Job Description

Job title:SomalilandProgramme Manager

Reporting to:Horn of Africa Programme Manager (APM), based in Nairobi

Responsible for:Technical Officer, Community Liaison Coordinator, Finance and Administration Officer, and ultimately all staff in the Somaliland office

Base:Hargeisa, Somaliland

Background:

Spanning almost a quarter of a century, Health Unlimited’s work has grown to include programmes in 13 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America (with more currently in development). We always prioritise the most poor and the most marginalised – those neglected by governments and almost everyone else. This has led us to work in some very difficult environments, often providing the only external assistance. We currently directly support 4 million people each year through our community health care initiatives (including 3.2 million indigenous people), and a further 23 million through our award-winning ‘edutainment’ radio soaps. Health Unlimited currently employs about 300 staff worldwide, and has an annual turnover of around £7 million.

Health levels and poverty levels are inextricably bound together. Each is both a cause and a consequence of the other. Put positively, this means there is great power in an approach that addresses both of them. Improvements in one yield improvements in the other. This is the approach Health Unlimited is committed to. It makes health first and foremost not a medical challenge – though that plays its part – but a fundamental issue of justice and human rights.

Working with communities to build local capacity, Health Unlimited’s programmes seek to pioneer new approaches. We take a holistic approach, focusing not just on the health sector but being prepared to do anything we can to help make the biggest possible difference to health. Our programmes attach a high priority to strengthening health systems, supporting safe birthing, prevention of life-threatening diseases such as malaria, TB, HIV, and other dangerous infections and improving communities’ health-seeking behaviour.

Health Unlimited’s programmes also attach great importance to other factors such as nutrition, water and sanitation, income generation, and the social, economic and environmental determinants of health. Our programmes take a rights-based approach, strengthening poor and marginalised communities to advocate on their own behalf.

Health Unlimited has been working in Somaliland since 1994 and has broadcast a radio programme from Hargeisha since 1999. Health Unlimited is currently implementing a 5-year EC-funded project related to sexual, reproductive, and maternal health for Internally Displaced People in and around Hargeisa, as well as a 1-year Global Fund project. Health Unlimited has also submitted proposals to various donors to build on this work. In order to integrate the implementation of all Somaliland projects, the Programme Manager will be expected to oversee all programming in Somaliland. This key post is the most senior HU post resident in Somaliland, and therefore includes representation duties, project and financial management, proposal writing, and leadership.

Main Functions of Post:

  1. Provides overall management for all projects in Somaliland, ensuring good financial and general administration of projects, staff, finances and assets
  1. Represents Health Unlimited in Somaliland in the promotion of excellent relationships with central and local government departments, international organizations, other NGO’s and in-country donors.
  1. Maintains good internal communications both with the APM and the central Health Poverty Action office in London, and with project staff
  1. Supports programme developmentfor Somaliland and Somalia

Responsibilities:

  1. Provides overall management in Somaliland, ensuring good financial and general administration of projects, staff, finances and assets

Project Cycle Management

  • Prepare annual work plans and budgets in accordance with project proposals
  • Ensure that activities are implemented and outputs/results produced in accordance with project proposals, budgets, and donor contracts
  • Provide management and technical support to staff
  • Respond to and communicate to APM on internal and external influences which affect or have the potential to affect project progress
  • Ensure that the projects are effectively monitored and evaluated
  • Report to the APM on the progress and problems of projects in accordance with Health Unlimited and donor guidelines

Financial and Asset Management

  • Oversee the preparation of the monthly project accounts, ensuring that these comply with Health Unlimited’s requirements, for submission to the APM
  • Ensure that project expenditure is spent and monitored against budgets and in accordance with donor contracts, reporting on variances
  • Oversee and support the preparation of financial reports
  • Ensure that efficient office systems are maintained in the projects
  • Ensure that all Health Unlimited property is maintained, stored safely, and used in accordance with agreed activities
  • Ensure timely requests for transfers of funds from central Health Unlimited

Human Resource Management

  • Recommend any changes to project staffing and job descriptions to the APM
  • Develop and maintain personnel policies and procedures for national
  • Co-ordinate all recruitment, induction, training and performance appraisal of staff
  • Ensure that all Human Resource policies and procedures are followed
  • Coach and encourage professional development/skills building of staff
  • Promote team-building activities and carry out conflict resolution, as necessary
  • Review, monitor, and implement Health Unlimited’s safety procedures and security situation, and ensure that staff members are aware of these procedures
  • Deputises for the Horn of Africa Programme Manager when requested to do so

Undertakes any other duties which might reasonably be requested

2. Represents Health Unlimited in Somaliland in the promotion of excellent relationships with central and local government departments, international organizations, other NGO’s and in-country donors.
  • Attend meetings on behalf of Health Unlimited with other agencies or networks in Somaliland
  • Attend meetings relating to Somaliland programming in Nairobi such as Somalia Support Secretariat, as agreed with the APM
  • Meet on a regular basis with Government representatives, NGO partners, donors and any other relevant stakeholders, in order to develop and maintain excellent relationships, explore partnerships/synergies, and influence policy and practice
  • Ensures that HU meets legal requirements in Somaliland
  • With the APM, liaises in-country donors to explore funding opportunities

3. Maintains good internal communications both with the APM and the central Health Poverty Action office in London, and with project staff
  • Maintains communication with the APM and advises on developments in the health sector, as well as on social, economic and political developments in Somaliland
  • Promotes and facilitates good communication with and between staff of all projects in Somaliland

4. Assists in programme development in Somaliland
  • Develops an awareness of health, social, economic and political developments in Somalia and Somaliland
  • Identifies and recommends to APM new projects for Health Unlimited in Somaliland
  • Conducts assessments to determine needs for proposal development
  • Meets with potential partnersto explore opportunities for joint proposals
  • Develops project proposals for submission to donors (international
  • Assist the APM in Investigating the potential of establishing a local Somaliland NGO for the health communications
  • Develop good relationships with the representatives of donors based in Somaliland/Nairobi
  • Explore opportunities for carrying out consultancies to increase in-country funding

Person specification:

Essential requirements

  • At least 5 years experience as a health and/or development manager, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Bachelors degree in health related discipline or social sciences
  • Significant proven development programmes experience with governments, INGO, NGOs, related to health
  • Representational skills, diplomacy and the ability to communicate and negotiate at all levels.

Experience in managing contracts

  • Proven skills in human resource management
  • Proven skills in Project Cycle Management
  • The ability to think and operate strategically, with strong conceptual and analytical skills
  • Proven skills in effective in networking and collaboration with partners and other stakeholders
  • Teambuilding and leadership skills - the ability to communicate effectively, motivate individuals and a team, resolve conflict and promote effective working relationships
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills – with an ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy and to manage conflict.
  • Proven financial management kills in accounting, budgeting and reporting;
  • Computer literacy in Word, Excel, Power Point
  • Ability to work in stressful and unstable areas
  • Capacity to be flexible under difficult conditions
  • Fluent oral and written English

Desirable requirements

  • Masters degree in health related discipline or social sciences
  • Knowledge and understanding of Africa, particularly the Horn of Africa
  • Knowledge of procurement systems
  • Proven understanding of how international organizations work
  • Experience working in or with hospitals or clinics
  • Experience in health education using mass media including radio
  • Experience of organising and facilitating participatory discussions
  • Ability to understand and express oneself in Somali
  • Experience of representing an organisation to governments and donors
  • Proposal and report writing skills
  • Experience of working in Somalia or Somaliland

Terms and Conditions:

£22,156 salary per annum plus 5% pension. The generous benefits package includes:$600US/month living allowance; 6 weeks of annual leave per year; 1 week of additional R&R leave every 8 weeks; 12 days of national holidays; flights and relocation costs to Hargeisa; flights home (or equivalent) every 6 months; flights to Kenya/Ethiopia or equivalent every 8th weeks; and health insurance.