Somali Regional Coordinator

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Office/Unit/Project Description

Based on UNDP’s new Country Program Document (CPD 2020-2025) and guidance received from the  Ministry of Finance, UNDP has embarked on providing targeted and direct interventions in the three regions of Amhara, Oromia and Somali, selected based on socio-economic profiles, size and geographical diversity, levels of vulnerability, among other considerations. The selected regions also present complex humanitarian, development and peacebuilding needs as well as urgent institutional capacity gaps requiring a comprehensive UNDP portfolio wide approach at regional level and further targeting of pilot areas within the Regions for an area-based programming approach that will maximize impact and sustainability. UNDP’s engagement at regional level further aims to strengthen the capacities of regional state governments to plan and deliver quality services in a transparent and accountable manner. UNDP’s support is crucial in the implementation of the National Development Plans and in advancing Ethiopia’s efforts to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063.

The purpose of UNDP’s overall engagement in the Somali region is therefore, to enhance collaboration and partnership with Regional Governments to contribute to the structural changes required to ensure that social services, livelihoods, jobs, and the rule of law & democratic governance practices are sustained in a more accountable, inclusive and responsive way without leaving anyone behind. UNDP  is committed to providing direct support to the Somali region with the purpose of enhancing the region’s capacity to plan, implement, and monitor development programmes towards achieving SDGs. The support areas will encompass a broad spectrum of development interventions including governance capacity building, access to justice and rule of law, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, jobs creation and livelihood improvements, resilience building and women empowerment.

The Initiative will focus on: (i) enhancing the governance capacity including promoting justice, rule of law & human rights, peace and security, improving public service delivery, and strengthening local revenue generation capacity; (ii) enhancing the capacity of regional bureaus on gender mainstreaming and accountability, (iii) promoting the livelihood of people affected by drought targeting women and youth as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs), (iv) strengthening capacities of regional institutions around climate change mitigation and adaptation and resilience building; and (v) provide support to regional institutions to formulate a Multi-Year Resilience Building Strategy. In the medium to long term (2-3 years), support will be targeted towards promoting social cohesion and peacebuilding and other livelihood improvement initiatives through diversified income generating activities and by promoting environmental sustainability, thus bringing the Region to a developmental trajectory. Given the resource limitations especially in the immediate term, the initiative is limited in scope, focusing mainly on building the capacity of regional institutions/sector bureaus, and targeting the most vulnerable segments of the population such as women, older persons, people with disabilities, youth, and internally displaced people.

Scope of Work, Expected Roles, and Responsibilities of the Incumbent: 

Based in the office of the President of Somali Region, the overall objective of the role is to provide strategic foresight and high-quality Policy and Technical Support to all actors engaged in the region. S/he also works towards strengthening the capacities of the regional and local government to plan and implement resilience, governance capacity building, and economic recovery interventions in the region.

Regional policy and strategy support on resilience building:

• Maintain up-to-date understanding of the regional policy, legal, regulatory, institutional, financing, and operational issues regarding regional resilience building;
• Provide specialist advice on a timely basis to the president, key sectoral government bureaus, the UN agencies, and other partners on Resilience building, climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, peacebuilding, and related areas;
• Provide technical advice and thought leadership to Regional Stakeholders on resilience building;
• Design and support strategies on building capacity of regional government for effective implementation of the SDGs;
• Forge and support implementation of regional strategies on HDP nexus agenda;
• Lead regional strategies and actions on inclusion, gender, and empowerment of vulnerable people.

High quality technical and programmatic support:

• Work closely with the Somali Regional State Bureau of Finance to coordinate efforts of all stakeholders in resilience building;
• Support the Office of the president in rollout of the Somali Multi-Years Resilience Strategy and implementation of its investment Plan;
• Provide top quality technical advice to relevant regional bureaus on strategic engagement in regional development process;
• Advise the office of the president on prevailing and possible risks to resilience building and provide expert advice for accommodating and reducing risks to regional development;
• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and lessons learning from all relevant regional engagements of SDGs and resilience partners.

Partnership Building and Resources Mobilization:

• Identify strategic regional development partners and support the design of programmes and project in support of the MYRS;
• Establish and sustain an active network of actors at regional level so as to encourage a harmonized approach and contribution of all stakeholders towards realization of the MYRS;
• Facilitate and strengthen important regional for a and structures on resilience building, HDP Nexus, and implementation of longer- and shorter-term development plans of the region.

Evidence-based regional development Support:

• Facilitating information sharing and joint planning/programming within development and humanitarian partners;
• Support generation of tested knowledge practices on development in the region and work and advocate for upscaling;
• Review the engagement of various stakeholders in resilience building and provide the necessary feedback.

Strategic visioning and thought leadership:

• Provide strategic foresight and analysis for effective regional programming in line with the socio-economic dynamics in the region;
• Liaise with all relevant actors in Somali region on resilience programming and work towards accommodating emerging priorities;
• Provide vision and advice on the implementation of systemic strategies of the MYRS and other engagements in the region.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement and Reporting Lines:

The Regional Programme Coordinator will work under the overall guidance and the direct supervision of Chief of Somali Region Cabinet and Head of the Regional President Office. S/he will also report to the Team Leader, Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability, UNDP Country Office while cross working with UNDP country office teams working on Governance, Inclusive Economic Transformation, policy, and partnership management as well as with the UNDP Somali regional Programmes Coordinator, based in Jigjiga.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact ;

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Direction and Strategy

• Strategic Thinking
  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with regional priorities, and also based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
  • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for the region.
• System Thinking
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management

• Portfolio Management
  • Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
• Result-based Management
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Communication
  • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience;
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Development

• UNDP Representation
  • Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies.

Digital and Innovation

• Team Design and Management
  • Ability to create a clear sense of shared purpose while leveraging curiosity, expertise and agency at an individual level.
  • Set up and manage team rituals and rhythms that create a safe space for learning and reflection. Foster a positive culture around failure, encourage exploration, experimentation.
  • Set the conditions and structures for ‘fluid’ team modelling and distributed leadership enabling the team to continuously develop and renew itself.
  • Ability to create synergy between team members with diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, being able to leverage their broad knowledge and skillsets.

Minimum Qualifications

Education Requirements:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Science, Public Administration, Governance, Development Studies, Economics, Natural Resources Management, or other Social Sciences or related fields of study is required. Or
• A first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience:

• Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) progressive strategic level experience in development and humanitarian programming and programme management.

Required skills:

• Experience in use of office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc),

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section:

• At least seven years of progressively responsible professional development experience in related areas in Ethiopia;
• Experience in designing and delivering Resilience building, post crisis-recovery, and/or development programmes/projects;
• Experience working in similar or related role would be an advantage;
• Proven solid knowledge of Somali Region;
• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages will be considered as an asset;
• Excellent inter-personal skills/experience.

Required Language(s) (at working level):

• Fluency in spoken and written English and Somali (as national language) is a requirement;
• Fluency in Amharic is advantage.