DEMAC Somalia Diaspora Coordinator

The overall purpose of the role

DEMAC is a global initiative hosted by Danish Refugee Council, which aims to enhance coordination among diaspora organizations involved in humanitarian assistance, and across diaspora organizations, local actors, and institutional humanitarian actors. Further, DEMAC seeks to increase engagement and visibility for diaspora organizations in the humanitarian system. Throughout the past decades of shocks and crises, the Somali diaspora has been a key actor in responding to emergency and long-term needs in Somalia, often scaling up their support significantly during times of crisis. Based on past research and engagement with the Somali diaspora, it is known that the Somali diaspora is dedicated and agile responders who engage innovatively in humanitarian responses and often reach the hard-to-reach populations of Somalia. Despite the strengths of the diaspora as humanitarian responders, they often work in parallel to the formal humanitarian system and there is a lack of coordination mechanisms linking the diaspora, local actors, and institutional humanitarian actors.

The DEMAC Liaison Officer in Somalia will be DEMAC`s main focal point in Somalia and will play a critical role as an entry point to build relations between diaspora organizational actors, and the humanitarian system, to allow for a more effective humanitarian response. The liaison will act as the main point of communication between n diaspora and local and international humanitarian coordination structures and support diaspora in improving the coordination and effectiveness of their humanitarian response, with a strong focus on hard-to-reach populations. He/she will work closely with multiple stakeholders including the DEMAC team based in Copenhagen, DRC Somalia, the Somalia NGO Consortium, IOM Somalia, and a range of diaspora organizations.

Responsibilities

• Act as the main point of communication between the local and international humanitarian coordination structures and relevant Somali diaspora organizations/communities engaging in humanitarian activities and assistance in affected and hard-to-reach areas in Somalia.
• Support the Somali diaspora`s coordination effort by organizing regular online and/or in-person meetings to update them on the humanitarian activities in the country, facilitate discussions, and support their effective engagement.
• Attend relevant cluster meetings, NGO consortium meeting, and other relevant coordination bodies (ICWG, HCT). In these meetings, collect relevant information to be shared with Diaspora Organisations (Dos) and promote diaspora participation in relevant clusters or working groups and collaborations with diaspora organizations and communities in humanitarian interventions.
• Stay up to date on the overall humanitarian context and needs throughout Somalia with a strong thematic focus on the protection sector and hard-to-reach areas in Somalia.
• Prepare and disseminate weekly digests in English and Somali with an overview of the humanitarian situation, needs, and gaps in the country based on information in cluster meetings and through other relevant sources.
• Track activities and capture and share results related to diaspora engagement and initiatives in humanitarian response with relevant stakeholders.
• Establish a diaspora humanitarian community of practice by conducting outreach to the diaspora, facilitating operational working/thematic/sector-specific groups, peer-to-peer exchanges, and moderating relevant online chats/SoMe communication channels/platforms in English and Somali.
• Provide and/or design and facilitate needs-based, tailored assistance and capacity development support to diaspora organizations to improve their coordination, humanitarian responses, and their eligibility to access sustainable funding in Somalia.
• Facilitate partnerships, collaborations, and meetings between diaspora organizations, relevant humanitarian institutional actors, and LNGOs in Somalia.
• When relevant, facilitate connections and introduce Somali LNGOs working in partnership with DOs to coordination mechanisms and clusters to ensure that responses provided in partnerships between DOs and LNGOs appear in cluster reporting.
• Coordinate closely with relevant colleagues and counterparts in Somalia and internationally including DRC Somalia, Somalia NGO Consortium, IOM, and DEMAC Copenhagen.
• Make appropriate recommendations to UN agencies, INGOs, and donors in the humanitarian system on enhancing coordination strategies.
• Identify lessons learned and continuously work to improve and align DEMAC`s operational response with the relevant gaps and needs of the diaspora and affected communities in Somalia.
• Share strategic lessons learned and collaborate with the DEMAC team to support the further development of DEMAC`s operational response methodology and contribute to the learning and development of the Framework for Diaspora Engagement in Humanitarian Assistance (IOM).
• Adhoc support to DEMAC`s work in Somalia, as relevant

About you

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Qualifications and Experience

• 5-7years of relevant work experience in emergency response, humanitarian coordination, or partnerships, specifically with local and diaspora actors.
• Bachelor`s degree in a relevant field; Master’s degree is an asset
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of the humanitarian coordination system in Somalia
• Demonstrated experience working on humanitarian response and humanitarian project management with knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles and standards.
• Demonstrated experience successfully collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience working with partnership management and/or relations with civil society actors such as local actors and diaspora
• Demonstrated experience and skills in coordination, negotiation, and advocacy
• Proven integrity, objectivity, and professional competence
• Demonstrated sensitivity to cultural diversity
• Proven written and spoken communication skills
• Proven ability to build and sustain trusting professional relationships with a diverse range of actors.
• Proactive, results-driven, and tenacious
• Proven ability to work in an agile and responsive manner and adapt interventions based on needs and contextual changes.

Conditions

Contract: 5 months with the possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and other conditions are offered by DRC’s Terms of Employment for National Staff; Employment band Non-Management G1

Availability: 1st August 2023

Duty station: This position is based in Mogadishu – Somalia

Reporting Line: Country Director

Providing equal opportunities, we are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

Promoting high standards: DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP, and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct about DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. DRC conducts thorough background checks as part of the recruitment process