Communications and Reporting Specialist – Mogadishu Somalia

 

		The Federal Republic of Somalia
		Ministry of Finance
	REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI)
COUNTRY:	Federal Republic of Somalia (FRS)
NAME OF PROJECT: Somalia Recurrent Cost & Reform Financing Project (RCRFP) – Phase III
PROJECT ID:	P173731	Grant No.: IDA-D6580-SO)
Assignment Title:	Communications and Reporting Specialist-RCRF, MoF
Reference No.:	SO-MOF-209976-CS-INDV
Place of assignment:	Mogadishu Somalia
Date Issued:	3rd February, 2021

1. BACKGROUND

The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS) through the Ministry of Finance, is implementing the Somalia Recurrent Cost Reform Finance Project (RCRF) project and Somalia Domestic Revenue Mobilization and Public Financial Management Capacity Strengthening (DRM&PFM) project funded by the World Bank as part of an overall public financial sector reform program. The projects are supporting the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Member States to: i) institute PFM fundamentals for budget credibility;

• strengthen budget execution and financial accountability; (iii) improve policy formulation, planning and budget preparation; and (iv) develop institutional structures; Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM); Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS); and cross-cutting issues.

The RCRF project components are: i) Recurrent cost financing to reform resource management systems – This component includes financing of eligible civil service salaries in non-security sectors in FGS, financing of salaries and allowances for government staff and graduates recruited under the capacity injection mechanism (CIM), and eligible non-salary recurrent costs; ii) strengthen inter-governmental fiscal relations and improve intergovernmental coordination between FGS and FMS; and iii) Transfers for core government functions and foundational education and health service delivery mechanisms in the FMSs. Additional components are: Contingent Emergency Response (CERC) sub-component that will provide a fiscal shock buffer for FGS and FMSs; Performance Based Conditions (PBCs) to incentivize reforms and associated funding within the FMSs for improved governance, education and health service delivery; Recurrent cost financing in the education sector; and Transparency and Citizen Engagement for Improved Service Delivery.

The DRM&PFM) project aims to: Improve transparency and openness of the national budget process; Enhance fiscal discipline through internal and external controls; Focus public expenditure on priority areas of Government programs; Enhance efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditures; and Strengthen overall financial management and accountability.

The Ministry of Finance intends to use a portion of the grant to recruit a Communications and Reporting Specialist who will be responsible for raising awareness of the projects activities and the overall Use of Country Systems (UCS) related to the reform program.

2. Scope of Work and Responsibilities:

The Communications and Reporting Specialist (“Consultant”) will work closely with the communications team in the President and Prime Minister’s office to ensure communications of the project and reform program are consistent with overall government communications. The Consultant will perform the following key tasks:

1. Raising awareness of the RCRF and PFM activities to Somali citizens and national stakeholders; and international actors/partners. This will also involve liaising with the communication teams inside the offices of the President and Prime Minister;
2. Developing and executing an overall communications strategy to help raise visibility and awareness on the RCRF and PFM activities to the Somali public and key stakeholders

• Raising the public profile of the RCRF and PFM reform projects, using proactive and innovative media and social media outreach, and a range of public relations activities;

1. Working with relevant counterparts in the Ministry of Finance to build lasting capacity for communications and reporting within the ministry.
2. Provision of training to key RCRF staff on public communication techniques.
3. Participate in the design, maintenance and dissemination of a Complaints Handling System in cooperation with the MoF officials and project Coordinator;

• Coordinating and managing all RCRF and PFM reform related reports and communications;
• Ensure, in collaboration with the RCRF and PFM monitoring and evaluation (M&E) officers, that project results are reported upon and publicized.

1. Contributing to overall MoF communications strategy development, public outreach campaigns media engagement in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance (MoF);
2. Coordinating and supervising press conferences, media briefings and interview in cooperation with the MoF;
3. Drafting statements and other materials to ensure that government’s RCRF objectives and values are conveyed to the public consistently and coherently;

• Writing and editing press releases, blogs, briefing notes, and developing key messages.
• Support and manage Projects’ social media accounts;
• Managing RCRF and DRM&PFM social media sites. This role includes contributing to relevant content of the projects website by providing text, photographs, and other appropriate audio-visual material; and

1. All other activities set out in the terms of references.
2. Selection Criteria:

Selection will be based on qualification and experience of the candidate and followed by an interview. The minimum qualification, experience and skills should include:

Relevant university degree or higher education in Communications, Journalism, Business or Public Administration, International Development, Public Relations and/or related fields; ii. at least 6 years of relevant working experience; 3 years of which should be at a senior communications management position in public or private sector media houses/organizations; iii. Experience of leading similar assignment(s) in Somalia and/or federal states; and knowledge of public and private Media Houses in Somalia; iv. Experience using graphic design software, such as Adobe Creative suite; v. Strong inter-personal skills and ability to work within and build a team environment, excellent communication and negotiation skills, ability to work effectively and harmoniously within a diverse work environment; vi. Ability to adapt and cope with changes and work related pressure; vii. Excellent computer skills; viii. Written and spoken fluency in English required; written and spoken fluency in Somali will be an added advantage.

4. Duration & Duty Station:

One (1) year with possibility for extension depending on performance and need. The duty station is Mogadishu Somalia with travels to the FMSs

5. The Ministry of Finance now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested Individual Consultants must submit their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and cover letter indicating that they are qualified to perform the services.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) can be found at the following website: www.mof.gov.so or it can be forwarded to the applicant upon submission of application to the address indicated below.

6. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14 and 3.21 of the World

Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers: Procurement in Investment Financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services dated July 2016 and revised in November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”) setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest and eligibility.

7. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultants selection method set out in the “Procurement Regulations”.

8. Mode of submission of Applications and deadline:

Interested Consultants may obtain further information at the address given below from 8:30 to 3.30pm Mogadishu time (Excluding public holidays).

Expressions of interest (EOI) and CV must be delivered (in person or by e-mail) in a written form (if not by e-mail) to the address below by 15^th February 2021 at 12:00 Hours (Mogadishu Time) – marked clearly as “Application for Communications and Reporting Specialist, FGS-

 

MoF Projects”

 

Recurrent Cost Reform Financing – (PIU), Ministry of Finance

Shingaani District, Mogadishu

Federal Republic of Somalia

Email: rcrfrecruitment@mof.gov.so