Country Lead

Country: Somalia/Somaliland 

Location: Mogadishu with visits to Raagsan’s other offices.

Salary: A starting salary range of USD 48,000–54,000 per annum (depending on experience)

‍Job Type: Full-time permanent 

Working Times/Zones: 40 hours per week, Eastern Africa Time.

Travel Required: Some travel for meetings within Somalia and Kenya may be required.

‍Management Responsibilities

Reports to: Global Loop Lead

Direct reports: Senior Moderators and Partnerships and Community Engagement Lead.

Indirect relationships: Sensitive Feedback Lead, User Experience and Quality Assurance Lead, Technology Lead, among others.

Company Overview

Talk to Loop is a feedback and reporting mechanism driving inclusive community engagement, transparency and accountability for the efficacy of aid provision, disaster management, prevention and early warning, as well as for the safe reporting of SEA, GBV, fraud, corruption, and misconduct, among other things. 

To understand what Talk to Loop is, our mission and our way of working please visit our resource page where you will find all the information you need on our unique approach. To get the details on the job opening and the application process, continue reading. 

Role Overview

As the In-Country Lead at Loop, you will be responsible for leading the rollout and scale-up of Loop as a collective feedback and safe reporting mechanism across all parts of Somalia. You will provide strategic direction and operational management of the team behind the platform within your designated country of operation. You will lead and manage a large country team of Moderators, Sensitive Feedback Moderators, Senior Moderators, Partnerships and Community Engagement Lead, all based in Somalia/Somaliland, to ensure the effective implementation of Loop's mission and objectives at the grassroots level. Your role involves coordinating with various stakeholders at all levels and driving continuous improvement and uptake to maximise impact of the information that communities share.

Expected Tasks

Country Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, motivate, and manage Loop Somalia/Somaliland, to maximise the use and effectiveness of the Talk to Loop platform on behalf of communities.

• Provide guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to team members to enhance their skills and performance.

• Foster a collaborative and supportive work environment that promotes feedback, teamwork, innovation, and accountability across all of Loop.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Loop's initiatives in Somalia, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and objectives.

• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to spread the use of the Talk to Loop platform across the country and to increase its impact for at risk communities.

• Integrate in local and national working groups, consortium meetings and other relevant forums to raise the profile of Loop and the need for accountability in the humanitarian and development sectors. Use this network and information to propose platform design and process improvements to the Loop team, with an objective of increasing the potential for impact for communities.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local communities, partner organisations, government agencies, donors, INGOs, Agencies, technical specialists and other relevant stakeholders to promote the resulting data on Loop, to increase response rates, to integrate data and messaging where appropriate to influence decision making based on communities experiences.

• Identify opportunities for collaboration, resource mobilisation, and efficiencies to enhance the sustainability and impact of the platform including possible joint projects.

• Lead on the establishment and effective running of a quarterly Steering Group with strong representation from key stakeholders nationally. Using this group to build scale, trust and identify and address opportunities and risks nationally for the platform.

• Must work closely with Loop’s partner Raagsan, donors, Clusters, Minority Rights and Disabled groups as well as the Somali NGO Forum among others.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Work closely with the User Experience and Quality Assurance Lead to develop and implement robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track platform performance, outcomes, and impact on an ongoing basis. 

• Utilise data and feedback to identify areas for improvement of the platform communications, engagement and wider sector. 

• Use the data to inform decision-making processes both within and external to Loop, which are aimed at enhancing communities' Agency and the effectiveness, impact and relevance of support/ Aid.

Sensitive Feedback Management

• Collaborate with both the Global and Country Sensitive Feedback Leads to establish and maintain effective mechanisms for gathering and addressing sensitive feedback from community members. 

• Engage with stakeholders to increase relevant, safe and timely responses from organisations to survivors and authors, for both accountability and assistance referrals and the aggregate anonymised data.

• Ensure that all reported feedback containing sensitive feedback are handled promptly, sensitively, and in accordance with established protocols and ethical standards.

Communications, Reporting and Documentation

• Prepare regular reports, updates, and documentation on country progress, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned for internal and external stakeholders, including donors.

• Ensure timely and accurate reporting in compliance with organisational policies and donor requirements.

• Contribute to contextualising, testing and sharing communications about Loop with the community and other actors, including reviewing and approving Loop and other joint awareness campaigns with partners. 

Necessary Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., international development, social sciences, management) or equivalent work experience.

• Proven experience in program management, team leadership, and/or community development, within the humanitarian or development sector. Experience applying for, delivering on and reporting against large scale programs.

• Strong understanding and engagement in systems discussions related to feedback, monitoring and evaluation, safeguarding and accountability to affected populations theory and methodologies, and experience in designing and implementing MEAL frameworks.

• A strong network within the national ecosystem of Aid, including humanitarian, development, peace building, civil society etc. Including a knowledge of key actors and stakeholders across different spaces and sectors.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to recruit, lead and motivate teams, foster a culture of collaboration and innovation, and support your team to achieve results in complex and challenging environments. Including, a demonstrated experience in managing poor performance effectively.

• Sound analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyse data, identify trends, and make evidence-based decisions.

• Proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required, Maxatiri (spoken and written)  preferred. Other Somali languages are highly desirable. 

Personal Attributes

• A strong ethos and passion for humanitarian and development work and committed to promoting accountability, transparency, and community centred approaches.

• Resilient, adaptable, and able to work effectively under pressure in fast-paced and dynamic environments.

• Ethical and principled, with a strong commitment to upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability in all aspects of work.

• Empathetic and culturally sensitive, with the ability to engage with diverse communities and navigate complex social and cultural dynamics.

• Proactive, self-motivated, and results-oriented, with a strong drive for continuous learning and professional growth.

Note

As the In-Country Lead at Loop, you will play a crucial role in driving positive change and making a meaningful impact on both the communities we serve and the organisation as a whole. By providing strategic leadership and operational oversight, you will contribute to the centering of local communities, promoting accountability and transparency, and the improvement of humanitarian and development outcomes. Your efforts will help to ensure that Loop's platform is effectively implemented, responsive to community needs, integrated with other systems and approaches and sustainable in the long term. Join us in our mission to revolutionise accountability and work collaboratively to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Why choose Talk to Loop?

At Loop, we are all about feedback. We have high ambitions and are continually striving to get there, learning from all involved as we go.  We are built on strong principles of Decentralised, Open and Transparent systems. We are exploring how to bring the changes we want to help create in the wider world into our charity.  

If you want to be part of a globally dispersed team, thrive on change and learning, and believe in your core that we can do more if we listen and learn from others, then we would love to hear from you.

The way we work doesn’t suit everyone. But if you’re an enthusiastic person who’s passionate about our mission, and keen for more freedom and autonomy, then we could be a perfect match. We love to see applications from people with transferable skills, who are looking for opportunities to contribute and grow and make a real difference. 

Our Commitment to Inclusion and Safeguarding

Loop is committed to creating an inclusive and safe working environment. As part of our safeguarding policy, all candidates will be required to undergo comprehensive background checks. Roles are dependent on donor funding, and employment will be subject to the continuation of such funding.

We highly encourage applications from diverse backgrounds as such unique experiences and perspectives are invaluable to our mission of shifting power and promoting local agency.

Loop is dedicated to ensuring that our team reflects the communities we serve and supports a culture of equity, inclusion, and respect.

Our Commitment to Collaboration and Wellbeing

At Loop, each team member is entrusted with significant responsibility and is empowered to collaborate with others to achieve the strategic goals of their role, thus contributing to Loop’s overall mission. We believe in fostering a culture of trust, accountability, and mutual respect, where everyone's contributions are valued and recognised. We strive to provide an enabling work environment so you can feel safe, supported and empowered in your work. An outstanding work ethic and a commitment to self-care are prerequisites for success at Loop, as we understand that supporting our team members' wellbeing is essential for achieving our goals.

Join Our Mission

If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and amplifying the voices of communities worldwide, we invite you to join us. Together, we can reimagine accountability, build trust, and create positive change that benefits everyone.

To apply, complete THIS APPLICATION FORM 

• Pre-employment checks will include references and background verification.

• The deadline for receiving applications is 20th February 2024. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so candidates are encouraged to apply promptly. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Talk to Loop's ability to help those in need relies on our staff's professional and ethical conduct. During recruitment, we will ask if you have ever been accused, investigated, or disciplined for misconduct. We understand that allegations can be false, investigations may find no wrongdoing, and some issues may be minor. However, please be transparent about any such matters. Pre-employment checks will be required for the role. Loop is a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request references from former employers.