Advocacy & Funding Officer, Somalia

(Based in Kenya)

Description of the unit / department:

The Horn & East Africa region (HEARO) is one of five regions where Tr?caire works overseas, with its regional office based in Nairobi, Kenya. Somalia is one of the five priority countries within the HEARO Region.
Background to the Role:
Tr?caire’s programme in Somalia is located in the Gedo region. The programme is comprised of health and primary education components supported by a strong advocacy agenda. The recently-developed Strategic Framework for Somalia has a strong emphasis on quality combined with greater integration of the health and education programmes, appropriate humanitarian response and clearly defined advocacy. All of this work is carried out with a strong developmental perspective. The programme is supported by staff and offices in Mandera and Nairobi. The annual budget for the country programme is approximately €2million.

Reporting to: Somalia Country Representative.
Management responsibility: n/a
Contract Type: Fixed term
Contract Duration: 1 year initially, with the possibility of renewal.
Grade & Scale: Overseas Programme Officer
Location of Position: Nairobi, Kenya. When possible, travel to Mandera, Kenya and Gedo, Somalia, as well as occasional international travel.

Scope of the Role:
The role is responsible for Tr?caire’s advocacy and programme funding in Somalia. It also links with the wider advocacy and funding agenda of the organisation.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Relationship Management
• Support the Country Representative in advancing Tr?caire’s interests in Somalia, liaising with UN agencies, EU and donor delegations, international & local NGOs, relevant networks and CI/CIDSE agencies;
• Support visiting delegations, such as Irish Aid or other donor partner groups;
• Participate in, and link with, local and national civil society fora;
• Facilitate field visits as required by Tr?caire staff or visitors invited on their behalf;

Institutional Funding
• Monitor the funding requirements of the programme and identify suitable donors, public and private;
• Maintain as diverse and flexible a funding base as possible;
• Ensure programme interventions are in line with emerging national policies for Somalia;
• Work closely with the Somalia Finance & Operations Managers to ensure information and activities are being captured in a manner acceptable to donors;
• Monitor the expenditure of donor money closely advising the Country Representative of under- or over-spends in a timely manner;
• Ensure Tr?caire is fully accountable to donors and beneficiaries and fulfills all contractual obligations;
• Ensure the production of high quality programme reports for donors and, where relevant, for Tr?caire’s purposes;
• Monitor donor government foreign policy for its impact on aid conditionality and its compatibility with Tr?caire;
• Liaise with Tr?caire’s institutional funding unit in Ireland and identify aspects of Somalia programme work which can contribute to achieving the global strategic plan;
• Contribute to the preparation of budgets to Tr?caire head office/regional office, ensuring adherence to approved budgets and developing financial reports;

Advocacy
• Maintain a comprehensive analysis of the national socio-economic and political situation;
• In collaboration with the RLO, develop and implement a detailed position paper and plan to inform Tr?caire’s advocacy;
• Participate actively in co-ordination fora;
• Liaise with key advocacy partners such as Oxfam to identify common targets and agenda;
• Ensure Somalia remains high on Tr?caire’s advocacy agenda and that the advocacy conducted is evidence-based;

Communications & Fundraising
• Support the Country Representative in undertaking media work on behalf of Tr?caire;
• Ensure Tr?caire’s work in Somalia is well reflected in Tr?caire’s communications work in terms of quantity and quality;
• Develop suitable proposals for the fundraising unit to use in their work with the public including major donors;
Person Specification – Essential Requirements
(E) Qualification
• Graduate level education in a relevant subject.
(E) Experience
• At least five years’ experience of working with an international organisation;
• Good understanding and experience of project management cycle, participatory appraisal techniques, and budget management;
• Proven track record of securing donor funds and managing donor relationships;
• Experience of managing advocacy work in complex and politically sensitive environments.
(E) Skills
• Strong financial management skills;
• Strong writing and analytical skills;
• Computer competency in main Windows applications;
• Written and spoken fluency in English.
(E) Qualities
• Commitment to Tr?caire Partnership, Vision, Mission and Values and ways of working, including an understanding of a partnership approach to development;
• Ability to build successful relationships and to work cross-culturally;
• Innovative, flexible and able to work in stressful and insecure environments;
• Familiarity with global justice, development issues and humanitarian advocacy.
(E) Other
• Availability to work outside normal working hours and to travel extensively, and occasionally internationally;
Person Specification – Desirable

• Knowledge of the Somalia working environment.
• Competence in spoken Somali
• Empathy with the role of the Catholic Church in development

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