Job Title: Reporting / Communications Officer
1 Position
Reference Position (according to
Solidarités’ scale):Officer
Country and base of assignment:Kenya / Nairobi
Desired start date: 01/02/2015
Duration of financing for post: 1
year
Source of financing for post: ECHO/EU/OFDA/UNICEF
Duration of the mission: 1
year
Status / allowances and salaries: As per salary grid
Place of work: Nairobi
duty station with frequent field visits to Kenya and Somalia (minimum 50%)
2. Objectives:
2.1 Context of the position: Solidarites International joint Kenya / Somalia
mission was opened started in march 2007. SI has been directly implementing
programs mainly in South and Central Somalia. In 2014 mission includes
operations in one region in Kenya (Marsabit) and 3 regions in Somalia (Gedo,
Lower Juba and Galgaduud).
This is a new position created to
improve the quality of reporting and proposal writing and therefore alleviate
the work load of technical coordinators. It will also help improving in house
capacity building and training on reporting and proposal writing issues as well
as developing the mission’s communication strategy.
The Reporting/ Communication Officer
will be under the supervision of the Deputy Country Director for Programs and
will work closely with the field teams – Field Coordinators, Programme Managers
– and with the coordination programme team – WASH and Food Security/Livelihoods
Coordinators.
He/she will work with the Head of
Mission on developing the communication strategy and drafting the Mission
annual strategy.
He/She will work with HoM on
training plan for field bases.
2.2 Specific objectives
1.
The Reporting / Communications
Officer (RCO)’s primary role is to produce and synthesize high quality reports
and proposals, in close coordination with the CD, DCD programs, program
coordinators, field management teams of Somalia mission and the Desk program
manager.
2.
The Reporting/Communication Officer
(RCO) will be involved in monitoring on-going projects in cooperation with
M&E assistant. He/She will be also involved in cross-checking data
collected in assessment reports and triangulating information used to design
proposals.
3.
The RCO will be involved in designing
a communications strategy for an internal and external audience, in addition to
communicating the mission’s successes and stories internally and externally.
4.
The RCO will be responsible for
training senior colleagues in Nairobi and the field in i) consolidating reports
between units and preparing them in a more conducive manner for the targeted
audience, ii) identifying communications opportunities and improving the
quality of photos, videos, community engagement for reflecting the needs and
responses in the communities.
5.
The Reporting/ Communications Officer
(RCO) will be in charge of training program managers and field coordinators in
drafting donor-based reports and consolidating relevant information, depending
on the audience and the type of reports.
3. Profile Sought:
Education:
- Master’s degree preferably in social sciences,
international relations and/or development or other relevant discipline
Experience:
- At least 1 year of related work experience,
preferably for an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) at
headquarter or on the field in Programme departments;
- Experience in working in Somalia, preferably
being based inside of the country and working with international NGO
- Successful experience in reporting and
contributing to proposal writing;
- Experience in direct implementation of
programs in Somalia and establishing relationship with communities will be
an asset
- Experience in training and capacity building;
- Experience in designing communication
strategies and preparing communication materials
- Skills and/or experience in reporting on WASH
and Food Security/ Livelihood activities are an asset.
Technical Skills and Knowledge:
- Good knowledge of donors’ reporting guidelines
(ECHO – OFDA);
- Good knowledge of the Project Cycle
Management;
- Excellent organizational skills: ability to
work independently & productively in a fast-paced environment;
- Excellent writing skills in English,
- Ability to synthetize information;
- Good interpersonal and communication skills:
ability to effectively liaise with a variety of people in a multi-cultural
environment;
- Good computer skills : MS products (WORD,
EXCEL, Power Point, Publisher), Internet
Languages:
- English: Fluent with excellent writing
capacities
- French: Fluent with excellent writing
capacities
- Somali: Fluent with excellent writing
capacities
Other desirable qualities:
- Flexible work attitude and proactive
- Creativity and energy to implement new
approaches
- Ability to work productively in a team
environment;
- Strong capacity to work with initiative and
without close supervision;
- Ability to work independently, set priorities
and meet deadlines;
- Fast learner, multitasking;
- Ability to deal with heavy workload and
constantly reassess priorities.
4. Context of the Post :
Brief overview of SOLIDARITES
INTERNATIONAL work in the country: Solidarites
International has been operational in Somalia since 2007. SI main areas of
intervention are WASH and Food Security. In Kenya, SOLIDARITES has field base
in North Horr. Resilience and WASH project are implemented in Marsabit county,
with funding from EU and DFID.
In Somalia, SOLIDARITES has field
bases in two regions: Gedo with offices in Mandera (on Kenyan side), Luuq and
Elwaq and in Galgaduud with offices in Adaado and Abudwak. Projects are
focusing on WASH and food security. SI secured funding form ECHO, OFDA, CHF and
UNICEF. At the time of the writing of this job description SI is also
considering opening activities in other locations.
How the mission is organised:
The coordination is based in Nairobi.
The Field Team dedicated to Somalia Programs is based in Dadaab and Mandera in
Kenya, close to the Somalia Border. Kenyan field office is in North Horr.
Insecurity in Somalia does of course affect our presence on the ground. This situation has deteriorated lastly, affecting all humanitarian activities of all humanitarian actors, and incurring real difficulty of access.
The Kenya/ Somalia mission does not follow a classic set up. There are two different missions followed by the same coordination team. Kenya and Somalia contexts are different. External actors (INGOs, LNGOs, donors, authorities, forums, etc.) are completely separated for Kenya and Somalia missions: it therefore multiplies the workload of the coordination team.
Specific context of the area in which the expatriate will be working
Main Working Location: Nairobi
with 50% travel to Somalia/Kenya field bases. Nairobi is a relatively safe
city, although precautions must be taken. Main risks are from vehicle
accidents, mugging, and vehicle hijackings.
Current Field Visit locations and
their security context:
a) Dadaab/Dhobley: Operational base
for Lower Juba. Significant security issues. Very few extra professional
activities possible. Several other NGOs present. Curfew at night. Base is
basic.
b) Adaado: Operational base for
Galgaduud. Significant security issues. Very few extra professional activities
possible. Several other NGOs present. Curfew at night. Base is basic.
c) Mandera/Dollow: Operational base
for Gedo. Significant security issues. Very few extra professional activities
possible. Several other NGOs present. Curfew at night. Base is basic.
d) Other locations inside Somalia,
where travel might be needed (i.e. Galckayo, Mogadishu, Dollow, Luuq, Elwak,
Abudwaq, Kismayo, Garowe)
How to Apply:
Send a cover letter and CV to the
following email address: jobapplication@solidarites-kenya-som.org.
Please indicate the job title in the
email subject line.
Deadline for applications: 05th January 2015.
Please note that only shortlisted
applicants will be contacted for interview.
Solidarités International is an equal
opportunities employer