RACIDA Somalia Program Coordinator

Job Type: Full Time

Experience: 8 years plus

Location: Mogadishu /Dollow,

Reports to: Executive Director

Contract Details: 2 years renewable

Job Summary:

Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA) is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing self-reliance and prosperity among vulnerable (Agro)-pastoralist communities residing in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. Through the promotion of better livelihood systems, sustainable use of natural resources, and community empowerment, RACIDA aims to make a lasting impact. Since its establishment in 2012, RACIDA has been working in Southern and Central Somalia, striving to implement highly integrated, contextually appropriate, and community-based programs.

We are currently seeking a Program Coordinator to provide strategic leadership and management for RACIDA’s humanitarian and holistic development work in Somalia. The selected individual will be responsible for advocating on behalf of the organization’s development goals, building institutional relationships, and promoting cooperative program activities. The Program Coordinator will also lead the country team in formulating and executing a country strategy aligned with our strategic plan. Furthermore, they will collaborate closely with the fundraising team at the Regional Office to identify and develop new funding sources, ensuring the organization’s growth and financial stability.

Key Responsibilities:

– Provide strategic leadership and management for RACIDA’s work in Somalia.

– Advocate for the organization’s development goals and build institutional relationships.

– Promote cooperative program activities that align with RACIDA’s mission.

– Lead the country team in formulating and executing a country strategy.

– Collaborate with the fundraising team at the Regional Office to identify and develop new funding streams.

– Ensure growth and financial stability of the organization.

Leadership

• Contribute to developing and implementing a coherent country programme strategy that contributes to achieving RACIDA’s strategic goals.
• Work closely with the Executive director to provide leadership in the overall effective planning and direction of RACIDA’s programme and operations at country level.
• Build strong and committed team of local/National staff adhering to RACIDA policies and procedures as well as Values
• Create and maintain shared vision, amongst all RACIDA Somalia team
• Lead and support in strengthening coordination and collaboration within teams and across all teams, to maintain and ensure constructive communications, that contributes to a positive working environment.
• Network with and maintain good working relationships with key UN agencies, government authorities, churches, NGO’s, public & private entities, and institutional donors and ensure collaboration, acceptance and awareness of RACIDA programs.

Programme Development and Management

• Lead the country team in developing new program and funding opportunities ensuring the financial health of the organization by closely collaborating with Nairobi Office.
• Take lead in ensuring targets of the country level funding strategy are met, and establish productive working relationships with donors and be responsible for undertaking country level negotiations related to securing funding, programming contracts, and reports.
• Provide adequate leadership and support to programme managers in setting up high quality standards and implementation of programmes to ensure activities are done as per RACIDA internal procedures and are in line with donor guidelines.
• Ensure that all programmes are implemented and completed according to programme documents including agreed plans and budget, and in compliance with donors and internal policies.
• Maintain effective communication and liaise with RACIDA Nairobi Regional and ensure that high standard internal and donor reports are produced and submitted in timely manner and in line with relevant targets and objectives.
• Work closely with regional office in coordinating and monitoring ongoing cross border interventions.

Budget and Financial Management

• Ensure that the RACIDA organisational financial guidelines and procedures are adhered to at Country level.
• Develop and implement work and expenditure plans and ensure that the country programmes are implemented within agreed and approved budget through undertaking regular budget monitoring of expenditure against budget by working closely with finance team.

Representation and networking

• Ensure compliance with RACIDA’s statutory obligations in relation to registration compliance, including submission of mandatory reports to the authorities as may be required.
• Ensure that relationship and formal agreements with the government are established, maintained and updated as appropriate.
• Represent RACIDA at various coordination forums i.e. cluster working groups at Regional and national level.
• Promote and ensure that the organisation’s neutrality, impartiality and independence is well communicated and consistently presented, and that we are perceived as an independent humanitarian organisation addressing the needs of the most vulnerable.

Policies and procedures

• Closely working with regional office, ensure that support systems are in place and functioning in accordance with best practices in order to ensure transparency and accountability to programme participants, donors, government, and another relevant stakeholder.
• Promote and ensure compliance with the requirements of RACIDA’s Code of Conduct, along with community-based complaints and response mechanism (CRM) to ensure maximum protection of and accountability to programme beneficiaries.

Accountability

• ensure that all staff are familiar with the principles underpinning accountability, safeguarding and RACIDA’s Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) and ensure that information about RACIDA’s commitments on accountability and safeguarding are disseminated among programme participants and communities
• ensure that the CRM is functional, effectively implemented and accessible in all programmes’ locations, enabling safe reporting of both programmatic and sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns by closely working with the regional Office CRM Officer.
• ensure that complaints are welcomed, managed and responded to in a timely, fair and appropriate manner; ensure that sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns, are handled with utmost confidentiality and that the safety of the complainants and those affected is prioritised at all stages.

Other

• The programme is in a dynamic context that requires continuous contextual analysis and adaptation of the strategic planning frameworks.

Requirement

• Advance Degree preferably in social science or development management or business management or related discipline.
• At least 5 years’ experience in management and coordination of humanitarian interventions and emergency response with at least 3 years’ experience in a senior management position in South and Central Somalia.
• Experience in insecure and complex contexts and environments.
• Exceptional social acumen and an ability to forge strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders, including district/county/regional government officials and representatives’ non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, the private sector, and donor institutions is required.
• Experience working with local and regional government structures and knowledge of government protocols.
• Good understanding of cross-cutting issues – gender, peacebuilding, climate, DRR, etc. in the region.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and report writing skills and demonstrated ability to effectively lead teams.
• Ability to analyze budgets and financial reports for effective management decisions
• Strong public relations, diplomacy and negotiation skills
• Experience in transformational approaches to humanitarian and community development programming
• Demonstrated ability to develop and secure funding sources.
• Previous experience working in Somalia or a similar context is preferred.
• Proficient in office computer applications
• Fluent in both spoken and written English and Somali**. Knowledge of and proficiency in the local language is strongly preferred.**

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• Requires periodic travel to remote field locations where basic services may be limited
• May involve traveling in rough roads that are not maintained over long distances
• May encounter armed military or militia groups
• May require working on weekends or holidays to meet critical deadlines
• May be required to travel frequently to Mogadishu and Nairobi.