Job Description

Vacancy Announcement No. JR104284.
Job title: Special Assistant to the Country Director.
Contract Type/Grade: Limited Fixed term, P3.
Duty Station: Mogadishu, Somalia
Contract Duration: 1 year (Initial).
Date of Issue: September 5, 2024. | Closing Date: September 19, 2024

What will you do?
• Coordination of Activities & Operational Management of the Country Director (CD)’s Office
• Act as key focal point for critical projects led by RB or HQ, such as engaging with the Regional Director’s office ahead
of Executive Board or high-level diplomacy meetings.
• Provide operational, planning, managerial and coordination support to the CD on all aspects of the work of the
Country Office.
• Review and respond to or draft as appropriate, management reports and correspondence documents and bring
matters that need decision to CD’s attention.
• Coordinate, review and/or prepare as appropriate high-quality strategic background documents, talking points and
briefs to the CD to ensure availability of all required information for meetings and engagements.
• Attend interagency, governmental, and internal meetings with the CD as required and coordinate follow up actions.
• Strategic Plan Alignment & Execution Support: Contribute to the implementation of key strategic initiatives and
activities related to operationalization of the Country Strategic Plan (“CSP”) 2022-2025, incl:
• Leading strategic programmatic projects such as school feeding programme redesign, and institutional capacity
strengthening scale-up that will strategically position WFP and enhance program quality. This includes developing
strategies to revise program design, engaging high-level partners, and coordinating execution across functional areas.
• Provide guidance and change management support for Area Offices to address high priority issues for the Country
Office, such as the mitigation of Post-Distribution Aid Diversion and the development of practical implementation
initiatives for the Assurance strategies. Facilitate partnership growth, by exploring opportunities to expand existing
partnerships and scope of new partners with key interagency, donor, NGO and Government partners that will
improve the sustainability of WFP’s activities in Somalia.
• Coordinate activities with functional units to develop and deliver strategies that will advance CSP objectives (i.e.
design and implementation of the Nairobi Liaison Office closure and transition plan.
• Proactively develop insights and make recommendations to the Country Director that challenge the status quo based
on private sector and NGO experience, including benchmarking activities versus other regions and organizations.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Experiences and Qualifications

Do you meet the minimum requirements?
Education:
• Advanced University degree in International Relations, Political Science/Economy, International Development, Development
Economics, International Relations, or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work
experience and/or trainings/courses.
Experience
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience, including multiple years working with strategy consulting firm(s) and
experience in complex emergency contexts.
Language Proficiency:
• Fluency in oral and written English (Level C) is essential, including strong writing skills.
 Are you competent for this job? Do you have?
• Strategy implementation in partnership with senior leaders,
• Project/initiative design and implementation, including change mgmt., initiative prioritization, and supervising crossfunctional teams.
• Quickly conceptualizing and solving complex business problems
• Challenging the status quo with creative solutions
• Strong verbal, written and presentation skills.
• A robust analytical skillset (including advanced Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word capabilities)
• Passionate about the humanitarian sector.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Skills Required

Follow us on social media