Somalia: Project Officer

BACKGROUND

Danish Demining Group (DDG) has operated in Somaliland since 1999 and in South Central Somalia since 2007 clearing mines and other explosive remnants of war. DDG’s approach has since evolved to support community and district-level planning that addresses an array of public safety concerns whether related to firearms, explosive remnants of war, and local conflict.

DDG is a sub-unit with Danish Refugee Council (DRC). DRC is an independent, non-profit organization (NGO), founded on the basis of humanitarian principles, and human rights based approach, to secure the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and to promoting long term solutions to the problems of forced displacement.

DRC has been implementing humanitarian activities in Somalia since 2008. Using a protection of human rights framework, DRC Somalia assists refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa and provides emergency assistance and livelihoods support to Somalis who are affected by conflict and drought throughout Somalia.

OVERALL AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

Support an effective civil society engagement towards the achievement of the strategic objectives of peace building and stat-building goals. And with specific objective of advancing inclusive political dialogue to clarify and settle relations between the federal government an existing and emerging administrations and initiate processes of social reconciliation to restore trust between communities

POSITION’S OVERALL OBJECTIVES

The project officer will be part of a highly efficient and motivated team. This position will be involved in the implementation of EU funded Civic Engagement and Reconciliation and State Formation in Southern Somalia project which is jointly implemented with Women and Child Care Organization ( WOCCA) in Jowhar town in partnership with local community’s taskforces, traditional structure/Guurti, district and regional Mogadishu, Benadir administration.

To achieve the overall objectives Civic Engagement and Reconciliation and State Formation in Southern Somalia in Mogadishu, the project officer will perform the following tasks and responsibilities:

SUPERVISION AND TEAM MANAGEMENT

· Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where Civic Engagement and Reconciliation in State formation in Southern Somalia project team members strive to achieve excellence.

· Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.

· Ensure local authority and other local partners are informed about the achievements of the project.

PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

· Facilitate the community entry process through local administration and local community structures by presenting the project objective and its implementation modality to the target community.

· Mapp out critical mass and existing active community structures to identify potential key local players in the project implementation.’

· Organize dialogue among the community groups to come into common grounds by identifying their gaps and key priorities for their collective action

· Facilitate participatory capacity assessment on existing social structures including youth, women, elders, private associations, ‘Guurti; , peace committee and minority groups and advise how they can address their existing gaps

· Facilitate advocacy workshop with prominent community figures including women, youth, minority, business people, ‘Guurti’, clan elders and representative from local administration through which they will declare their support and commitment to implement the project.

· Support the ‘Guurti’to have a wider discussion on the customary laws/‘Xeer and social covenant for the town level and its contribution towards peace building.

· Work closely with Gender Based Violence Coordinator of Women and Child Care Organization (WOCCA) during the ‘Xeer’ discussion to have gender issues stream-lined into the ‘Xeer’ harmonization’ process.

· Facilitate dialogue among the community segments and structures to engage with the local, Beandir regional administration on their expectations from the state machineries and responsibilities in the state building.

· Develop quarterly and monthly/weekly implementation plan and share with the Project coordinator

· Mentor, monitor, supervise and train the community facilitator and taskforce members as necessary for them to carry out their duties responsibilities in accordance with their roles and tasks entrusted to them.

· Support the project Coordinator in the preparation of quarterly and monthly reports

· Conduct conflict analysis of the targeted communities with assistance from the field coordinator.

· Ensure good cooperation with other DDG team and DRC staff members in the targeted implementation areas.

· Ensure that security measures are implemented in accordance with the DDG Somalia security procedures and guidelines.

· Responsible for the timely and quality compilation of data collected from the sections of the town.

· Ensure staff safety in the work place

Finance

1. Responsible for operational expenditure of the activity budget allocated to the project. This includes:

· Check and sign all order request forms, completion of service certificate or Good received Note (GRN) after having ensured that the items are necessary and budget is available in the relevant budget lines

STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS

• In close cooperation with the Project Coordinator, the Project Officer will coordinate with external agencies on areas related to the project.

QUALIFICATION/ EXPERIENCE AND LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

· Bachelor degree in Political Science, Conflict studies, Development Studies, Sociology or other relevant field will be highly advantageous;

· Minimum 3 years of experience in similar position with INGO or similar work environment

· Fluency in Somali and the local dialect & English both written and spoken is required.

· Candidates should be familiar with conflict prevention and management skills, peace building issues and community development.

· Candidates should be familiar with the region.

• Candidates must have project management skills and TOT experience.
• Good command in English both in spoken and written
• Good communication skills and ability to coordinate and work with local actors including State administration, local government and community groups
• Computer skills, good organizational and people cantered solid management skills, to help organize people in proven way.
• Ability to represent the organization in key meetings at local levels

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

· Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

· Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

· An application letter should include contact information for three work – related referees.

If you meet the above qualifications and requirements and interested in the Job, please apply in confidence. The deadline for applications is 10^th October 2016 at 04:00 pm. Applicants should send with a cover letter and their CV to the email address ddgjobs.scs@ddgsom.org . Please put “Project Officer –Kismaayo” as the subject heading. CVs should not be longer than 4 pages.

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL CONTACTED FORINTERVIEW.