Job Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

Position Title - Women Economic Development Officer

Organization - Somaliland Y-PEER

Project Title - Somaliland Women Artisan Empowerment Project

Funded- ISF

Duty Station - Hargeisa, with frequent field visits to Togdheer Region

Contract Type and Duration - Full time position, one year contract, with possible extension based on performance and funding

Expected Start Date - March 2026

Reporting Line - Women Economic Development Officer will report directly to the Project Manager.

1. Background and Purpose of the Role

Somaliland Y-PEER is a non-governmental, non-profit making and non-political youth and community development network. Somaliland Y-PEER was legally registered at the Ministry of Planning and National Development of Somaliland in 2008 with registration number L43/13/198/2019 as shown on the latest registration certificate. Somaliland Y-PEER operates in all regions of Somaliland on the promotion of reproductive health rights and gender equality, prevention of gender-based violence, STIs, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse as well as improvement of youth and women economy through innovative peer to peer approaches.

Somaliland Y-PEER is implementing the Somaliland Women Artisan Empowerment Project, funded by ISF, a Finnish foundation supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The project aimed at strengthening the economic empowerment of women artisans. The project focuses on enhancing technical and vocational skills among youth and women, creating a supportive policy environment and infrastructure, building entrepreneurship capacity, and promoting financial independence to enable beneficiaries to establish and manage sustainable small businesses.

The Women Economic Development Officer is a newly established position responsible for leading the effective implementation of project activities related to women’s economic rights, vocational skills training, business development support, mentorship, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. The role requires strong knowledge of public and private actors and realities in artisan sector, technical expertise in TVET, entrepreneurship development, and women’s economic empowerment, along with proven ability to lead multi-stakeholder processes and operate effectively in a dynamic, community-based environment.

2. Objectives of the Position

The primary objective of the Women Economic Development Officer is to effectively plan, coordinate, implement, and monitor vocational training and entrepreneurship development activities for women artisans, and lead multi-stakeholder collaboration among public and private actors to enhance women’s economic rights. The role ensures that participants acquire practical technical skills, essential business knowledge, and the confidence needed to establish, manage, and sustain independent, income-generating enterprises.

3. Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and facilitate vocational training sessions tailored to the specific needs of women artisans.
• Ensure training integrates both technical skills (e.g., tailoring, handicrafts, food processing, and Uunsi making) and essential business skills (including marketing, bookkeeping, and basic financial management).
• Support women artisans in developing practical and viable business plans, and provide ongoing mentorship on entrepreneurship, financial independence, and informed decision-making, while fostering confidence, leadership, and self-reliance.
• Monitor and track trainees’ progress, assess the practical application of newly acquired skills, and collect participant feedback and lessons learned to continuously enhance training quality and relevance.
• Support the Project Manager in the implementation, coordination, and monitoring of project activities.
• Engage closely with local communities and leaders to promote participation, ownership, and acceptance of women’s economic activities.
• Mainstream gender-sensitive approaches and women’s empowerment throughout project implementation, effectively managing group dynamics and maintaining professionalism in large-group and high-pressure settings.
• Facilitate linkages between women artisans and markets, suppliers, cooperatives, and financial institutions, and support access to microfinance services, savings groups, or cooperative structures where appropriate.
• Coordinate with relevant government institutions and local stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, facilitate inclusive dialogue with women to enhance the enabling environment for artisan businesses.
• Prepare regular activity and progress reports highlighting achievements, challenges, success stories, best practices, and lessons learned, contributing to donor and internal reporting requirements.
• Maintain awareness of GBV and FGM-related issues, ensuring that all training and facilitation approaches are context-sensitive and contribute to broader protection and women’s empowerment objectives.

Experiences and Qualifications

4. Required Qualifications and Experience

Education: - Bachelor’s degree in one of the following or a related field

• Education, Development Studies, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economics and Social Sciences and any other related field.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of relevant professional experience in: -
  • Small business development or entrepreneurship support.
  • Women’s empowerment or community development projects.
  • Experience in developing and implementing income-generating activities.
  • Experience supporting artisan groups, cooperatives, or small-scale enterprises

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of artisan, and innovation.
• Strong knowledge of entrepreneurship and small business management.
• Practical skills in bookkeeping, marketing, customer relations, and basic financial literacy.
• Ability to guide women in developing and managing micro-enterprises.
• Understanding of project management, implementation and community mobilization.
• ICT and digital skills are an added advantage.
• Knowledge of protection issues, including GBV and FGM, is an asset to ensure training and facilitation are sensitive, inclusive, and empowering.

5. Core Competencies

• Strong communication and facilitation skills
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple activities
• Teamwork and coordination skills
• Gender sensitivity and commitment to women’s empowerment
• Conflict resolution and basic counselling skills
• Marketing, branding, and value chain development knowledge

6. Safeguarding and Protection

• The role involves direct engagement with women, including potentially vulnerable groups.
• The Women Economic Development Officer must comply with Somaliland Y-PEER safeguarding policies and code of conduct.
• Strong commitment to gender sensitive approaches and protection from exploitation or abuse.
• Previous training in safeguarding and reporting mechanisms is an added advantage.

Skills Required

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