Start-up and MSME Advisor – Mogadishu, Somalia

IOM

Start-up and MSME Advisor – Mogadishu, Somalia

Terms of Reference
Vacancy: Start-up and MSME Advisor
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
A.  General Information
Post/Title Start-up and MSME Advisor
Date of issue 13 April 2022
Duty Station Mogadishu, MoCI-FGS
Duration of Assignment Ending on November 15th
Stipend commensurate with
Level of Assignment qualification/experience
Deadline for applications 27 April 2022

  1. Background Information

About the JICA Project “Youth Employment Project for Somalia (YEPS)”

On September 2017, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), being the bilateral development agency of Japan, signed a Record of Discussions with the Government of the Federal Government of Somalia, for the Youth Employment Project for Somalia (YEPS), a technical cooperation project.

The project has supported the formulation of strategic plans/policies for pilot industries that create employment opportunities for youth in Somalia. The project has also provided human resource training for trainers of educational and vocational training agencies, as well as workshops for start-ups and MSMEs in the private sector.

With long-running conflict in Somalia since 1991, the state has not adequately protected the socially vulnerable. Among the challenges faced is that adequate employment opportunities are not being provided to the young under 30, who comprise approximately 70 percent of the population. As a result of inadequate work, some young people have turned to piracy and armed rebel organizations to obtain food for daily living. It is therefore urgent that the government takes the lead by formulating a policy to improve the environment that supports youth employment and entrepreneurship.

Building on the outcome of the Youth Employment Baseline Study for Somalia, which was carried out by JICA from 2013 to 2015, the project is the first technical cooperation in Somalia in 26 years, since 1991. It is expected that the project will improve the environment supporting youth employment and entrepreneurship and create more job opportunities for the youth in Somalia in the future.

About MIDA

The UN Migration Agency (IOM) implements the Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) programme in Somalia through the mobilization of resources and expertise of the Somali diaspora to contribute to the stabilization and development of Somalia, while ensuring that skills and knowledge are transferred to the host institutions and retained by local staff once the diaspora experts complete their assignments.

Summary Assignment

The selected candidate will assist the implementation of JICA YEPS project under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI). The selected candidate will be required to closely work with Japanese consultants, who will be based in Kenya or Japan, JICA Kenya Office as well as the IOM project team and other MIDA advisors dispatched under the JICA YEPS project.

The selected candidate will particularly support with planning, implementing and following-up on the workshop on capacity development of start-ups and MSMEs in Somalia, which will be initiated by MoCI and coordinated by JICA YEPS project. The selected candidate will further be required to collect and analyze the necessary information for JICA YEPS project activities and other activities by MoCI which will support start-ups and MSEMs in Somalia when specially requested.

  1. Activities / Key Results Expected

Under the overall guidance of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Start-up and MSME Advisor will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities. The selected candidate will:

  • Support the MoCI to identify the potential Start-ups and MSMEs that contribute to creating more job opportunities for the youth, in close communication/collaboration with Japanese consultant team of JICA YEPS project and other concerned ministries;
  • Support formalization of SMEs policy framework implementations and Start-up ACT that will create enabling environment to entrepreneurship;
  • Collect and analyze necessary information for JICA YEPS project activities and share it with recipient ministries, JICA and JICA YEPS Project particularly in terms of Start-up and MSME development, TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) and youth employment promotion;
  • Provide policy and technical advice to MoCI for mapping the start-ups ecosystem in Somalia and facilitating coordination among Start-up and MSME stakeholders;
  • Assist administrative and logistical procedures of workshop programs to be conducted in the third countries, according to the JICA YEPS Project;
  • Assist monitoring and follow-up of activities of the workshop participants after they go back to Somalia by collecting questionnaires and conducting interviews.
  • Ensure coordination and communication among JICA, with the Japanese consultant team assigned by JICA, IOM project team and the other MIDA advisors, as well as their recipient ministries.
  • Support smooth communication between JICA/Consultant, recipient ministries and IOM project team.

  1. Get Outputs (Measurable Results)

3 – 5 specific outputs; these must be clear, measurable and time bound for the project to determine success of assignment (e.g., Transfer of specific skills to beneficiary institutions civil servants).

  • Monthly Activity report to MoCI, JICA and IOM;
  • Analysis of the Government polices including state governments on Start-up’s, Entrepreneurship of youth and MSMEs development;
  • Analysis of the donor activities, Innovation Hubs, and Business Incubators activity such as TVET, entrepreneurship of youth and MSMEs development;
  • MSMEs workshop report conducted under YEPS project.
  1. Qualifications
Level of Education: Master Degree
Area of Study: Industrial Development / Innovation& Entrepreneurship
Years of work experience in what area(s): Minimum of 8 years’ experience in the fields of Start-up’s and MSMEs development
General Skills / Other Requirements:
  1. Good leadership and supervisory
    skills
    2. Familiarity with Somali context and
    culture
    3.Ability to coordinate and deliver
    multiple assignment.
    4. Ability to coordinate with different
    Somali and international
    stakeholders including Japanese.

Proficient in MS Office applications

  1. MIDA Requirements

Besides the specific outputs mentioned in section IV, the MIDA programme requires the following steps/actions to be undertaken throughout the assignment. These are standard requirements for all assignments:

  1. Transfer of skills: One of the main responsibilities of the Somali diaspora participant, and one which he/she will be measured against, will be to ensure continuous and systematic transfer of knowledge and skills as related to the assignment. It will have to be agreed with the beneficiary Ministry/institution which civil servants will benefit from this knowledge.
  2. Work plan: A work plan will have to be developed with the Supervisor during the first week of assignment which will provide clear and time bound activities to be implemented in order to achieve the expected outputs of the assignment. This work plan will be shared with the MIDA Project Assistant. The work plan can be revised during the mid-term review to reflect new developments or changes in strategy.
  3. Mid Term Review: there will be a mid-term review of the assignment between the incumbent and the beneficiary Ministry/ institution to discuss progress of the assignment and feedback on performance.
  4. Interim and Final Reports: Progress reports will be submitted by the incumbent to the Supervisor and to the MIDA Project Assistant. Thereafter a final report will be provided at the end of assignment.
  5. Subsistence Allowance

IOM will liaise with the participant, the donor and IOM’s partners to determine an allowance necessary for the participant to be successful in his or her assignment.

  1. How to apply

All applicants must apply to midasomvacancy@iom.int, as mentioned on the vacancy announcement. IOM must receive a cover letter and CV before the closing date of the vacancy in order for a candidate to be considered.

 

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