Job Description

I. Background Information

About the MIDA FINNSOM III, Health and Education Project

The past decades have seen continued migration from various African countries, causing a “brain drain” that has debilitated various public sector systems across the continent. Through the IOM Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) programme, Somali diaspora professionals have supported institutional capacity building, service delivery, and policy development of health and education institutions across Somalia since 2015.

The MIDA FINNSOM PHASE III – Health & Education project – contributes to strengthening the Health and Education sectors in Somalia towards achieving specific priorities in the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) and the Essential Package for Health Services (EPHS), as prioritized and outlined by the government. The project aims to do so by engaging and enhancing the role of qualified Somali diaspora experts willing to temporarily return to their country of origin. In particular, through assignments within key ministries and public institutions (including hospitals and universities), Somali diaspora experts contribute addressing gaps and enhancing strengths in the planning and delivery of health and education services, coherently with the needs identified through the dedicated baseline assessment conducted during the inception phase of the project. Furthermore, a component of the project is devoted toward contributing to the creation of stable and sustainable access to employment opportunities in the health and education sectors for local experts and interns, who will work in close coordination with the Somali diaspora experts - therefore reaping long-terms benefits of knowledge transfer, competencies sharing and skills development.

II. Duties & Responsibilities

The Federal Government of Somalia’s Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MOECHE), through the technical assistance provided by the IOM MIDA FINNSOM III Health and education project, seeks to build the skills of its higher education regulatory specialist.

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Director General of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education, the Specialist will be responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with higher education laws, regulations, and policies. The Specialist will work to develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure that educational institutions are meeting established standards. The specialist will also support the development and implementation of higher education programs and initiatives.

The Specialist will carry out the following duties and responsibilities:

• Monitor higher education laws, regulations, and policies and ensure compliance with them.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures that ensure educational institutions are meeting the established standards.
• Support the development and implementation of higher education programs and initiatives.
• Provide advice, guidance and support to the management and the staff on a range of regulatory compliance matters.
• Analyze data and prepare reports related to higher education regulatory compliance.
• Advise educational institutions on regulatory compliance issues.
• Communicate with stakeholders about regulatory compliance issues and initiatives.
• Identify, assess and mitigate risks related to regulatory compliance, and coordinate risk management activities across the institutions.
• Collaborate with other educational professionals to develop best practices and guidelines for regulatory compliance.
• Monitor compliance metrics, generate reports, and provide regular updates on the compliance performance of the institutions.

The MoECHE Project Coordinator, the MoECHE M&E Specialist, and IOM’s project team will support this assignment through interaction with the qualified diaspora expert and beneficiary institution.

III: Requirements:

Besides the specific outputs mentioned in section III, the MIDA FINNSOM III Heath and Education project is requiring the following deliverables to be submitted throughout the assignment. These are the standard requirements for all assignments under this project:

1. Transfer of skills: The main responsibility of the qualified Somali diaspora expert—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 institution that staff will benefit from this knowledge.
2. Work plan: A work plan must be developed with the Supervisor during the first week of the assignment to provide clear and time-bound activities to successfully implement the outputs of the assignment. This work plan will be shared with the supervisor, MoECHE coordinator, MoECHE M&E Specialist and IOM project team. This work plan can be revised during the assignment to reflect on new developments or changes.
3. Quarterly and Final Reports: Quarterly progress reports will be submitted by the expert to the supervisor, MoECHE Coordinator, MoECHE M&E Specialist and IOM project team. At the end of the assignment, the participant must also provide a final report covering the duration of his/her assignment.
4. Exit interview: An exit interview will be conducted to ensure that a proper exit plan has been put in place to sustain the achievements, upon completion of the assignment.

Experiences and Qualifications

Level of Education:A master degree in a relevant field.

Area of Study: Education.

Years of work experience in what area(s): Minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience in the education sector.

Good understanding of sound programming principles.

Experience working in higher education, with focus on teacher development.

Languages needed:

• Fluency in English.
• Fluency in Somali.
• Fluency in Arabic is an advantage.

General Skills / Other Requirements:

• Experience in managing and mentoring staff and promoting teamwork;
• Good interpersonal and cross-cultural skills;
• Facilitation and training skills, including development of training materials and facilitation of participatory program development and capacity building.
• Strong ability to design, implement and monitor education programs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, particularly communication and presentation skills for diverse audiences.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships with the Ministries of Education, both Federal and Member States, donors and other development partners.
• Computer proficiency (including word processing, spreadsheets).
• Willingness and experience to work independently, in a politically unstable and security volatile situation and areas;
• Knowledge and understanding of the local Somali culture and its socio-political background.

V: Subsistence Allowance

The monthly stipend amount will be determined by the MIDA FINNSOM III, Health and Education project, based on the level of education and the years of relevant work experience.

VI: Security and insurance modalities

Health insurance—including evacuation due to a medical emergency—will be provided by the project. However, experts will be requested to provide a recent medical certificate stating that they are physically fit and able to work in a hardship area in Africa.

Please note that IOM, according to the contract, will not be responsible for the security of qualified Somali diaspora experts. The host beneficiary institution will be responsible for the security of the individual.

Before leaving the country of residence or upon arrival in Somalia, the qualified Somali diaspora expert will receive a pre-service briefing including security advice and cultural background.

Skills Required

Follow us on social media