Job Description

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT – VA 01/2024

Position Title: Technical Program Manager

Number of positions: 1

Reporting to: Consortium Director

Contract duration: 12 months

Duty Station: Mogadishu

Organisational background:

Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides humanitarian relief in over 40 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, and food security. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in seven countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Haiti and Somalia. Action Against Hunger-USA has approximately 1,500 staff based in the various country offices, Head Quarter in New York City and Operational Centre in Nairobi. Additional growth is anticipated. Caafimaad Plus Consortium which comprises Action Against Hunger (AAH-ACF), International Medical Corps (IMC), Concern Worldwide (CWW), SOS Childrens’ Village (SOS CV), Trocaire, and Juba Foundation implements in South Central Somalia where it supports the government to deliver life-saving interventions in the areas of Health, Nutrition, Protection, and WASH to vulnerable populations affected by conflict, displacements, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks.

1.             SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Technical Program Manager will be responsible for coordinating programmatic planning and implementation for regions supported by Caafimaad Plus consortium. He/she will align and streamline emergency response efforts across the consortium partners and ensure delivery of quality program that meets the expectations of the Government of Somalia, Donors, served communities, and key stakeholders. He/she will collaborate and coordinate plans with various response agencies, government institutions, affected communities, and private sector players.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this position it to coordinate the implementation of the consortium’s life-saving interventions to vulnerable populations affected by conflict, displacements, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks in districts supported by the consortium in South Central Somalia.

ENGAGEMENT

The Technical Program Manager will build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders fighting hunger and malnutrition within government institutions, donor community (ECHO, FCDO, GAC, GFFO, SIDA, etc.), UN Agencies (UN Women, UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA), like-minded NGOs and private sector in the country. In addition, He/She will position Caafimaad Plus with key audiences and ensure its recognition as a lead consortium for emergency response in the country.

DELIVERY

Develop emergency response plans, build capacity for emergency response among health teams and communities in supported areas, conduct ongoing surveillance to identify potential emergency situations and coordinate emergency response for Caafimaad Plus consortium.

1.             ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Project Management (40%)
• Lead and manage the consortium’s technical team, ensure members are updated and properly trained and processes for deployment within the country are in place.
• Undertake rapid needs assessments to identify gaps and needs in humanitarian landscape in Caafimaad Plus supported regions.
• Periodically review the consortium’s response plan and ensure it is updated with the most current good practices.
• Ensure that program is implemented in a consultative, participative, context and cultural effective, gender sensitive, and cost-effective way.
• Work closely with Supply Chain/ Logistics to ensure that procurements are made in a timely manner while remaining in compliance with donor rules and regulations and ensure that proper procurement procedures are followed by ER Program staff.
• Work closely with consortium partners to ensure adequate supplies of medical, nutritional and other requisite commodities to cater for routine and emergency responses to the vulnerable population at any given time.
• Work closely with MEAL coordinator to facilitate systematic program monitoring and evaluation, utilizing the consortium digitalized data systems to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Coordinate the development and periodic updating of Facility-specific Business Continuity Plans (BCP) that incorporate lessons learnt from the 2023 El Nino event.
• Ensure high frequency tracking of platforms such as Food Security and Nutritional Analysis System (FSNAS) and other partner/government platforms to have at your disposal up-to-date information on emerging threats.
• Stakeholders’ Engagement (20%)
• Develop and maintain relationships with Ministry of Health, UN, NGOs, Donors, partners and other stakeholders, to raise public awareness of Caafimaad Plus consortium.
• Represent Caafimaad Plus consortium in key stakeholders’ forums mainly Health, Nutrition, WASH, and Protection Clusters.
• Coordinate joint multisectoral collaborative responses with other consortia or partners to ensure effective contribution of Caafimaad+ Consortium including data-sharing.
• Technical Capacity Development (20%)
• Coordinate training and refresher courses for field-based managers, healthcare workers, and Community health workers on the four areas of program implementation
• Coordinate periodic assessments on the quality of programs and interventions through field visits, and through the program and MEAL teams.
• Ensure quality of program implementation and emergency preparedness in line with organizational, donor, country, and international standards.
• Conduct simulation emergency response drills as part of emergency preparedness for the consortium
• Reporting (20%)
• Review the technical components of the periodic reports to ensure that the narrative accurately reflects the implementation in terms of the approaches, performance, challenges, and lessons learnt.

    III.            SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

There is no staff reporting directly to this position.

1.             FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Lead the development of CMU budget in liaison with the Consortium Director and Finance Lead.

Support the consolidation of the overall consortium budget to ensure equitable funding of the four sectors and priority approaches as detailed in proposals.

1.             PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations, which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1.             WORKING CONDITIONS, TRAVEL AND ENVIRONMENT

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases.

 VII.            GENDER EQUALITY COMMITMENTS & ZERO TOLERANCE TO ABUSE

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, boys and girls regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age or marital status,
• Value and respect all cultures.
• Promote and uphold the PSEA policy and procedures.

Experiences and Qualifications

   Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and/or Nutrition. Post-graduate degree in public health / community health/ humanitarian fields or equivalent is desirable.

• At least 5 years international experience with NGOs managing /coordinating emergency programs. Previous work in a consortium setting is desirable.

1. REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE ESSENTIAL

• Experience in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of emergency programs.
• Experience of managing programs in a complex and rapidly evolving security context
• A good understanding of political, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts of Somalia
• Sound understanding of humanitarian principles as contained in the Sphere, HAP Standards, and other relevant international humanitarian guidelines.
• Good planning, analytical, and project management, and report writing skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with ability to express ideas and concepts concisely
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office packages specifically: Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint
• Ability to prioritize assignments and manage a variety of complex tasks under tight deadlines
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with government departments, humanitarian agencies, and the local communities.
• Ability to perform efficiently and effectively under emergency conditions and under pressure and use judgment in making quick decisions.

Skills Required

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