Position within the Organization
The Country Coordinator is a member of the Programme Management Unit which manages and implements all of Interpeace’s active and ongoing programmes around the world. The Programme Management Unit is led from the Headquarters office in Geneva, although team members are based in various locations including in East and Central Africa, West Africa, Europe and the MENA region.
The Country Coordinator reports to the Head of Programmes East Central Africa and coordinates Programme Manager/s and all programmatic staff for Interpeace’s programme activities in Somalia.
The Country Coordinator draws on support from the Programme Management at HQ, Programme Development, Global Operations and Programme teams (Managers and/or support officers).
Purpose and General Overview
The Country Coordinator provides unity of mission, coherence and optimized budget management across the programmes in the Somali region.
Provides overall coordination and support the strategic direction within the programmes in Somalia necessary to enable Interpeace to implement its mandate
Coordinates and supports in the development of the programme portfolio to ensure its relevance to the country and also its financial viability and sustainability
Coordinates and Manages existing programmes ensuring high quality, on budget delivery of all agreed outputs
The duties of the Country Coordinator cover 5 areas:
Strategic Engagement
Programme Management & Development
Management – institutional coherence
Representation
Management of Personnel and Resources
Duties and responsibilities
Strategic Engagement
Identifies and proposes country-level dimensions of Interpeace programme strategy
Proceeds with horizon scanning for new partners at implementation level
Identifies ways to grow the country portfolio and to maximize its impact
Coordinates and supports in providing regular reporting to the Interpeace Headquarters on relevant factors and changes in the context and programme
Ensures the implementation of the Interpeace Country programme strategy in line with the overall Interpeace Strategic Plan
Provides leadership according to Interpeace’s values, vision and mission at the country level
Programme Management and Development
Identifies and advises on refreshing/renewing existing programme work at country/region level
Ensures timely forward-looking consideration and delivery of options to secure funding for extended programme work where relevant
Supports formulation of new proposals in coordination with the Programme Development Unit
Oversee and coordinate the programme portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality and accountability
Coordinate the production of timely quality programme reports in line with Interpeace and donor requirements
Management – institutional coherence
Compliance of programmatic work across country programmes with Interpeace internal controls
Ensures regular flow of information about the country work to HQ
Representation
Regularly engages at Tracks One to Three, at country level
Engages with local partner organizations and diplomatic representatives
Occasional media engagement when required
Engage and support the relationships with implementing partners, while also providing strategic guidance, capacity building, and programmatic support to ensure high level of coordination and convergence across the country programme
Management of Personnel and Resources
Supervises and develops up to 20 staff
Creates an enabling work environment that fosters learning and innovation, where staff members can achieve their potential, demonstrating gender-responsive and non-discriminatory behavior and attitudes
Monitors, evaluates and documents the individual performance of direct reports through a staff development lens
Mentors and coaches staff members
Accountable for budget of circa $2 million
Is responsible for the financial health of the portfolio
Manage and develop a team of key programme personnel within the framework of Interpeace, including programme managers and senior programme advisors
Delivers all activities and achievement of results in annual workplan for country programme
Qualifications:
Education
Advanced degree in peace-related studies, social or political science or other relevant fields
Experience
Five to Seven years of experience in peacebuilding, political and/or developmental work with increasing management responsibility
Experience in the Somali region desirable
Demonstrated effectiveness and substantial experience with short and long-term planning; financial, personnel and program management.
Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution/Peacebuilding, advocacy, partnership management, proposal writing and programme management
Developed ability of raising the profile of an organization, strategically networking with government agencies, donors and other international agencies, and using the media to generate profile
Competencies
Advanced knowledge of current thinking on peacebuilding issues and methods; and demonstrable ability to anticipate emerging needs and integrate them swiftly into priority programme setting
Well established and practiced organizational and planning skills; and extensive knowledge and experience of project cycle management including using project planning and management tools
Strong commitment to supporting local peacebuilding initiatives and to the values and working principles of Interpeace
Strong writing and communications skills in English; Arabic is an asset
Interpeace Competencies
Collaboration and Weaving
Communication
Drive for results
Adaptability and Continuous Learning
Respect for Diversity
Success factors
Strong commitment to supporting local peacebuilding initiatives and to the values and working principles of Interpeace
Excellent social and inter-cultural skills, outstanding communication skills to a variety of stakeholders from different backgrounds
Creative team player with a commitment to inclusiveness and consensus building
Exceptional skills in coordinating complex and sensitive processes and designing participatory processes
Balanced and calm personality with tact and a high adaptation capacity
Identifies with and is committed to Interpeace’s core values and working principles
A strategic manager who is accountable, leads by example, mentors and empowers a team and works to create work-life balance
Interpeace values diversity among its staff and aims at achieving greater gender parity in all levels of its work. We welcome applications from women and men, including those with disabilities.
