Cluster Support Specialist

Organizational Setting

The key mission of the FAO Representation in Somalia, which is led by FAO Representative (FAOR), is to assist and support the national government to develop policies, strategies and programme aimed at accelerating the Implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the area of FAO’s global mandate and Strategic Objectives. More specifically, FAO’s response aims to address national needs and priorities in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, developing agricultural, fishery and forestry sectors, and ensuring the sustainable use of environmental and natural resources and respond to recurrent emergencies. The current portfolio of activities of the FAO Representation in Somalia includes a wide scope of technical support interventions ranging from policy support through livestock and crop production, to natural resource management, Nutrition, value chain, food security analysis and water and land information management. FAO is also implementing several emergency, resilience-building, and development interventions, with the support of its five field offices and close to 400 staff in partnership with the Federal and State line ministries.

Reporting Lines

The position is under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Somalia, and the direct supervision of the Food Security Cluster (FSC) Coordinator.

Technical Focus

To provide comprehensive administrative, logistical, and programmatic support to the FSC coordination team, ensuring efficient and timely implementation of activities aimed at effectively coordinating efforts to save lives and livelihoods.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead the FSC localization strategy, advocating for the meaningful participation and empowerment of Local National Actors
• Develop and implement strategies to strengthen the capacity of local partners
• Conduct comprehensive Training Needs Assessments (TNA) to identify knowledge gaps, skill deficiencies, and capacity-building priorities for FSC partners.
• Engage in extensive field missions across Somalia to deliver tailored capacity-building activities and technical assistance to FSC partners
• Develop comprehensive training curricula and materials aligned with the evolving needs and priorities of cluster partners
• Establish and maintain a roster/database of all capacity building participants (including certified IPC practitioners)
• Facilitate FSC capacity-building workshops, seminars, and peer learning sessions and prepare budgets, venue bookings, prepare a list of workshop participants, prepare purchase requisitions,
• Conduct after-training evaluations and draft training reports for all completed training courses.
• Support for the FSC Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) and technical working groups
• Monitor and track progress of the implementation of FSC projects (including budget consumption)
• Draft FSC projects progress and final reports
• Develop the FSC annual procurement plans
• Lead the elections for key FSC governance and coordination bodies
• Administer the annual Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring (CCPM) survey
• Facilitate the smooth conduct of monthly FSC partners meetings by preparation of meeting agendas and coordination of logistics (venue, participants, refreshments etc.)
• Conduct regular reviews of the FSC's membership status
• Track and monitor FSC partners attendance at coordination meetings and other relevant forums
• Manage the FSC website in collaboration with the FSC IMO
• Draft the annual FSC newsletter and solicit input from the FSC coordination team and cluster partners
• Disseminate and circulate food security information, info graphs, documents, and bulletins to cluster partners and other key stakeholders.
• Support in maintaining and updating the FSC mailing list with support from the FSC IMO.
• Coordinate FSC SHF project reviews, evaluation and scoring through OCHA’s One Grant Management System (OneGMS)
• Conduct regular field missions to monitor the progress of ongoing FSC SHF projects
• Maintain an up-to-date portfolio of all FSC SHF partner projects (new and ongoing)
• Document lessons learnt and good practices from SHF and/or CERF projects
• Any other tasks that may be required (within reason) to achieve the objective of this assignment.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in food security, agriculture, agricultural economics, forestry, fisheries, natural resources, environmental sciences, social science, rural development, nutrition, business administration and management, development studies, international relations or other relevant discipline from a reputable Institution.
• At least 6 years of relevant experience with a first level degree, or 4 years of working experience with a master’s degree
• At least 4 years’ work experience in capacity development and planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of humanitarian/emergency food security and livelihoods programmes.
• Understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms (e.g. Humanitarian Programme Cycle, Central Emergency Response Fund and Country Based Pooled Funds).
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and Somali.
• National of Somalia.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in food security and livelihoods programme/project development, project operations, and administration.
• Extent and relevance of experience in capacity development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in drafting reports and meeting minutes.
• Experience working with UN agencies, other donor agencies, and/or non-governmental organizations.
• Experience of high-level coordination and facilitation of meetings.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop consensus and joint working.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Previous cluster experience or multi-stakeholder coordination experience (e.g. consortium) is desirable.
• Ability to work productively in a pressurized environment.
• Ability to identify and resolve problems expeditiously and pragmatically.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION