Job Profile
Senior Adviser (N1) - Danida Somaliland Planning Adviser 2015-2017
Somalia Country Programme
Somaliland, Somalia
Reference number: DK-53708-2014/SOM.02-W
1.
Preliminary
1.1. Short background:
Denmark is providing a broad scope of support to the three regions of Somalia (Somaliland,
Puntland and South-Central Somalia). The strategic outline for this support is presented in
the current Danish Somalia Policy (2011 – 2014).
The present policy for Somalia outlines Denmark’s support to Somalia and the Horn of Africa
based on five pillars: (1) Active diplomacy, (2) Security, (3) Governance, (4) Growth and
employment, and (5) Improved living conditions. The overall objective of the Danish support
to Somalia is to: Contribute to the development of a Somalia capable of ensuring security and
of promoting economic and social development.
Somalia became the first New Deal pilot country to establish a ‘Compact’, identifying key
priorities along the five Peace and State Building Goals1 in September 2013. Danida is in the
process of developing a new overall Policy for Somalia (2015-2017) that will be aligned with
the ‘Compact’ and will be followed by a new country programme covering the same period.
1.2. Purpose of memo:
This memo describes the main tasks involved in the position and the qualifications requested
from candidates to the job.
1.3. Expected composition of the selection committee:
Applicants for the position will be selected for interview by the Danish Embassy in Nairobi.
Mercuri Urval will participate in the process of appointment by conducting personality tests
and test interviews with the selected candidates, as well as taking part in the final interview.
The final interview panel consists of the Deputy Head of Mission in Somalia, a representative
from the Somaliland Government and representatives from the Somalia Team at the Danish
Embassy in Nairobi and the consultant from Mercuri Urval A/S in charge of the recruitment
process.
2.
The Danida Programme in Somalia
2.1. The programme in short:
The programme follows the current Danish Policy Paper for Somalia (2011- 2014), which
contributes to the development of a Somalia capable of ensuring security and of promoting
economic and social development. The policy paper includes five thematic pillars, referred to
above.
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The five Peace and State Building Goals, often referred to as the “PSGs”, are: Inclusive politics, security,
justice, economic foundations, and revenue & services.
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This Danish policy guides Danida programming, but within the framework of the Somali
Compact, which was endorsed by the international community in Brussels in September
2013. The Somali Compact is aligned with the Busan agreed New Deal principles. This
Compact includes a stand-alone section for Somaliland, known as the Somaliland Special
Arrangement (SSA). All Danida programmes are aligned with the Somali Compact, and in the
case of programmes in Somaliland, aligned with the Somaliland Special Arrangement.
Danida is in the process of developing a new overall Policy for Somalia and a new country
programme document. The new country programme in Somalia is expected to be approved
at the end of April 2015, and to start from July 2015. Both the policy and the new programme
will be aligned with the Somali Compact and the Somaliland Special Arrangement.
2.2. Requirements and expectations from the relevant parties:
The objective of the Adviser is to assist the Ministry of Planning and National Development
(MoNPD) to support overall coordination of the Somaliland Special Arrangement. The
Adviser will report directly to the Minister and Director General of the Ministry of Planning and
National Development.
3.
The Position
3.1. Title:
Somaliland Planning Adviser (N1)
3.2. Place of service:
Hargeisa, Somaliland, Somalia - non-family duty station.
3.3. Terms of employment:
Contract period: 1 March 2015 – 28 February 2017 (24 months). Attractive remuneration
package reflecting family status, contribution to a pension scheme, health insurance and free
furnished housing according to Staff Regulations.
Final agreement regarding recruitment and date of commencement in the position will
depend on the approval of the funding authorities.
3.4. Special conditions of the function:
Information about special conditions working and living in Hargeisa, Somaliland will be given
during the interview.
Potential applicants should be aware of the severe security situation in Somaliland. There is
a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping, as well as a dangerous level of criminal
activity by armed militia throughout Somaliland. Dangerous situations could occur during the
contract period including armed robbery, incidents of kidnapping and other terrorist actions.
For this reason the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has adopted a policy according to which
assignment to Somaliland is conditioned upon the applicants' successful completion of a
psychological test carried out by a psychology appointed by the ministry. The purpose of the
test is to evaluate whether the applicant is considered mentally fit to live and work under
such difficult conditions as is the case in Somaliland. It is a condition for the assignment that
the applicant is approved by the psychologist appointed by the ministry.
Moreover, the applicant in question should also be physically fit to live and work in
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Somaliland given the difficult living conditions as well as the severe security situation
described above. For this reason it is a condition for assignment that the applicant undergoes
a medical examination carried out by an approved physician.
Finally, any successful candidate would have to undergo relevant training in working in
hostile environments, i.e. a HEAT course, provided that the applicant has not already
completed such training.
3.5. Area of responsibility/tasks:
The Adviser will work as part of the Ministry of Planning and National Development (MoPND).
He/she will undertake all programme related work assigned to him/her by the Somaliland
Minister of Planning and National Development. The Adviser will support and advise the
Minister of Planning and Development in all aspects of implementation, management and
reporting related to the Somaliland Special Arrangement.
Particular emphasis will be given to the coordination and cost-effective use of resources
through work planning and performance monitoring. In the initial phase, the Adviser will assist
the Government leadership to undertake a review to sequence the delivery of the different
aspects of the Somaliland Special Arrangement. The exercise will also serve a team building
purpose, as it will involve major stakeholders, including development of a progress and
Somaliland Special Arrangement performance monitoring system.
The assignment will include, but not necessarily be limited to:
1. Support the MoPND to coordinate the implementation of the Somaliland Special
Arrangement. This will include:
a) Building the capacity of the MoPND and mentoring Somalilanders, who have recently
returned after finalising their Masters programmes in Ethiopia, and are expected to
gradually take over the majority of government-donor coordination.
b) Institutionalise the Somaliland Special Arrangement by establishing an aid architecture
around the five Peace and State Building Goals that provide the structure for
implementing the Somaliland Special Arrangement: Inclusive politics, security, justice,
economic foundations, and revenue & services.
c) Establish a Somaliland Special Arrangement monitoring and evaluation framework.
d) Support the coordination of the new Multi Donor Trust Funds that are being established
to deliver the Somaliland Special Arrangement (all to be co-financed by Danida), namely
the Somaliland Development Fund, the World Bank Multi-Partner Fund, and the UN
Multi Partner Trust Fund.
e) Organiser and lead coordinator of the annual high level talks on SSA delivery between
the Government of Somaliland and its donor partners.
f) Support the MoPND to fulfil its coordination mandate with the donor community.
2. Support the MoPND to integrate aid into the government planning mechanisms. This may
include:
a) Support the MoNPD to coordinate with the National Planning Commission and Ministry
of Finance to ensure that aid is, wherever possible, ‘on plan’ and ‘on budget’.
b) Work with the government, other donors and the managers of the new Multi Donor Trust
Funds to ensure that international best practices are transferred to government systems
on public financial management and civil service reform.
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c) Support Somaliland Development Fund related business (the only Multi Donor Trust
Fund as yet fully operational), including overall coordination, monitoring and evaluation,
and facilitation of quarterly Joint Steering Committee meetings.
3. The Adviser will support the Head of the Danida Office in Hargeisa and the Danish
Embassy in Nairobi with corporate tasks as appropriate. This may include:
a) Facilitate understanding of the new Danida programme across key ministries and the
highest levels of government.
b) Support the Danida team as and when required to support smooth delivery of the
portfolio.
c) Work with the Head of the Danida office on all corporate visits from Nairobi and
Copenhagen.
All the above outputs will be regularly monitored and adjusted with the MoPND in
consultation with the Danish Embassy in Nairobi. All contractual issues will be administered
by the Danish Embassy in Nairobi.
In the short term, the success criteria will be whether the Adviser is able to function within the
Ministry of Planning and National Development and be able to build sufficient trust with
Somaliland colleagues at all levels and be able to function in relations with all external
parties.
In the longer term, the performance of the Adviser will be evaluated against overall
performance of the MoPND, Government delivery against the SSA, and Danida’s contribution
to achieving Somaliland Development Fund results.
4.
Demand Profile/Qualifications
4.1
Requirements and expectations concerning the candidate’s formal qualifications:
Minimum qualifications:
• Master degree in development, economics, political science, sociology or related topics.
• Extensive proven experience from working with development and humanitarian
assistance in a fragile state context.
• Extensive experience with aid coordination and facilitation.
• Experience with performance based management and programme management
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation.
• Fluency in English, with excellent writing skills.
Preferred experience:
• Knowledge of the New Deal principles in a fragile country context.
• Experience with gender and UNSCR 1325 as well as humanitarian law and human rights
based approaches.
• Previous experience from working in Somaliland, Puntland and/or South Central Somalia
or similar fragile environment/fragile state context.
• Previous experience residing in a fragile state.
• Knowledge of Somali and/or Arabic is an advantage.
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4.2
Requirements and expectations concerning the personal qualifications of the candidates:
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Ability to assess a complex situation and be able to work on his/her own without much
support and supervision.
Excellent networking and planning skills.
Ability to live in a fragile and (at times) unpredictable security context.
Mentoring and coaching skills.
Hardworking and ability to work under pressure to meet tight schedules and targets.
Intercultural understanding.
5.
Recruitment Procedures
5.1
How do you apply:
Information about the mandatory application procedure can be found at:
www.danidajob.um.dk. Reference number DK-53708-2014/SOM.02-W should be stated in
the application.
5.2
Deadline for applications: 19 March 2015 at 12 noon (CET).
5.3
Preliminary interviews and personal evaluation: Week 15/16. Mercuri Urval will conduct a
personal evaluation of selected candidates.
5.4
Language test: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided that all candidates called in for
interview - except for those to whom the relevant language is mother tongue - shall be
language tested in Denmark in the working languages of the duty station (i.e. English).
5.5
Presentation to the appointments committee: 15 April 2015
5.6
Decision: A decision is expected during week 16
5.7
Expected commencement: As soon as possible.
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