General

Description of assignment title: Resilience – Programme Specialist

Assignment country: Somalia

Expected start date: 08/01/2022

Sustainable Development Goal: 2. Zero hunger

Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No

Host entity: UNICEF

Type: Onsite

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Mogadiscio

Details

Mission and objectives

UNICEF is a key UN agency working in Somalia in various aeras such as WASH, Child Protection, Social Policy, Health and Nutrition, and Education sectors. With a population of 3,798,828 people and a significant youth and adolescent proportion forming a huge youth bulge, Somalia faces an unprecedented challenge in addressing the youth and adolescent needs of the people in a complex context where conflict, natural disasters and climate change divert resources from the needs of this important cohort of the population. Approximately 62% of the population is between 5-29 years old, while three-quarters (72%) of the population is less than 30 years old. The unemployment rate is high (estimated at 50%) that also contributes to poverty.

Context

This UNV assignment is part of the resilience and emergency section of UNICEF Somalia country office. The UNV will work in close collaboration with the resilience specialist support the coordination, implementation, and reporting of the Joint Resilience Programme hereafter described. Somalia is prone to frequent and recurrent climatic shocks, including flooding and drought. For the majority of communities in the country that depend on agricultural or pastoralist livelihoods, this can have a direct and detrimental impact on food and nutrition security. These shocks can lead to loss of household income, and to negative coping strategies that may change patterns of food acquisition and consumption, or erode productive assets and human capital – for example, as children are pulled out of school and households suffer reduced economic access to clean water and health services Shocks can also have an impact on food systems, constraining market availability of food items and driving up prices, and reducing labour opportunities in both urban and rural areas. Investing in resilient livelihoods is not only an important defence against these recurrent food security threats in Somalia but is also essential to empower vulnerable populations to break the cycle of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. The 2018 Joint Resilient Action Strategy (JRA) is being implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It is intended to insulate households from the immediate impact of the frequent shocks in Somalia and the associated household food and cash income deficits and negative coping strategies, which undermine development gains and represent a critical barrier to enabling households to build resilience. The ultimate objective of the JRA is to reduce the humanitarian caseload. An outstanding example of how the Joint resilience is being operationalized, is the Joint Resilience Programme (JRP) funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) via the German development bank KfW and implemented by WFP, UNICEF and FAO in the Jubaland and Banadir areas of Somalia. The programme was launched in 2018, in coordination with the Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and with other line ministries at both federal and state level. The first two phases of this intervention, implemented by WFP and UNICEF, are an integrated nutrition, health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme (Phase I); and an education, WASH and livelihoods programme (Phase II). From 2021, FAO is joining UNICEF and WFP in the third phase of the project by integrating food security and livelihoods programming with the nutrition and education interventions under Phase I and Phase II. The objective is to provide households with sustainable food security and livelihoods that enable them to produce, access and afford nutritious food. In addition, these interventions will help communities produce sufficient food to sell their surplus, and to add value and connect with higher value markets to boost household income and savings. This in turn will further improve their access to education, health and WASH services.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Resilience Lead or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Programme-Resilience Specialist will:

•  Support Coordination for the Joint Resilience Programme, currently KFW funded with Minitry of Planning (FGS and FMG), FAO, WFP and other relevant partners.
•  Serve as the linkage between technical teams and Resilience Unit to ensure recommendations from technical specialists and Resilience task Force around implementation progress, challenges, best practices, and identification of new opportunities are shared and discussed as well working on building evidence/data throughout the progamme cycle.
•  Support and review of donor reports as outlined in the donor agreement, and
•  In Collaboration collaborate with Programme Assistant review optimum use of Resilience Programme Funds by ensuring section’s expenditure patterns are within the approved budgets.
•  Provide support to regional offices and sections on resilience programme planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation and follow up to ensure realization of complementary programming and transitions is followed up
•  On request, Participate in technical working groups, steering committee and other joint programme meetings, review meetings and evaluation exercises in consultation with Resilience Specialist, Programme Managers, other UN agencies and government partners.
•  Support knowledge management, M & E, and lessons learnt arising from implementation of resilience approaches through, with a focus on the upcoming Impact Evaluation.
•  Provide support to the Resilience Specialist under the Deputy Representative’s office to maintain broader partnerships on resilience and ensure coordination of UNICEF’s work in resilience with relevant partners.
•  Carry out other related duties as required by the Deputy Representative (Programme) and Resilience Specialist

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in

•  Humanitarian and/or development work required
•  Familiarity with emergency and humanitarian principle is considered as an asset.
•  Understanding of resilience and humanitarian-development Nexus principles.
•  Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;.
•  Understanding of the socio-political context of Somalia
•  Strong communication skills, including an ability to build rapport with individuals and groups and maintain an effective network of individuals across organizational departments, agencies, and governments.
•  Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
•  Basic grants Management Skills is an asset

Area(s) of expertise

Development programmes, Crisis and emergency response

Driving license

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Desirable

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, International Relations, Community Development, or another relevant field.

Competencies and values

•  Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
•  Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;
•  Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
•  Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
•  Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
•  Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
•  Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;
•  Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Accommodation: Due to the security situation in Mogadishu and coupled with the fact that there is no living accommodation on the private market that meets minimum UN security and safety standards for UN personnel, expatriate personnel deployed to Mogadishu are provided secured UN accommodation in a camp style environment. The UN-provided accommodation is essentially equipped with minimum room furniture. The MIA/UN accommodation could be single or shared rooms with shared bath and toilet facilities. Power and water (including purified water) is provided by the UN inside the camp to its occupants. The internet connection is available within the MIA compound. There are no banking facilities in Mogadishu. Food and Diet: There is no access to local markets in Mogadishu. There is a UN Contractor-managed dining facility inside the MIA Compound in Mogadishu. The standard and quality of food is very limited with a repetitious daily menu. Personnel may cook their own meals at common kitchen buildings situated at convenient locations within the compound. Health: Exposure exists to a number of tropical diseases. All medical formalities specified in the Offer or Travel Advisory should be completed before traveling. Yellow Fever vaccination is compulsory before coming to the mission area, while vaccinations for Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus/Diphtheria, Polio and Meningitis are recommended. Vaccination Card (yellow card) must be brought. Malaria prophylaxis is highly recommended. Due to large number of various types of insects in the mission area, it is also recommended to use insecticide-impregnated nets and insect repellents. UN personnel have access during working hours to a Civilian Clinic inside the UNSOM/UNSOA Camp in Mogadishu. Rest and Recuperation: International personnel, including UN Volunteers, working in UN mission area are entitled to a 4-week Rest and Recuperation (R & R) cycle. This means that after every 4 weeks of being in the mission area, there is a break to travel to either Nairobi (UNDP designated R & R location) or any other destination outside the mission area. The R & R entitlement consists of a 5 calendar days R & R, with 1 travel day added, every 4 weeks. UN flights from Mogadishu or any other deployed site in the mission to Nairobi and back to duty station can be used at no expense. However, accommodation, food and other expenses while on R & R is borne by the individual. Approval of R & R is balanced against operational requirements

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy