Job Description

DEPARTMENT: Programmes

BASE LOCATION: Mogadishu - with regular travel to field offices and project sites/ satellite office areas to oversee the implementation of IR FSL Projects

GRADE:

CONTRACT LENGTH: 12 MONTHS with a higher possibility of extension depending on performance and availability of resources

REPORT TO: HoP for Programmes and Projects

LINE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES: SERVE Project officers and Project Technical Assistants, and technically manage all MSD/ FSL technical teams of the IRS

MATRIX MANAGES: The position is under the overall supervision of the HoP for Programmes/Projects of the country.

Day-to-day line management: The MSD Manager directly reports to the HoP for Programmes and Projects, and works closely with the Portfolio/ /Quality Assurance and Innovation Manager, the FSL Specialist and the partnership team of the country. The position holder will technically manage the project teams at the project sites. He/ She will manage the SERVE and other MSD project staff, track the project progress and spending, engage key stakeholders and ensure overall achievements of the project outcomes including documenting lessons learnt.

JOB SUMMARY

As part of the IRS core program team, The MSD manager will provide technical advice, guidance, input and support to a wide range of program design and implementation issues with a focus on larger projects in the area of Market Systems Development in line with IRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to Country Program (CP) teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your technical knowledge, advice, input and guidance will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative IRS market systems programming is across the country.

The MSD Manager will be responsible for developing proposals and setting the strategic direction of IRS market systems development work; ensuring harmonization and consistency; developing technical guidance and tools; documenting learning; building the capacity of country teams and providing technical accompaniment to country programs as they conduct market systems analysis, strategy design, intervention start-up, negotiation and management of partnerships, and measure/capture results and learning.

The MSD Manager will technically backstop all MSD programmes in the country, support implementation, track record the progress projects, and undertake impact analysis of MSD projects in the target areas. The MSD Manager will incorporate Climate change adaptation and lead the collaboration with stakeholders including participants, funding and partner organizations to deliver.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Direct: Programme Coordinator, Senior Technical Officers, Project officers

Budget Responsibilities: As per the delegated budget approval threshold by the Country Director.

Role Dimensions: Liaises With all project teams and sectors

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS
2. Strategic Management, Project Design, and Supporting Implementation of FSL activities

• Contribute to the development and implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices about market systems development (with a focus on Food security, and potentially other sectors) that effectively engage IR partners, donors, the private sector and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Lead and backstop country programs and partners during market systems analysis, strategy design, portfolio development, implementation, and results measurement and learning in market systems development programs
• Provide technical solutions to regional and CP teams, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E, ensuring high-quality implementation.
• Contribute to country efforts to pre-position IRS for growth opportunities concerning market systems development under the Project platform.
• Lead or contribute to the development of the technical design for proposals, including defining appropriate monitoring systems and indicators. Advise project teams on integrating donor strategies, priorities and technical requirements into IRS’ approach.
• Contribute to capacity-strengthening initiatives in market systems development for staff through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting training and workshops, and providing mentoring and coaching to Country Program staff.
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, conducting /assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
• Establish and maintain relationships with donors, peer organizations, private sector, research and other institutions. Participate in forums in the areas of market systems development to collect and share best practices and promote IRS work.

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS

• Project Cycle Management
• Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Sensitive Agriculture and overall mainstreaming approaches
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills;
• Dynamic and Evidence-based livelihood programming and application of contemporary FSL approaches
• Knowledge and exposure of the Humanitarian-Peace-development nexus
• Risk management, Cultural and political sensitivity;
• Should have a research background and excellent analytical capacity including the use of statistical software and reporting systems
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritise your time.
• Must have a ‘hands-on’, practical mentality, be self-driven and be motivated.
• Must be well organized, work independently, and be able to schedule and manage tasks/ initiatives effectively.
• Very high attention to detail, excellent teamwork and motivational skills
• Must be flexible and adapt to a fluid situation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and good command of English.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Collaborative and supportive teamwork

Experiences and Qualifications

• aster’s Degree in Business, Economic Development or other relevant field required.or a similar related field.
• Certification in Market Sytem Development ,
• Certification in project/ program management is an added advantage.
• Strong proficiency in using MS Office package, use of Econometric, PSD / Economic analysis tools, Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems, knowledge-sharing networks

Required Skills and Competencies

Essential skills

• Minimum of five years relevant working experience in management role with progressive responsibilities, with minimum of three years working for programming interventions in market systems development such as ‘making markets work for the poor’ or related field
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts in pro-poor market systems development. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in business development, project design and proposal development in market systems development, including technical writing.
• Experience working with micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to grow, transform, and become resilient to future shocks.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Excellent analytical skills and experience conducting economic or market systems analysis, ideally in the housing sector.
• Proven ability to negotiate, design and assess strategic, sustainable and systemic activities
• Experience in negotiating and building partnerships with Private sector, donors etc.
• Experience and skills in networking and building relations with peer organizations, private sector actors, and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.

Desired skills

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Ability to think critically and ensure all aspects of a work plan are complete to talking strategic visioning with a donor partner.
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented.

Additional competence experience

• Willing to adapt to IRW’s norms and core values without compromising personal beliefs and principles.
• Willing and able to work long hours as required and meet deadlines.
• Commitment to participatory approaches when working with communities.
• Willing to learn local mechanisms, culture and humanitarian development, Able to build productive working relationships; work as part of a team, and support colleagues.
• Energetic and able to operate in Somalia program situations which may be arduous.
• Good understanding of Somalia context, and humanitarian principles.
• Excellent oral and written English required, Somalia language is preferred.
• Must be willing and able to travel up to 60% to project sites in Somalia .

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Technical MSD projects, Lead MSD Core Team Members, Techncial advisor to Humanitarian, WASH, FSL Health and education sectors , Private Sector Engagement Technical Advisors, Country Program management and program staff.

External: Peer organizations, donors, partner organizations, private and public sector partners, research institutes, Global MSD partners.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all IRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of IRW and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• We will save lives and reduce vulnerability to humanitarian crises
• We will empower communities to tackle poverty and vulnerability
• We will advocate for change to the system to eliminate the global and local root causes of inequality.

Islamic Relief staff are guided by the timeless values and teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. In particular, IRW is committed to five key values that all staff are expected to observe and apply in executing their work:

• Sincerity (ikhlas) – We are driven and motivated by sincerity to God and our duty to humanity.
• Excellence (ihsan) – A commitment to excellence is a hallmark of our operations, programmes and conduct towards the vulnerable people we serve.
• Compassion (rahma) – Every life is precious, so we join other humanitarian actors in easing the suffering caused by disasters, poverty and injustice.
• Social Justice (adl) – We empower poor and vulnerable people to have their rights fulfilled and to achieve their God-given potential.
• Custodianship (amana) – We value and protect the Earth and its resources, including its people, and we aim to honour the trust people place in us to be transparent and accountable.

Skills Required

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