Country Manager – Somalia Full Time

The purpose of the Country Offices (CO) is to ensure implementation of the international strategy at country level through programme support to the National Society partner, as articulated and established in the country framework. The CO is responsible for ensuring results-based project management, risk management, and operational in-country Movement coordination. Furthermore, the CO is responsible for ensuring project implementation in support to NS partners, in line with established project agreements and project plans. The CO ensures sound technical quality of all country projects, in line with established technical standards and best practices. The CO ensures that Norwegian Red Cross programme support is based on regularly updated humanitarian needs analysis in line with established practices. The CO represents Norwegian Red Cross in-country with regards to external partnerships and relationships. The CO is responsible for security management.

The purpose of the Somalia Country Manager is to achieve Norwegian Red Cross humanitarian, enabling objectives and organizational objectives, as per NoRC International Strategy and relevant Africa Regional Framework, at country level through strategic partnership management, results-based project management and risk management.

Strategic Responsibilities:

• Follows up and strengthen the partnership with Somali Red Crescent National Society through partnership management, project development and management in line with established project agreements and project plans.
• Represents Norwegian Red Cross in-country, coordinate strategically and programmatically with RCRC Movement partners, particularly ICRC and IFRC and contributes to complementary RCM roles and responsibilities in country.
• Manages country office in accordance with Norwegian Red Cross leadership development framework, NoRC financial routines and established in-country security.

Operational Responsibilities:

• Develops annual country plan of action and follows up on progress through regular meetings and reporting for Somalia
• Follows up and supports the strategic and operational cooperation with Somali Red Crescent in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and NoRC partnership process
• Safeguards project agreements and plans and follows up on risk assessments for all in-country initiatives for Somalia
• Organizes needs assessments and develops fundable proposals for Somalia
• Ensures that Norwegian Red Cross supported programmes in Somalia comply with technical standards and thematic frameworks.
• Consistently monitors planned and unplanned effects of all projects supported by the Norwegian Red Cross in Somalia and reports on progress through tertiary and yearly reports and complies with established deadlines.
• Ensures reliable data and information collection from all projects in accordance with Norwegian Red Cross results framework
• Ensures accountability in line with Norwegian Red Cross Accountability Matrix and Partnership Calendar. This includes contribution to the annual budget process, mid-term budget review, and timely submission of cash requests / working advances
• Supports financial and overall risk management, including annual audit process and proper handling of financial irregularities, in line with established rules and regulations.
• Engages the Somalia country team by providing clear expectations manifested in individual work plans, linked to annual Plan Of Action, and follows up through expressing positive expectations and holding each other accountable.
• Ensures that Field Security Rules and Regulations of Norwegian Red Cross for Somalia are
• understood, and oversees their compliance
• Promotes good collaboration between country office and regional office to ensure use of available technical expertise and standards.
• Acquires fluency in the understanding and of Norwegian Red Cross work processes and digital tools.
• Establishes relationships with internal stakeholders – RCRC Movement partners and manages regular meetings with donors to obtain support for unfunded humanitarian projects.
• Acts as spokesperson for country developments relates to Somalia upon delegation from the Regional Representative and supports Norwegian Red Cross’ humanitarian diplomacy objectives, including by identifying opportunities in line with global priorities.
• Contributes to the operationalization of global strategic agreements with the ICRC and the IFRC in the country.
• Supports in-country RCRC coordination mechanisms conducive to better efficiency and greater humanitarian impact.

Collaboration:

• Engages with the Regional Finance Manager at Regional Office, to ensure consistent accountability towards Norwegian Red Cross rules and regulations, guidelines and deadlines.
• Engages with the regional technical support team; including the Finance Development delegate to ensure continued and sustained high quality programme support to SRCS.
• Through established channels and structures, ensures regular communication with colleagues in the Africa Regional Team, and as per need, with the Technical Unit, Finance and Grants Unit, Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Unit and International Human Resources Unit (NO).
• Facilitates and plans for country visits by colleagues from regional and national offices.
• Liaises with National Office (HQ) Security advisor in accordance with rules and regulations.

Mission Specific Responsibilities:

• Further articulate and operationalize NoRC lead health role in Somalia as part of shared leadership approach in close coordination with SRCS and IFRC.
• Oversee the provision of quality and timely community-based, primary and secondary healthcare in Somalia through SRCS.
• Maintain open and trusted relationship with SRCS leadership and relevant departments.
• Contribute to funding diversification for Somalia portfolio with focus on EU funding.
• Provide support needed to expedite FD implementation, technically led by FD delegate.
• Strengthen NoRC participation in movement and external coordination as required.
• Strengthen NoRC security setup in country in close coordination with ICRC.
• Establish a relevant field structure with HR being closer to the field.
• Continue to strengthen epidemic preparedness and response at country level in close collaboration with SRCS health department and MoH; technically led by health delegate.

Formal Competence:

• University Degree (public health background highly desirable)
• Solid professional experience in health focussed programmes in complex environments / conflict settings.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Track record of managing multi-cultural humanitarian teams and health programmes in complex humanitarian setting
• Significant experience in emergency preparedness and response
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Excellent inter-personal skills with internal as well as external stakeholders
• Track-record of successful donor applications, planning, monitoring and reporting on health humanitarian projects with measurable results.
• Fluency in English required.
• Programmatic experience from the African region is an advantage and working proficiency of regional languages is an asset.

Personal Qualifications:

• Ability to establish inter-personal, trust-based relationships.
• Ability to negotiate, convince and gain acceptance.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to work towards achieving objectives and results.
• Ability to be solution oriented.
• Ability to collaborate well with others and support others in the pursuit of team goals.
• Ability to create a stable and re-assuring work atmosphere.
• Ability to contribute strategically to expansion of portfolio.

Reporting to:

• Regional Representative, Africa

Position is based in:

• Somaliland and Puntland with frequent visits to other regions

Contract length:

• 24 months

Why should you apply?

• Meaningful: You`ll be a part of the world’s largest humanitarian organization, reaching the most vulnerable people in their local community.
• Impact: You will help National Societies in the region to become strong, self-sustained and accountable humanitarian actors.
• Career: You will be connected to an international organization with staff based all over the world
• A great place to work: You will work in a multicultural environment with hard-working, dedicated and fun colleagues with a strong culture of collaboration, continual improvement, and celebration of wins.

Norwegian Red Cross has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Norwegian Red Cross, as well as those of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. These aims reflect zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, child abuse, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). Norwegian Red Cross strives to build a working culture based on respect, honesty and generosity. We do a thorough background check on relevant candidate.

Tagged as: Norwegian Red Cross, Somalia