Civil Society Facility Manager 77 views0 applications

Civic Engagement Support Facility, Somalia (based in Nairobi)

Diakonia is currently seeking a dynamic and dedicated team for the Civic Engagement Support Facility for Somalia, including Somaliland.

The aim of the Facility is to expand the civic space for women, youth and marginalised groups in Somalia including Somaliland and strengthen citizen engagement on rights and accountability with the state at federal, member-state and local level. This initiative is funded under the Denmark Somalia Bilateral Development Program.

The Facility Manager will be responsible for the development and the overall implementation of the project, and the management of the Facility staff based in Nairobi, Mogadishu and Hargeisa. The successful candidate will possess a deep understanding of the socio-political landscape of Somalia/Somaliland, proven experience in civil society development, and a commitment to fostering inclusive development.

The successful candidate will align with Diakonia’s values, and our Human Rights based programmatic approach to utilize their extensive experience of working in complex challenging environments to provide operational and strategic leadership of the Facility.

The position is subject to successful tendering. If successful, the expected starting date is March 2025. This is a full-time position for the duration of project (46 months) and is based in Nairobi, Kenya with expected frequent travel to Somalia, including Somaliland.

Project Manager Role and Responsibilities:

The Project Manager’s main role is to lead the Civic Engagement Support Facility’s strategy and daily operations, inspired by Diakonia’s Partnership Policy, and in line with decisions and instructions of the Executive Committee that represents the donors to the Facility. This entails:

• Strategic Leadership and Program Management
  • Drive program design and delivery in close collaboration with Facility staff, exploring new forms of partnering with change actors across Somalia, including Somaliland.
  • Set up and manage the Facility according to Executive Committee directives, including strategy development, managing calls for proposals, and overseeing all grant processes in compliance with back donor guidelines.
  • Lead the Facility’s operations and staff across its various locations, including Nairobi, Mogadishu, and Hargeisa, fostering a collaborative work environment and ensuring efficient resource allocation.
• Stakeholder Coordination
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with civil society leaders, government officials, and international donors to facilitate smooth implementation and enhance project outcomes.
  • Regularly engage with stakeholders through workshops, meetings, and forums to gather input and align project objectives with community and donor priorities.
  • Provide regular, detailed updates and reports to the Executive Committee and other key stakeholders, demonstrating the progress and impact of the Facility’s initiatives.
• Analysis and Monitoring
  • Oversee comprehensive political-economy and civic-space analyses and stakeholder mapping to guide the Facility’s strategic planning and decision-making.
  • Ensure rigorous monitoring of project deliverables and financial expenditures, maintaining high standards of transparency and accountability.
• Communication and Advocacy:
  • Supervise the Facility’s communication strategies, ensuring that all messaging effectively conveys the Facility’s mission and achievements to a broad audience.
  • Produce and oversee the dissemination of progress reports, policy briefs, and other communication materials that highlight the learning of the Facility.
  • Act as the face of the Facility in public forums, articulating and advocating for the Facility’s strategic goals and impacts.

Experience and qualifications:

We are looking for an experienced program manager, an expert in supporting Civil Society in its diversity, in particular women’s rights organizations, youth movements and informal actors. They have:

• A university degree at least equivalent to a master’s degree in a relevant field such as, e.g., social sciences or development studies.
• Experience of at least 10 years of post-degree working experience as Head of major development projects in Africa (i.e., multi-year projects, each with budgets of USD 10 million at least).
• At least 7 years’ experience from working in fragile or conflict-affected contexts.
• At least 5 years of post-degree working experience with supporting civil-society organisations in developing countries.
• At least 5 years of working experience with fund management in development contexts.
• At least 5 years’ experience from the Horn of Africa.
• At least 3 years’ experience working in Somalia including Somaliland or with Somalia/Somaliland as primary job content.
• Experience in program management in at least three developing countries using the human-rights-based approach, including gender justice programming and conflict and environmental mainstreaming.
• English language proficiency at level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages scale.
• As a person, you are solution-oriented, creative, and a good team player.

About Diakonia:

Diakonia is a Swedish non-profit organization for international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. We support and work with around 350 local civil society organisations and movements in 25 countries across the globe. Our vision is a just, equal and sustainable world where all people live in dignity, free from poverty. Our goal is to change unfair political, economic, social, and cultural structures that generate poverty, oppression, and violence. We apply a human rights-based approach and feminist principles throughout our work and adapt our programmes as the context changes.