Employer: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Policy & Political roles)
Location: Kenya/Somalia
Main purpose of job:
The Somalia Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) is a £33 million cross-government programme designed to tackle the drivers of instability and deliver the UK National Security Strategy in Somalia. This is an exciting and high-profile role managing the two largest programmes of the programme - Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Rule of Law (RoL). These include flag-ship projects supporting the Somali National Army (SNA), pre-
deployment training for AMISOM, and enhancing Rule of Law initiatives. The projects are, high-risk and complex and the delivery environment is challenging. However, the work is critically important to sustaining improvements in the security environment in Somalia and delivering UK objectives. Even small gains can have a tangible impact on the ground.
The Security Sector and Rule of Law programmes are overseen by a programme board composed of policy leads from across the British Embassy Mogadishu and London Somalia teams (including the Defence Attaché, DFID Senior Conflict Advisor, and London Head of Somalia Security and Justice). The Senior Programme Manager will be responsible for managing this board and ensuring its recommendations are delivered. They will liaise with a wide range of external stakeholders including the Federal Government of Somalia, UN agencies, partner donors and implementers.
The successful candidate will sit within the British Embassy Mogadishu Nairobi Office alongside the rest of the Somalia programme team, reporting to the Head Somalia CSSF. The role is based in Nairobi but will require travel to Mogadishu (SAFE+ training and FCO duty of care conditions will apply).
Roles and responsibilities:
The job holder will be the programme team lead for the Security Sector and Rule of Law programmes of the Somalia CSSF, an overall budget of approximately £20 million. Specific responsibilities include:
Overall responsibility for day-to-day oversight and delivery of the SSR and RoL programmes ensuring project milestones are met, responding to challenges and obstacles, and reviewing progress against the programme objectives.
Leading on the refresh of the programme design of the RoL and SSR programmes for the financial year 16/17 in line with the NSC strategy for Somalia, ensuring that programmatic objectives are coherently linked to UK policy.
Coordinating appropriate and robust monitoring, evaluation and verification activities across the two programmes working with the CSSF team M&E officer including working with existing third party monitors.
Convening and chairing meetings of the SSR and RoL programme boards, flagging key issues to policy leads and seeking agreement within the programme board’s delegated tolerances.
Liaise with Senior HMG staff providing advice and reporting on the SSR and RoL programmes.
Working closely with project implementers to ensure that milestones are on track, communicating changes to the project plans, and providing support on technical and policy issues.
Identifying, assessing, mitigating and monitoring risks at programme and project level including around human rights abuses and fiduciary issues. Reporting on key programme risks to the Local Strategy Board and updating programme risk matrixes.
Presenting financial and narrative reporting on the SSR and RoL programmes to the Somalia CSSF Strategy Board
Supporting the CSSF Finance Officer with financial and budget management of SSR and RoL projects including generating accurate and agile forecasting and ensuring HMG gets value for money in negotiations with implementers and suppliers. Tracking, chasing and processing payments against SSR and RoL projects. Conduct financial due diligence on implementing partners across the programmes.
Leading on procurement and contracting processes for the programme including working with political colleagues to negotiate MoUs with the Federal Government and implementing agencies.
Ensuring the programmes are compliant with CSSF cross-cutting requirements including conflict and gender sensitivity.
Line management of one B3L project manager soon to be recruited to support the SSR programme.
Essential qualifications and experience
3-5 years general programme management experience including the management of finances, risk and monitoring &evaluation
Experience of managing and delivering projects in fragile states /security sector
Experience/knowledge of the commercial procurement processes and confidence with a high degree of financial responsibilities
Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work autonomously to deliver a wide range of responsibilities whilst remaining engaged with a wider team of colleagues across HMG
The chosen candidate will have energy, drive and a willingness to work under time pressure.
Desirable qualifications and experience
Previous experience of managing Foreign Commonwealth Office /Department For International Development projects would be an advantage, as would experience negotiating MoUs with governments in fragile states.
Required competencies
Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering Value for Money
Location: Kenya/Somalia
Main purpose of job:
The Somalia Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) is a £33 million cross-government programme designed to tackle the drivers of instability and deliver the UK National Security Strategy in Somalia. This is an exciting and high-profile role managing the two largest programmes of the programme - Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Rule of Law (RoL). These include flag-ship projects supporting the Somali National Army (SNA), pre-
deployment training for AMISOM, and enhancing Rule of Law initiatives. The projects are, high-risk and complex and the delivery environment is challenging. However, the work is critically important to sustaining improvements in the security environment in Somalia and delivering UK objectives. Even small gains can have a tangible impact on the ground.
The Security Sector and Rule of Law programmes are overseen by a programme board composed of policy leads from across the British Embassy Mogadishu and London Somalia teams (including the Defence Attaché, DFID Senior Conflict Advisor, and London Head of Somalia Security and Justice). The Senior Programme Manager will be responsible for managing this board and ensuring its recommendations are delivered. They will liaise with a wide range of external stakeholders including the Federal Government of Somalia, UN agencies, partner donors and implementers.
The successful candidate will sit within the British Embassy Mogadishu Nairobi Office alongside the rest of the Somalia programme team, reporting to the Head Somalia CSSF. The role is based in Nairobi but will require travel to Mogadishu (SAFE+ training and FCO duty of care conditions will apply).
Roles and responsibilities:
The job holder will be the programme team lead for the Security Sector and Rule of Law programmes of the Somalia CSSF, an overall budget of approximately £20 million. Specific responsibilities include:
Overall responsibility for day-to-day oversight and delivery of the SSR and RoL programmes ensuring project milestones are met, responding to challenges and obstacles, and reviewing progress against the programme objectives.
Leading on the refresh of the programme design of the RoL and SSR programmes for the financial year 16/17 in line with the NSC strategy for Somalia, ensuring that programmatic objectives are coherently linked to UK policy.
Coordinating appropriate and robust monitoring, evaluation and verification activities across the two programmes working with the CSSF team M&E officer including working with existing third party monitors.
Convening and chairing meetings of the SSR and RoL programme boards, flagging key issues to policy leads and seeking agreement within the programme board’s delegated tolerances.
Liaise with Senior HMG staff providing advice and reporting on the SSR and RoL programmes.
Working closely with project implementers to ensure that milestones are on track, communicating changes to the project plans, and providing support on technical and policy issues.
Identifying, assessing, mitigating and monitoring risks at programme and project level including around human rights abuses and fiduciary issues. Reporting on key programme risks to the Local Strategy Board and updating programme risk matrixes.
Presenting financial and narrative reporting on the SSR and RoL programmes to the Somalia CSSF Strategy Board
Supporting the CSSF Finance Officer with financial and budget management of SSR and RoL projects including generating accurate and agile forecasting and ensuring HMG gets value for money in negotiations with implementers and suppliers. Tracking, chasing and processing payments against SSR and RoL projects. Conduct financial due diligence on implementing partners across the programmes.
Leading on procurement and contracting processes for the programme including working with political colleagues to negotiate MoUs with the Federal Government and implementing agencies.
Ensuring the programmes are compliant with CSSF cross-cutting requirements including conflict and gender sensitivity.
Line management of one B3L project manager soon to be recruited to support the SSR programme.
Essential qualifications and experience
3-5 years general programme management experience including the management of finances, risk and monitoring &evaluation
Experience of managing and delivering projects in fragile states /security sector
Experience/knowledge of the commercial procurement processes and confidence with a high degree of financial responsibilities
Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work autonomously to deliver a wide range of responsibilities whilst remaining engaged with a wider team of colleagues across HMG
The chosen candidate will have energy, drive and a willingness to work under time pressure.
Desirable qualifications and experience
Previous experience of managing Foreign Commonwealth Office /Department For International Development projects would be an advantage, as would experience negotiating MoUs with governments in fragile states.
Required competencies
Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering Value for Money