Saferworld Adviser, Advocacy and Communications in Somalia/Somaliland

Adviser, Advocacy and Communications – Somalia/Somaliland

Location:
Nairobi, Kenya with frequent trips to Somalia/Somaliland

Reporting to:
Programme Manager – Somalia/Somaliland

Key Relationships:
Internal: Somalia/land Programme staff, Head of Kenya and Horn of Africa Programme; Policy, Advocacy and Communications staff (London and Brussels) External: Non-State Actor Platforms; key donor and international agencies

Salary range:
3,547,800 – 4,506,388 Kenya Shillings gross per annum

Description of Saferworld and Somalia/Somaliland programme: Saferworld is an independent non-governmental organisation that works to prevent and reduce violent conflict and promote cooperative approaches to security. We work with civil society, governments and international organisations to encourage and support effective policies and practices through advocacy, research and policy development, and through supporting the development of local capacities and structures.

Saferworld has well-established programmes in Kenya, Uganda, Somalia/land and Sudan. In addition, Saferworld supports regional and international conflict prevention and security processes. Saferworld headquarters are in London, with a regional office for Kenya and the Horn of Africa in Nairobi. The Somalia/land programme is managed from Saferworld’s Nairobi office with plans to establish an office in Somaliland in the near future.

Saferworld’s programme of work in Somalia/land has several components. The first aims to strengthen the participation of Somali Non-State Actors (NSAs) in decision-making on peace, security and development. Key themes in this project are participatory decision-making, inclusiveness and capacity building of ‘platform’ structures so that they more effectively channel NSA voices in policy dialogues. The second component targets international actors and uses routine analysis of conflict and governance trends in Somalia as a means to engage key actors whether in terms of technical support or policy dialogue on conflict sensitivity issues. A third developing programme area is security and justice. This programme theme is under development but will build on past work on bottom-up approaches to community safety, police reform and high-level security management in Somaliland. Finally, Saferworld is now prioritising its advocacy efforts in its three-year Somalia strategy. In the future Saferworld’s Somalia programme will continue to build on lessons learned from programming and support to partners, but will prioritise effective delivery of advocacy on issues of governance and peacebuilding, aid effectiveness in fragile and conflict-affected environments, and security and justice.

Job Purpose:

The primary purpose of this role is to support Saferworld’s Somalia/Somaliland programme by developing evidence-based advocacy and communication strategies and materials and to support Saferworld partners, particularly three Somali non-state actor platforms, in this regard.”

Key areas of responsibility:

1: Context analysis and strategy development

2: Policy development

3: Advocacy, communications and external representation

4: Support to programme implementation

1. Organisational and people management

Duties:

1: Context analysis and strategy development • In collaboration with the Programme Adviser and others, regularly analyse the political context in Somalia/land and in the international community to identify advocacy issue that can be raised at an international level • Lead the development and implementation of Saferworld’s Somalia/land advocacy strategy • Contribute to the development of other strategies relevant to Somalia/land across the organisation

2: Policy development Work with other programme staff and those in Saferworld’s Policy, Advocacy and Communications divisions to • Identify policy development opportunities at the international level and to undertake policy analysis • Prepare regular policy briefings on key issues for internal and external use • Support lesson learning between Saferworld’s country programmatic work and Saferworld’s policy/advocacy programme globally

3: Advocacy, communications and external representation In collaboration with other Somalia/land programme staff and Saferworld’s global Policy and Advocacy and Communications team, as appropriate: • Coordinate advocacy towards targeted international actors working in Somalia/land and the region • Liaise on a regular basis with the Saferworld London and Brussels offices to develop and refine advocacy initiatives • Support the development of Saferworld’s international advocacy work where it relates to Saferworld’s Somalia/land programme work or touches on relevant thematic areas • Represent Saferworld at external meetings, including Nariobi- and Somalia/land- based civil society forums, to promote global advocacy messages and lessons learned from Saferworld’s Somalia/land programming • Develop constructive relationships and strengthen coordination with other international actors (governmental and NGO) engaged in Somalia/land, including through the development of communications materials • Lead on developing publications, website and other content on Somalia/land in line with Saferworld’s global strategies; support staff based in other offices to produce materials related to Somalia/land • Support Saferworld’s M&E processes at global, regional and national level, with particular emphasis on M&E of advocacy related work • Lead on developing templates and working processes on advocacy, communications, and M&E of advocacy

4: Support to programme implementation • Support programme staff to build the capacity of partners on advocacy, research and communications, including through providing close technical support, facilitating the development and regular review of partner advocacy strategies and assisting partners to develop effective systems and processes for advocacy and communications • Support and advise partners on advocacy at the international level • Maintain good relations with Saferworld partner organisations as well as other relevant actors, including the EU and donor governments • Contribute to Somalia/land programme reporting and information materials as appropriate • Coordinate Saferworld’s research on Somalia/land

1. Organisational and people management • Develop an effective working relationship with the Somalia Programme team based on a clear understanding of respective roles, as well as a collaborative approach PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential requirements:
• A Masters’ degree in a relevant subject (e.g. peace/conflict studies, development, governance, international relations) or equivalent professional experience • A minimum of 5 years’ experience working on advocacy and/or communications with governments or NGOs • Excellent writing skills and the ability to write various types of documents including articles, press statements, position papers, information materials, proposals and donor reports • Proven track record of influencing donors and other international actors on issues related to governance, peace and conflict • Experience working with local civil society organisations to strengthen their capacity and opportunities to engage in dialogue/advocacy with policymakers • Experience of working in complex and politically sensitive contexts, and excellent political judgement • Ability to work in a non-partisan manner, sensitive to ethnic and cultural differences • A team player: able to demonstrate a constructive, cooperative and problem-solving approach; • Excellent written and spoken English • A flexible and dynamic approach to work Desirable requirements: • Strong general research skills • Understanding of Somali political and cultural dynamics • Knowledge of key policy issues relevant to Saferworld’s work in Somalia/land (e.g. democratisation, development, state-building, security sector reform, peace and conflict theory, humanitarian aid, and/or aid effectiveness • Willingness to travel frequently to the Somali regions (security permitting) • Knowledge of the Somali language TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Annual salary range: KS 3,547,800 – 4,506,388 gross per annum

Leave entitlement: 28 days

How to apply: 

To apply please send a full CV and covering letter detailing how you meet the selection criteria to Marie Aziz atrecruitment@saferworld.org.uk. Please use subject heading SAA. We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.