Country Director Ethiopia and Somalia

The Development Fund is seeking an experienced and committed Country Director for Ethiopia and Somalia. This is an exciting and challenging role that includes the responsibility for implementing and further strengthening the Development Fund’s programmes on climate resilient agriculture in Ethiopia and Somalia. The management of our two country offices in Addis Ababa and Hargeisa is part of the role of the Country Director.

We are looking for a person with solid experience from coordinating and implementing development programmes and good leadership skills. The position requires high working capacity, good communication skills and understanding of local conditions. Experience from living and working in the region will be considered an asset

As a Norwegian non-governmental organisation, the Development Fund has more than 40 years’ experience from fighting hunger and injustice in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Central America. We have extensive experience from climate change adaptation, sustainable agriculture, and agro-biodiversity, among other thematic areas. We can offer exciting challenges and tasks, and an opportunity to strengthen smallholder farmers’ and rural communities’ resilience to climate change. You will work with closely committed and knowledgeable colleagues in Ethiopia, Somalia and Oslo, as well as with our local partners. The Country Director will reside in Addis Ababa, with regular travel and presence in Hargeisa for follow-up of the office and programme in Somaliland and Puntland. Travel for important meetings or participation in key organisational processes in Oslo, Norway will also be required.

Responsibilities:

The Country Director has the overall responsibility for the development and sound programmatic and financial management of the Development Fund’s operations in Ethiopia and Somalia. This includes:

• Ensure sound follow-up and management of the Development Fund’s programme portfolio in Ethiopia and Somalia. Ensuring good documentation of results and the effect of the work will also be part of the work.
• Programme development and expansion of the programme portfolio by actively working to secure new agreements with institutional donors. This involves outreach to both existing and new potential donors, as well as updating country strategies and developing new initiatives and applications in cooperation with local partners and other relevant partners.
• Ensure sound management and continued strengthening of the Development Fund’s offices in Addis Ababa and Hargeisa, including adherence to the Development Fund’s guidelines and standards of financial management. The Country Director will be line manager for the Finance Manager and Country Programme Manager in Ethiopia and Somalia and lead the two country management teams.
• Coordination and cooperation with the Development Fund’s head office in Oslo, Norway. This includes participation on key organisational processes, contribution to the Development Fund’s communication and fundraising work, and collaboration across teams, departments and country programmes.
• Represent the Development Fund in meetings and cooperation with the Norwegian embassies in Addis Ababa and Nairobi, local authorities, and international institutions. Our efforts in Ethiopia and Somalia entail close cooperation with other aid organisations, the research community, business and industry and national authorities.
• Contribute to the Development Fund’s advocacy work vis-à-vis the Norwegian authorities and internationally. We also support our local partners in their advocacy work.

The Country Director reports to the Development Fund’s Head of Programme in Oslo, Norway.

Qualifications:

• Relevant higher education. Relevant work experience can compensate for a lack of higher education.
• Experience from and knowledge of the Norwegian management system for aid and other donors
• A minimum of 10 years proven experience from the management of aid programmes, including financial management
• Experience from securing project funding from institutional donors
• At least 5 years of proven management experience and good leadership skills
• At least 5 years proven work experience from working with one or more of the Development Fund’s thematic focus areas
• Good oral and written skills in English. Norwegian language skills are considered an asset.
• Work experience from the region will weigh positively
• Experience with and ability to understand and adapt to local context and conditions
• Good communication skills
• Good collaboration skills

The position is a 3-year commitment with a one-year probationary period. The salary for the position is in accordance with the Development Fund’s salary scale and public regulations and does not include family allowances.

For further information about the position contact: Elin Cecilie Ranum, Head of Programme Department, phone +47 9622 9600, [email protected]