Driver – Jijiga, Somali Regional State of Ethiopia

Our approach: The Lowland Soil Rehabilitation Project (LSRP) is part of the Global Programme Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security under the priority topic “A world without hunger” of the German  Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) strategy 2030. The core thematic strategies; “Responsibility for our planet – climate and energy”, which are already available, and the core thematic strategy “Protecting our livelihoods – environment and natural resources” are also relevant

The LSRP project operates in eight districts in the Afar region, one district in Oromia and provides training and backstopping for all districts in Somali region

Jointly with its regional and local government partners, the project has developed the Dry Valley Rehabilitation and Productive Use (DVRPU) approach:

Objective: LSRP contributes to sustainable soil protection and soil rehabilitation, broadly implemented in the Ethiopian lowlands

The driver is responsible for

• safely and responsibly performing all official travel using official vehicles
• regularly servicing and looking after official vehicles
• taking account of all available information on road conditions, accessible routes and locations
• running official errands and assisting with other office work
• drives assigned vehicles safely and transport GIZ staff, official visitors and partners to official destinations;
• prepares the vehicle for heavy duty off-road trips in the lowlands (reserve tyres, repair kit, water, first aid and safety equipment);
• Reports in case of accidents, injuries and vehicle damage to the management;
• reports the need for maintenance to the logistics officer
• fills the board book according to regulations;
• read and understand all regulations with regard to driving and passenger management
• helps with transporting goods;
• completes the vehicle log correctly and conscientiously in accordance with GIZ standards
• cleans the interior and exterior of the vehicle(s) regularly
• checks oil, water, brakes and brake liquid, tyre pressure, battery levels and the entire vehicle, monthly or every 5,000 km (whichever is first), headlights, brakes, bodywork for dents etc.
• is responsible for the project vehicle documents and their good condition, keeping a vehicle log and recording monthly maintenance
• reports need for service and carries out minor repairs
• immediately reports all involvement of the project or office vehicle in accidents, including minor accidents, damage, loss or theft of vehicle fittings
• uses all available information (including current radio news on traffic conditions) to update daily knowledge of road conditions, current passable routes, locations and security situation, and shares this information with other office drivers

Other duties/additional tasks

•  assists other colleagues as needed in the project, programme or office if there is no travel pending, carries out other office work on request

Qualifications

• secondary school education;
• holds a valid driver’s license;
• clean driving record;
• additional local languages of other regions e.g., Afar and Oromia are of advantage;

Professional experience

• at least 5 years’ work experience in Somali as a driver with references;
• no major accidents in the past 3 years;
• proven experience of driving in rural areas and off-road areas of Somali region;
• vocational training of car mechanics is of advantage;
• previous job experience with GIZ is of advantage.

Other knowledge, additional competencies

• good knowledge of Somali language, basic English skills;
• effective communication skills;
• discipline, punctuality and reliability;
• resilience and patience;
• familiarity with Jijiga, Somali Region, sound knowledge of road and safety regulations
• working knowledge of local roads and routes