekly catch ups with forum key focal points.
• Support the development and maintenance of a coherent forum strategy across all partners;
• Promote harmonization of approaches and methodologies across all forum partners by developing and monitoring use of common tools, as well as creating opportunities for experience sharing and learning;
• Coordinate the development of all technical tools related to the forum’s project (ToRs for consultants and evaluators, ad hoc reports, capitalization reports);

Representation:

• Protect and promote the vision, mission and interests of forum partners towards external stakeholders;
• Represent the forum toward the donor(s) and government authorities and therefore communicate with the donor(s) and government authorities;
• Where relevant, expand the donor portfolio of the forum by tracking funding opportunities
• Attend government, UN, NGO and donor meetings and present ongoing forum activities;
• Ensure the visibility of the forum amongst humanitarian, donor and government actors throughout the project;

Coordination and Networking:

• Effectively manage coordination with other actors (UN, NGOs) intervening in a similar sector;

Communication:

• Ensure the continuum of forum PR activities, including formal presentations, engaging media for coverage on success stories, updating project-specific and regional fact sheets, and documenting publications featuring the forum in the media;
• Oversee the forum’s communication activities including media visits, photographer’s mission, videos, etc.;
• Lead the drafting and dissemination of position papers, statements, reports and releases on the forum’s engagements and humanitarian advocacy.

Alliance Building and Lobbying:

• Effectively manage partnerships between the different parties of the forum to ensure smooth collaboration;
• Ensure regular and open/transparent communication between forum partners;

Qualifications and Experience

• Master's degree in international relations, political science, development studies, social sciences or related field
• At least five (5) years of practical work experience at a managerial level within NGOs / UN in humanitarian work in developing countries
• Strong management skills including staff and financial management, ideally within a complex emergency.
• Proven in depth and operational knowledge of Somalia
• Minimum 4 years of work experience in Somalia and within the Somali context
• Well-developed networks within Somalia and the NGO community would be deemed an added benefit
• Minimum of 3 years of working in hostile environments
• Proven experience in high quality production of reports and analysis
• Proven experience in development and maintenance of multi-stakeholders networks and proactive coordination experience
• Demonstrable experience with advocacy/lobbying (NGO or other stakeholder)
• Excellent communication, coordination and representational skills. Demonstrated leadership capacity and professional experience at a management level.
• Proven understanding and experience of advocacy within a complex humanitarian context. Strong willingness to work and adapt to the NGO sector in compliance with basic humanitarian principles
• Demonstrated ability to make clear and articulate presentations of complex information. Strong analytical skills
• Demonstrated capacity to work with minimal supervision and maintain a high level of initiative and engagement. Demonstrated capacity to recognize when and where proactive action is required and to initiate timely and appropriate action
• Strong personal diplomacy
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with local staff and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated understanding and work experience on conflict/security issues would be deemed an added benefit
• English and Somali (working languages): fluent English with excellent writing capacities. Somali Nationals only.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet

How to Apply

Qualified applicants are encouraged to send their Cover Letter and CV to info@somaliangoforum.so
Applicants are requested to include in the subject line of the email the word Coordinator.
Please visit our website for more information about the forum www.somaliangoforum.so
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Deadline for submissions is 23rd November 2017; late applications shall not be considered