Senior Program Assistant (Sustainable Livelihoods)

CTG overview:

• CTG staff and support humanitarian projects in fragile and conflict-affected countries around the world, providing a rapid and cost-effective service for development and humanitarian missions. With past performance in 17 countries – from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia, we have placed more than 20,000 staff all over the world since operations began in 2006.
• CTG recruits, deploys and manages the right people with the right skills to implement humanitarian and development projects, from cleaners to obstetricians, and mechanics to infection specialists, we’re skilled in emergency response to crises such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Key to successful project delivery is the ability to mobilise at speed; CTG can source and deploy anyone, anywhere, in less than 2 weeks and have done so in 48 hours on a number of occasions.
• Through our efficient and agile HR, logistical and operational services, CTG saves multilateral organisations time and money. We handle all our clients’ HR related issues, so they are free to focus on their core services.
• Visit www.ctg.org to find out more

Overview of position:

• Our client is building on its existing stabilization programming & will be working further to support stabilization efforts in newly recovered, unstable & fragile areas across Somalia through several projects including stabilization support to fragile areas in Somalia II (or Daryeel as short hand), the breaking the climate conflict cycle in Galmudug (Deegan Bile Galmudug as short hand) & the upcoming breaking the climate conflict cycle in Hirshabelle (or Deegan Bile Hirshabelle as short hand). The program harnesses the stabilization gains made by previous stabilization programs (EU IcSP phase I) & aims to contribute to stabilization efforts in Somalia through creating conditions for environmental peacebuilding, restoring trust among communities & between communities & local leadership, thereby rebuilding the social contract between Somali citizens & state institutions & providing a bridge to longer term development interventions.
• In addition, climate related security risks are transforming the landscape in which peacebuilding efforts take place. Climate related change in Somalia has reduced livelihood options, induced mass displacement & left significant parts of the population in highly vulnerable circumstances, all conditions that undermine stability & contribute to violent conflict. Mediation & peacebuilding approaches must incorporate the environment if they seek to address the underlying drivers of contemporary conflict in Somalia. To respond to this, our clients community stabilization programming develops & implements integrated & interconnected packages of activities based on a field level Strength, Weakness, Opportunity & Threat (SWOT) analysis. This integrated package seeks to contribute to the stability of target locations by promoting environmentally sound & sustainable livelihoods & income generating activities primarily focused on the agricultural, animal husbandry, fishery & water related activities to contribute to stabilization objectives. Our clients programming has also started to pilot the matching grant activity, a cofunding mechanism, which can also be linked to promoting income generating activities within the integrated package approach.
• In view of the expanding programme of community stabilization, our client in Somalia is recruiting Senior Program Assistant specializing on sustainable livelihoods, under the overall supervision of the Community Stabilization Program Manager & under the direct supervision of the Program Officer (Community Stabilization), to oversee, plan & implement sustainable livelihood activities within an integrated package, to enhance the community’s resilience & to address the destabilizing factors that cause clan violence among clans across Somalia. The successful candidate will be in charge of field level implementation of sustainable livelihood activities & liaison with local partners, local govt. counterparts & community members on the ground. Where needed, the incumbent will also provide support to matching grant activities. This position is based in Mogadishu & will require frequent travel across Somalia.

Role objectives:

• Provide technical inputs to activity level concept notes, proposals & budgets focusing on sustainable livelihoods for the integrated package of activities to improve communities’ resilience towards climate change impacts & the environmental hazards through consultations with the relevant communities & using field based SWOT analysis, field observation & desk review to assess the target locations.
• Operationalize & oversee at field level sustainable livelihood component of stabilization activities that contribute to income generation, social cohesion & stabilization through field visit missions & liaising with local partners, local authorities & the community partners.
• Operationalize community co funding mechanisms through the matching grant activity at field level to contribute to sustainable livelihood opportunities, by mapping local resources with communities & assisting them with resource mobilization.
• Capacitate community teams & govt. authorities on community based planning processes, technical compilation & drafting of community action plans to better respond to the community needs & improve service delivery providing a bridge to longer term development interventions through awareness raising discussions & trainings.
• Represent our client as the technical focal person for sustainable livelihood activities meetings with communities, elders, govt., local authorities & partners linked to livelihood & resilience sector.
• Seek innovative, sustainable & environmentally sound livelihood solutions to pilot & to contribute to community stabilization toolkit by liaising with local innovative partners & engaging with communities to identify grassroot level initiatives.
• Assist National Program Officer in supervision of local implementing partners & Program Monitors & continuously monitor the progress of implementation of activities at field level.
• Assist National Program Officer to coordinate with RMU in ensuring that admin related tasks are carried out timely for smooth implementation of activities.
• Assist & provide inputs to M&E team, communications focal person & Community Stabilization Officer.
• Undertake duty travels to provide technical support for activity implementation as needed.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned, based on needs & the capacity of the candidate.

Project reporting:

• This role works under the direct supervision of the Program Officer (Community Stabilization).

Key competencies:

• Completed University Degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relation or Business Administration or a related field with 5 years relevant experience or High School Degree / Certificate with 7 years relevant experience.
• Experience in community driven development initiatives.
• Demonstrated knowledge in durable solutions, stabilization & peacebuilding concepts.
• Previous work experience in coordinating with local & state govt. authorities & CSO’s in Galmudug.
• Demonstrated proficiency & knowledge of IT in MS Office applications especially Excel, Word & PowerPoint
• Must have at least 5 years of work experiene in Africa.
• Must be fluent in both English & Somali.
• In depth knowledge of community based activities & stabilization activities.
• Knowledge of UN & bilateral donor programming.
• Working experience with women, youth, children, people with disabilities, minorities & marginalized communities.
• Working experience in development of activity based concept notes, activity proposals & activity budgets.
• Working experience in implementation of matching grant activities, or co funding mechanisms.
• Respects & promotes individual & cultural differences, encourages diversity & inclusion wherever possible.
• Maintains high ethical standards & acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles / rules & standards of conduct.
• Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent & committed manner & exercises careful judgment in meeting day to day challenges.
• Develops & promotes effective collaboration within & across units to achieve shared goals & optimize results.
• Produces & delivers quality results in a service oriented & timely manner, is action oriented & committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge & innovate.
• Takes ownership for achieving the organization’s priorities & assumes responsibility for own action & delegated work.
• Encourages & contributes to clear & open communication, explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring & motivational way.

Team management:

• This role has no team management responsibility.

Further information:

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.