NGO Area Representative Job in Nairobi Kenya

Job Title: Area Representative – Southern Somalia
 

Duty Station: Nairobi, with frequent travel to Mogadishu (as security permits)
 

Reports to: Director of Operations
 

Working relationships: Area Representative Central Somalia, Humanitarian Director & Emergency Response Team members
 

Line Management responsibility: 

International & National Staff: Project Managers, finance, HR, logistics and Field Manager(s).
 

Indirect support to over 120 local partner staff in Southern Somalia
 

Budget Holding Responsibility: GBP 9 Million
 

Grade: 3.1. (international Contract, accompanied)
 

Contract Length: 8 months (renewable)
 

Child Safeguarding Level: 3
 

Introduction:
 

Save the Children (SC) is an international organization with 27 member organizations across the globe. It is united by a common mission and brand but, to some extent, has until now been working independently from country to country and within countries. With the decision by all Save the Children organizations to create an International Programmes Unit (IPU) taken in 2010, Save the Children aims to create a stronger voice for children by unifying the operations in all countries. This will result in one organisation at the national level in each country and a unified programme delivery structure for all Save the Children International Members.

Save the Children UK, Denmark and Finland unified in Somalia in January 2010 under the name Save the Children in Somalia which will move to the IPU model by the end of 2012. After one year of unification and as a result of an active fundraising strategy the programme budget was over GBP 10m covering thematic areas of protection, child survival (which includes health, nutrition and livelihoods), education, and Child Rights Governance.

Save the Children works in the three “zones” of Somalia: Somaliland, Puntland and Central South Somalia (CSS). Due to constraints on security, and the need to liaise with UN agencies, other NGOs and donors, the country office is based in Nairobi. 

Directors and senior managers are expected to travel extensively to monitor and support programme work in all parts of Somalia that are accessible and where security threats are being effectively mitigated Save the Children has been engaged in Somalia for over 20 years. 

The programme has substantially grown since and intends to continue long-term. During the drought crisis of
2011, the programme in Somalia expanded exponentially and we presently work across 5 regions of Somalia with offices in Hiran, Abudwaq and a shared office with our partner in Mogadishu. 

The post holder will be based in Nairobi, with frequent travel to Mogadishu as security allows, but at present there is no access for international staff into Bay & Bakool. Therefore, a strong understanding of remote support to Save the Children staff and partners is a vital component of this position.
 

This is a new position within the organisation; due to the large growth of operations in Somalia over the past 8 months a decision was taken to split Somalia into southern and central regions, with an Area Representative for each. 

A Transition Manager will be in place for a period of six months to support the change in the structure, working closely with the Area Representatives and their teams, Operations Director and Humanitarian Director.
 

Job Purpose
 

The Area Representative has overall responsibility for development, management and delivery of good quality programmes in Southern Somalia (currently Mogadishu and Bay & Bakool). S/he will work through local partners to ensure all aspects of programming are coordinated resulting in efficiency, high team moral and cost effectiveness. 

As the senior representative of Save the Children in Southern Somalia, s/he will ensure programmes implement key humanitarian principles and that we work in close collaboration with other key stakeholders to promote and advocate for children’s rights. 

The Security environment in Southern Somalia is fragile and requires the post-holder to liaise closely with staff and partners to advise senior management on robust security management guidelines and plans for Southern Somalia. 

Programmes in these areas are new, and started in the last quarter of 2011/first quarter of 2012 and while this expansion was a result of the drought crisis, it is envisaged that Save the Children will plan and work towards a long term presence responding the needs of children.

Key Accountabilities
 

It is important to note that at present, a large component of these accountabilities will need to be done remotely.
 

1. Partnership management and Development

• Establish a quality partnership management environment through mutual respect and trust, robust partnership assessments, capacity building, project monitoring, sharing and networking by drawing support from technical resources from within the country programme.
• Development of a partnership strategy, taking into account the approach used in particular in Mogadishu and build on this through the development of an inclusive and participatory strategy with partners and all stakeholders.
• Ensure that partners understand and implement Save the Children’s policies and procedures including child safeguarding, procurement, fraud and whistle blowing.

2. Program Development, Implementation and Delivery

• Lead on development and implementation of participatory and consultative Area Programme Operations Plan in line with the Country Annual Plan.
• Work with local partners do design & implement a robust project monitoring system that allows for timely evidence gathering, management action and inter-organisational learnings in quality programme management.
• Work with partners to ensure that effective mechanisms are in place to listen to, act upon and address children’s and communities’ concerns/recommendations through active participation by children and communities in project design, monitoring and evaluations.
• Ensure a proactive and strategic fundraising plan is pursued and implemented in close collaboration with Partners and the Programme Quality and the Emergency Response teams.
• Ensure SC and partner staff capacity in quality project management is improved and strengthened through training, coaching and mentoring.

3. People Management and Development

• Work closely with the HR and Admin Director, ensure that all HR policies and guidelines for national staff are in place, are understood by all staff and are adhered to. Support all managers in recruitment, induction, placement, promotion, training/development and separation/termination
• Work with partner to strengthen HR policies and guidelines and support recruitment for national positions.
• Develop creative and effective methods of management in a remote context ensuring that staff and partners receive the support they require, including capacity building and training
• Enhance SC staff and partner staff performance through mutually agreed performance management plans, clarity of individual and collective roles and responsibilities; ensure a robust process of performance monitoring, learning & development initiatives and timely management actions.
• Represent SC staff concerns that cannot be dealt with locally, in a timely manner to the Director of Operations and Human Resources.
• Promote an inspiring and motivating working environment through teamwork, delegation and the team building initiatives.
• Promote and ensure a culture that respects and promotes collaboration and partnership, diversity, inclusion and staff recognition.

4. Financial, Budget and Grant Management

• Efficiently and successfully manage project grant cycle by working with local partners to put in place robust mechanisms to start, implement and close grants in line with donor as well as Save the Children’s policies.
• Work with local partners to ensure that programme budgets are managed through rigorous budget and finance monitoring.
• Strengthen partners’ general application and observance of financial procedures and guidelines set out in SC financial manual and donors’ requirements.
• Ensure that budgets are spent and charged to their respective budget heads and grants by diligently reviewing the financial (at present SUN) reports at least every month and bringing to the timely attention of the Director of Operations and the Finance Director any major budget concerns and suggestions/recommendations
• Ensure that adequate support to and monitoring of the partner finance teams is provided by the SC finance and grants team at Nairobi level & head office
• Ensure that all grants implemented by partners are managed as per Save the Children’s and donors’ requirements including the quality and timely submission of reports

5. Operations Management

• Ensure that standardised systems, in line with the Country Programme policies, procedures and guidelines in the areas of logistics, finance and HR are in place, well understood and adhered to by all partners & SC staff.
• Ensure that minimum logistics/financial/administrative standards and country policies are implemented by all partners.
• Work with partners to develop and project management tools and ensure they are put in place and used by relevant managers (operational plan, procurement plan, output trackers, etc…)
• Ensure that all staff (partners & SC) have operational and capacity development support within their operating environment
• Ensure the strict adherence of the Southern Somalia team and partners to the basic humanitarian principles at all times: neutrality, impartiality and independence while delivering programmes for children

6. Representation and Advocacy

• Represent Save the Children at Southern Somalia level, network with INGOs/NGOs and other stakeholders and government.
• Continuously and proactively engage in strategic analysis of evidence and document and implement learning for quality improvement in programme strategies for children.
• Identify, establish and maintain close working relationship with key stakeholders in furtherance of children’s rights
• Ensure appropriate representation in all relevant meetings: clusters, working groups, 

7. Security and Context Monitoring

• In close collaboration with the Security Manager, and partners proactively monitor the political and security situation at both national and local level and ensure that a clear and updated security management plan is in place for all areas of operations in Southern Somalia.
• As far as possible ensure that all staff and partners are involved in the establishment of guidelines, protocols in developing security plans that should be formally reviewed on a weekly basis.
• In close collaboration with the Security Manager and partners manage any significant security incident in Southern Somalia. If this involves a “critical incident” the Security Manager and the Operations Director must be informed immediately.
• Adapt to security constraints and ensure that staff and partners are adequately aware of security risks and management issues in order to deliver projects for children.

Person Specification

• Degree in the field of social sciences, management or related field or a minimum of 5 years progressive senior management experience in humanitarian work
• Previous experience of working in partnership with and managing local NGOs to deliver quality programmes.
• At least 10 years experience in the development and management of programmes in conflict affected countries. Experience of Somalia desirable.
• Experience in the leadership/direction, development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of multi donor, multi-site field programmes, including direct and remote management and supervisory experience.
• Proven strategic planner and team leader with sound technical knowledge, conceptual and analytical ability, good judgment, and adaptive, flexible capacity.
• Proven ability to develop and lead a high performing team both directly and remotely.
• Excellent people manager, mentor and coach
• Excellent written communications skills in English including proposal/report-writing
• Strong problem solving and organisational skills in day to day and crisis situations
• Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
• Outstanding interpersonal and inter-organizational skills
• A commitment to working through systems of children/community participation.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s vision, mission, values and principles.

Child Safeguarding Policy:
 

Any employee, consultant, contractor or the supplier undertaking an activity on behalfof SC UK must sign the Child Safeguarding - Declaration of Acceptance Form] and comply with the SC UK’s Child Safeguarding Policy which is a statement of SC UK’s commitment to preventing abuse and protecting children with whom it comes into contact.
 

This extends not only to children with whom SC and its partners work directly, but also includes children whom staff are responsible for. SC UK believes that the situation of children must be improved through the promotion of their rights supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children's Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to.
 

Applications should be forwarded to: vacancies@scsom.org. 

Application Closing Date: Will be Sunday 24th June 2012. However, the closing date may be earlier than this date due to the urgency in filling the position.