Diakonia Sweden Job Vacancies within Somalia Programme

Diakonia is a Christian development organisation that works with local partners to achieve sustainable change for the most vulnerable people in the world.

Diakonia’s vision is for al people to live in dignified circumstances, in a just and sustainable world,free from poverty. Our mission is to change the unjust political, economic, social and cultural structures that prevent people from living a life in dignity.

Fundamental thematic areas for the organization are human rights, democracy, gender equity, social and economic justice and peace and reconciliation.

More information can be found on our website www.diakonia.se/eng

Diakonia Sweden has secured funding from the European Union (EU) to implement the Developing Vocational Training for the Informal Economy in Somalia (DVTIES) project in Puntland, Somaliland and Central South Somalia.

The project is implemented by a consortium consisting of Gothenburg Initiative (GI) and International Aid Services (IAS), in which Diakonia Sweden is the lead agency.

The project will be implemented in dose collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Labour and alongside training institutions and other stakeholders in the WET sub-sector.

The overall objective of DV1ES is to improve the employment opportunities of disadvantaged Somali youth through the provision of skills training and literacy education.

Given this development, we are looking for dynamic and highly motivated individuals to fill two positions; Programme Manager and Finance and Administration Officer on a two (2) year fixed term contract.

Programme Manager

Reporting to the Country Representative, the individual will be responsible for overall leadership and management of the project in Somaliland, Puntland and Central South Somalia.

The major roles and responsibilities include:

Assist the consortium member project staff in identification process of local implementing partners, host training centres, technical institutions, to implement WET activities.Assist the consortium member project staff in the process of identifying training skill areas based on the findings of local labour market surveys and local economic development studies and other studies.Develop and undertake appropriate and effective project implementation strategies.Prepare project action plans and cash flows and ensures implementation of the same.Prepare handbooks, guidelines and related materials to be used by different actors to generate employment opportunities for youth to participate in human rights, governance, sustainable development and peace building.Identify trainers from the neighbouring countries for the training of trainers in master craftsmanship.Play a pivotal role in development and implementation of appropriate cost recovery system for technical institutions and institute based technical vocational education and training (1BTVET) centres and their sustainability.Provide technical support and follow up capacity building activities of the relevant government departments, partners and staffs in areas such as data collection and analysis, participatory assessment methodologies, project cycle management, gender and micro-enterprise development.Develop terms of references for the various consultancy assignments in the project, i.e. baseline assessments, tracer studies and labour market surveys as related to the project.Plan, coordinate and lead baseline assessments, tracer studies and labour market surveys as related to the project.Liaise with relevant actors and stakeholders in the country and ensure the project benefits from the coordinated and collaborated initiatives.Develop monitoring systems and tools and ensures that project progress are documented, reported and appropriate actions/decisions are taken timelyGuide and supervise project staff recruited for the project within the lead agency and the consortium member officesIdentify future intervention area with regards to skill trainings and youth employment; present project ideas and develop project proposals.Identify operational/technical and management problems arising during the implementation of the project activities by lead agency, consortium members and other implementing partners to the responsible line manager in the organisation and ensure that timely action is taken.Document best practice and lessons learnt from the implementation of the project activities.Arrange and lead the Executive Committee Meetings at Nairobi level, with all the consortium member organisations.Arrange and co-host Steering Committee Meetings at the field level, alongside other WET stakeholders and local government authorities.Qualifications and Experience:
Must be a holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences - Community Development, Business Administration, Education or related field.Must have undertaken relevant professional courses in project management, M &E etcMust possess a minimum of four (4) years progressive relevant experience in a fast paced multi-cultural NGO with specific experience in youth employment and skis training.Proven experience in implementation of EU funded projectsExperience in Participatory and Rights Based ApproachesCapacity building and civil society developmentExperience in managing administrative and financial processes including budgets, reporting, resource management etc within a project/programmeExperience and clear understanding of the dynamics in SomaliaExcellent report writing, networking and negotiation skills. Proposal writing skis will be an added advantageWorking knowledge of Information and Communication Technology. Use of project management information systems will be an added advantageGood leadership, management, training and facilitation skillsGood interpersonal skills to be able to relate to people of diverse backgroundsBe a team player and self driven with ability to work with minimal supervisionFinance and Administration Officer

Reporting to the Programme Manager, the individual will be responsible for providing effective leadership in financial and grant management of the project in Somaliland, Puntland and Central South Somalia.

The major roles and responsibilities include:

Disseminating the financial reporting formats as stipulated in the DVT1ES contract.Providing guidance and training to consortium member finance staff in producing good quality financial reports.Ascertaining that consortium member financial reports are eligible, correct, accurate and well supported.Collecting, collating and consolidating the financial reports to the donor.Keeping copies of financial documents from consortium members in readiness for audits.Disseminating the monthly currency exchange rate to the consortium members.Ensuring that procurement guidelines are adhered to within the project.Keeping a record of all inventories within the project for reporting.Developing the terms of reference for auditors to carry out expenditure verifications.Engage auditors during the audit period.Prepare budget revisions and amendments, when required.Prepare budget forecasts and ensure that expenditure threshold is reached every year.Ensuring that expenditure and activities implementation is matching.Prepare funds requisitions for the donor.Prepare financial reports for the organisation, for regional and head office requirements.Qualifications and Experience:
Holder of a relevant Bachelors degree in Business or finance related field from a recognized universityMust possess a professional accounting qualification of CPA II or another comparable qualification. ACCA accreditation is a significant advantageHas at least four (4) years experience in a busy finance/accounts office with a Non Governmental OrganizationAbility to maintain timely & accurate accounting records and prepare, analyze and interpret financial reportsPossess working knowledge of computerized accounting and application packagesExperience with EU funded projectsExperience and clear understanding of the dynamics in SomaliaShould possess strong analytical and communication skisEffective communication in both oral and written EnglishAbility to work with minimal supervisionAbility to negotiate, communicate accurately and meet strict deadlines is also criticalWorking knowledge of computerized accounting and other computer application packagesHigh integrity to be able to manage cash and cash related transactionsGood interpersonal skills, multicultural orientation and ability to relate to people of diverse backgroundsSend your application accompanied with a detailed CV and names of at least three (3) professional referees and daytime telephone contact to reach the address below before the close of business on Friday 24th December 2010.

Indicate clearly which position you are applying for.

Do not attach certificates and testimonials at this point.

The interviews will be carried out in Nairobi, Kenya.

Executive Selection, Strategic Dimensions Limited
Management and Development Consultants
E-mail: info@strategicdl.com

Only short listed candidates will be contacted

For a more comprehensive collection of jobs in Kenya, visit our new Kenyan Jobs Website http://www.kenyan-jobs.com/