Head Of Mission – Kenya / Somalia at INTERSOS 160 views0 applications

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

1. Terms of reference

Job title: Head of Mission

Duty Station: Nairobi with frequent travel to Somalia

Starting date: October 2017

Duration of contract: 1 year

Reporting to: Regional Director

Supervision of: Education, Protection, H&N coordinators, Deputy HoM, HR Manager, CFO

Dependents: Family duty station

2. General context of the project

INTERSOS areas of intervention in Somalia are: Banadir; Bay region in Baidoa and Diinsor district; In Middle Shabelle region in Jowhar, Balad and recentlyin Wajid in Bakool region and is working mainly in Protection, Education, WASH, Health, Nutrition and Return Sectors.

• Health and Nutrition

INTERSOS assumed responsibility for running Jowhar hospital in 1994, which was, and in fact remains, the only one in the region, with a catchment area of approximately 60,000 people living in the town and another 160,000 people in the surrounding rural areas (half of whom are nomads).

The programme includes the running and the strengthening of the hospital’s facilities, a centre for the treatment of tuberculosis, a mother and child health care clinic, and mobile clinic system in rural area. INTERSOS is supporting coverage of primary healthcare in Jowhar and Balcad districts, as well as Baidoa district, strengthening disease prevention and increasing the quality of services in regard to the referral mechanism of complicated cases to JRH. INTERSOS manages acute malnutrition for approximately 20,000 beneficiaries through OTP operations covering 48 villages within catchments areas of the 5 health centres. The referral mechanism also allows the transfer of SAM cases to the stabilization centre at JRH. INTERSOS is also the Health Cluster Regional focal point and has successfully re-established the Health Cluster mechanism in Middle Shabelle and has led and coordinated rapid and effective multiagency response to several extensive crisis and responded to any epidemic outbreak (AWD/ Measles) in the area.

• Protection

INTERSOS provided direct services for GBV survivors, separated and unaccompanied children (UASC) and child abuse cases. This includes GBV and Child Protection case management, identification, documentation, tracing and reunification (IDTR) and basic emotional support through trained case workers. A network of volunteers supports those who have experienced protection violations to access services and receive basic emotional support and care for their recovery within the community. In addition, as an active member of the Protection Cluster and co-chair of the national GBV working group, INTERSOS has been continuously engaging stakeholders from other sectors including health, nutrition, WASH and education to integrate protection considerations, especially related to GBV within their operations. Protection activities were implemented in Bay, Middle Shabelle, Mogadishu and Mudug region.

• Education

The past years activities aimed to reinforce the education sectors were more concentrated in Bay region, mainly in IDP settlement and area of return. INTERSOS completed the construction of 20 temporary learning spaces and supported more than 80 teachers in order to allow thousands of children to access a better primer education. Despite different trainings received, the mechanism of the CECs in the targeted locations is not enough effective yet. The CECs members continue to request incentives for working, poverty can explain partially the lack of commitment as they are engaged in livelihood activities to find family income. Sustainability remains the biggest challenges as security is not granted. 2016 activities aimed to strengthen education in South Central Somalia targeting the IDPs, the host community, the returnees, the demobilized children from the armed forces. The project also gave a second chance to over age children providing alternative education training. INTERSOS completed the construction of 16 temporary learning spaces and trained 136 teachers in order to allow thousands of children to access a better primary education. 11400 children were reached through education activities and 800 children (70% girls and 30% boys) aged 14-18 were trained on vocational skills. INTERSOS was the Education Cluster Coordinator in Bay Region in 2016, was also part of a National working group and of the CRF (Cluster Review Committee) and will remain on these positions for 2017.

• Return and reintegration

In 2016, INTERSOS was operative in Baidoa, Diinsor and Mogadishu receiving and assisting, approximately, the 40% of the total of Returns caseload from Kenya. The flow of arrivals has increased during 2016, given the activation of flights to transport refugees from Kenya to Baidoa and Mogadishu.

For 2017 INTERSOS was selected to support Voluntary return in Baidoa and Diinsor, where has a consolidated presence within the 2 areas: since 1996 in Baidoa, while in Diinsor INTERSOS has re-opened a base and resumed operations in 2016 after a need assessment.

Thanks to this long-term operational presence in Bay region, INTERSOS has articulated a multi-sector strategy through the implementation of protection, health/nutrition, livelihood, education and WASH projects, focusing on vulnerable Somali families as well as on IDPs returnees and Somali Refugee Returnees. This Project can thus rely on strategic synergies in view of a sustainable repatriation and reintegration of the Somali Returnees within the Host Communities.

• WASH

11,119 vulnerable people, including institutions, have reliable and sustained access to sufficient safe water supply for drinking from improved access to WASH services and structures as well as potable and safe water from 2016 – 2017. During the implementation INTERSOS has rehabilitated 8 water sources (3 boreholes and 5 hand dug wells) and solar pump and water distribution system installed. In order to sustainable the upgraded water source INTERSOS has trained 22 members for community WASH committees to operate and maintain WASH systems and services in 8 water sources.

14 institutions (9 schools and 5 health facilities) have improved sanitation and hygiene facilities and services benefitting 1382 school children and 2475 mothers and children. For WinS 9 School Child-to-Child clubs formed and functional promoting safe hygiene behaviours this will be contributed to prevent AWD/Diarrhoea cases to school children. 54 teachers and CECs officials from 9 schools trained on hygiene/sanitation, leadership in behaviour change and on management of facility level WASH services. INTERSOS has rehabilitated 26 latrines at 13 schools and 12 health facilities, constructed 1 single latrine at health facility in Baidoa town and one triple latrine blocks constructed for MCH at IDP camp. 13 peri-urban and rural communities, have provided knowledge and able to alleviate harmful hygiene and sanitation practices and norms that impact on their health through community health and sanitation mobilization campaign in 13 communities through CHWs.

Currently there are no project ongoing in Kenya.

3. Tasks and responsibilities

The HoM manages and coordinates the operations and human resources in the country and is responsible to:

• Establish and maintain collaborative relations with: Local Authorities and Institutions, Donors, International Agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders, Consortiums and with The Regional Durable Solution Secretariat ensuring an active participation
• Follow up, guarantee and monitor government recognition procedures for the organization in compliance with the host country formalities
• Define, in coordination with the country team, country priorities based on context and needs analyses; monitor donor intervention strategies in the country; design, promote and elaborate new interventions
• Supervise, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the country operations and all related administrative, financial, human resources, logistics and security aspects
• Ensuring timely and quality assistance delivery, as well as cost efficiency and accountability, in compliance with INTERSOS and donors guidelines, regulations and procedures
• Define strategic priorities for the development of the mission structure
• Continuously assess, analyse and evaluate the impact of the country operations, through periodic visits to the areas of intervention in Somalia especially in Bay Region
• Conduct frequent mission to Mogadishu in order to ensure proper coordination with stakeholders in Somalia and with the authorities
• Support the definition of the mission financial plan, ensuring self-sufficiency and consistency of expenses, and assume responsibility for the mission funds management, including bank accounts
• Coordinate, guide and supervise the mission staff, evaluating their performance
• Proactively participate in relevant coordination and strategic meeting at Nairobi and Mogadishu level
• Manage, with the support of the Deputy head of Mission for Operation, the safety and security of the operations in the country

4. Required profile/experience

• Advanced university degree. A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least 5 years of professional work experience as Head of Mission or other management/ coordination positions in humanitarian/development contexts
• Previous experience in the horn of Africa and Yemen is an asset
• Proven experience in management of EU, UN, USAID and ECHO funds
• Knowledge of the regional coordination mechanism
• Proven experience in management of large staff teams
• Risk management knowledge is an asset
• Remote control experience is an asset
• Mastery of IT tools (MS Office package, internet, e-mail, etc.)
• Fluent in English compulsory, Italian is an asset and Swahili and Somali a plus
• Ability to analyze the regional dimension of the Somalia situation
• Ability to analyze and integrate information from a wide range of sources, to administrate funds, logistics and human resources
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, strong organizational and problem-solving skills, analytic approach
• Ability to work in a High Risk environment
• Ability to integrate and work well within multiethnic and multicultural teams

How to apply:

Qualified applicants are requested to submit their CV, motivation letter and 2 references to [email protected] with subject line: “Head of Mission – Kenya / Somalia”.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.