Country Programme Manager Somalia at Norwegian Red Cross

Strategic responsibilities

• Follows up and strengthen the partnership with Somali Red Crescent National Society through partnership management, project development and management in line with established project agreements and project plans.
• Represents Norwegian Red Cross in-country, coordinate strategically and programmatically with RCRC Movement (RCM) partners, particularly ICRC and IFRC and contributes to complementary RCM roles and responsibilities in country.
• Manages country office in accordance with Norwegian Red Cross leadership development framework, NorCross financial routines and established in-country security.

Operational responsibilities

• Develops annual country plan of action and follows up on progress through regular meetings and reporting for Somalia
• Follows up and supports the strategic and operational cooperation with Somali Red Crescent in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and NorCross partnership process
• Ensures annual joint operational planning and complementary implementation with ICRC (and other Movement partners as applicable)
• Safeguards project agreements and plans and follows up on risk assessments for all in-country initiatives for Somalia
• Organizes needs assessments and develops fundable proposals for Somalia
• Ensures that Norwegian Red Cross supported programmes in Somalia comply with technical standards and thematic frameworks.
• Consistently monitors planned and unplanned effects of all projects supported by the Norwegian Red Cross in Somalia and reports on progress through tertiary and yearly reports and complies with established deadlines.
• Ensures reliable data and information collection from all projects in accordance with Norwegian Red Cross results framework
• Ensures accountability in line with Norwegian Red Cross Accountability Matrix and Partnership Calendar. This includes contribution to the annual budget process, mid-term budget review, and timely submission of cash requests / working advances
• Supports financial and overall risk management, including annual audit process and proper handling of financial irregularities, in line with established rules and regulations.
• Engages the Somalia country team by providing clear expectations manifested in individual objective setting processes for all staff linked to annual Plan of Action, and follows up through expressing positive expectations and holding each other accountable.
• Ensures that Field Security Rules and Regulations of Norwegian Red Cross for Somalia are understood and updated, and oversees their compliance
• Promotes good collaboration between country office and regional office to ensure use of available technical expertise and standards.
• Acquires fluency in the understanding and of Norwegian Red Cross work processes and digital tools.
• Establishes relationships with internal stakeholders – RCRC Movement partners and manages regular meetings with donors to obtain support for unfunded humanitarian projects.
• Acts as spokesperson for country developments relating to Somalia upon delegation from the Regional Representative and supports Norwegian Red Cross’ humanitarian diplomacy objectives, including by identifying opportunities in line with global priorities.
• Contributes to the operationalization of global strategic agreements with the ICRC and the IFRC in the country.
• Supports in-country RCRC coordination mechanisms conducive to better efficiency, effectiveness and greater humanitarian impact.

Collaboration

• Engages with the Regional Finance Manager and the Results Management Coordinator at Regional Office, to ensure consistent accountability towards Norwegian Red Cross rules and regulations, guidelines and deadlines.
• Engages with the regional technical delegates; including the Finance Development (FD) delegate, CBS and Regional Innovation delegates to ensure continued and sustained high quality programme support to SRCS.
• Through established channels and structures, ensures regular communication with colleagues in the Africa Regional Team, and as per need, with Programme Support Team, Finance and Grants Unit and International Human Resources Unit (NO).
• Facilitates and plans for country visits for colleagues from regional and national offices.
• Liaises with National Office (HQ) Security advisor in accordance with rules and regulations.

Mission specific responsibilities

• Ensure continuation of NorCross strategic support to SRCS in the provision of quality and timely community-based, primary and secondary healthcare in Somalia. Consider further expansion of health programming as relevant and operationally feasible.
• Strengthen operational partnership with ICRC in Somalia under the Country Services and Support Agreement (CSSA).
• Oversee ECHO funded projects and ensure technical and financial compliance to ECHO guidelines
• Maintain a balanced relationship and continuous cooperation with the different SRCS management structures
• Ensure protection mainstreaming in the different NorCross projects in addition to overseeing specific protection activities including SGBV linked to health Health Care in Danger (HCiD) among others
• Support SRCS with technical support from the FD delegate in the development of FD PoA based on the results of the due diligence exercise and implementation of activities under this plan
• Consolidate NorCross cash assistance programming in Somalia and look for opportunities for potential expansion of cash assistance linked to improved health and nutrition outcomes
• Establish proper mechanisms for NorCross to respond swiftly to epidemics, conflict and climate emergencies through SRCS.
• Advocate for NorCross to have a lead role in climate and health in Somalia including greening health facilities initiative among others.
• Effectively lead Somalia NorCross team including remote management and conduct frequent field visits to strengthen team collaboration and monitoring of projects

Qualifications

Formal Competence

• Relevant university degree preferably in health

Personal qualifications, skills and knowledge

Skills and knowledge

• Solid professional experience in health focused programmes in complex environments / conflict settings
• Significant track record of managing multi-cultural humanitarian teams in an international setting
• Significant track record of managing multi-thematic programmes in a complex humanitarian setting internationally
• Proven ability to implement health programmes in challenging contexts
• Excellent inter-personal skills with internal as well as external stakeholders
• Prior experience working with remote teams and keeping them engaged
• Track-record of successful donor applications, planning, monitoring and reporting on humanitarian projects with measurable results.
• Programmatic experience from the African region is an advantage
• Excellent writing and communication skills and fluency in English is required. Working proficiency of regional languages is an asset.
• International driving license (manual gear) is required

Personal Qualifications

• Ability to make an impact; convince and persuade others; promotes plans and ideas successfully
• Ability to collaborate well with others and support others in the pursuit of team goals
• Ability to create a stable and re-assuring work atmosphere and is firm and reliable
• Ability to provide the team with a clear sense of direction. Inspires and co-ordinates others and keeps them focused on objectives.
• Able to build a useful network of contacts and relationships and utilize these to achieve objectives
• Ability to develop an ambitious but realistic vision and translate it into a workable strategy