Introduction

Organization for Welfare and Development in Action (OWDA) was established in December 1999 to help provide humanitarian assistance to the affected population. OWDA started its operation by providing relief programs aimed at supporting the most vulnerable segment of the people. However, the organization reshaped its strategic focus to go for long-term development programs intended to strengthen local capacity to bring about durable solutions for the marginalized pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in the Somali region of Ethiopia. OWDA’s main thematic programing are Health and Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH), Education, Food Security and Livelihood and cross cutting issues including social accountability (SA), gender equality and protection.

Overall purpose of the role:

The SA project coordinator (PC) is stationed in Gode, Somali region where the project is operating. S/He is responsible for overall coordination, planning & budgeting, implementation and quality assurance of the project in the intervention woredas. S/he is accountable to the MA for the overall functioning of the project, including the activities undertaken with partners, and the financial management.

Main tasks of the PC:

• Follow-up and implement directives and guidelines of the project management team as per the contract with the MA – ensure that new MA directives are shared with and understood by the partners and all project team members;

• Ensure full adherence/compliance to MA new directives and guidelines during project implementation;

• Lead the project team in activity planning and budget forecasting – so that every team member understands the project activities, the resources available and how to account for these;

• Provide technical, organizational and coaching support to all the WSAEs (including those employed by partners) – facilitate and monitor their active collaboration with FTA/PFM, woreda administration, sector offices and council, citizens and their organizations, in particular women and vulnerable groups;

• Support and mobilize sub-partners and WSACs for meaningful involvement in project planning and implementation;

• Together with the M&E officer, provide training to WSAEs and enumerators on data collection and uploading;

• Coordinate CRC pre-survey activities across the woredas;

• Lead the cluster level CRC survey process and ensure cluster level CRC reports and woreda level JAPs according to MA’s guidance; coordinate the activities of project staff, including GSIE, M&E officers and WSAEs;

• Ensure CRC survey data collection is conducted in accordance with the MA guidance and standards;

• Oversee project implementation and fund allocation and expenditures; the preparation and submission of narrative and financial reports to the MA as per the grant agreement and operational manual - follow-up timely disbursement of the project funds;

• Together with other PCs and the MA, prepare ESAP grantee participation in the regional FTA-SA partnership meetings for sector responsiveness, policy dialogue, and SA systems development – debrief the project team and follow-up activities agreed in these meetings;

• Establish partnerships with local media to promote SA;

• Ensure organization of monitoring visits, either planned by the MA or requested by government, development partners por other stakeholders – participate   in such visits;

• Participate in and provide input to learning and capacity development events organized by the MA with the federal/regional governments and relevant sector ministries/ bureaus – actively share learning with the project team and follow-up on agreed actions;

• Liaise with regional, zonal and woreda sector bureaus and departments on SA project matters including submitting progress reports as required;

• Strictly observe and support project staff members to comply with safety precautions in times of public health events, such as COVID-19, natural disasters and other security situations as per set standards and guidelines;    

• Follow-up and coordinate timely auditing and close-out of the ESAP3 project grant contract.

Required number: 1

Job Requirements

Minimum qualifications and skills:

• BA in social studies, development studies, economics or related field  

• Three years project management experience

• Some SA or local governance experience, or similar, required

• Strong facilitation skills

• Strong determination to promote gender equality

• Good knowledge and experience on local and regional government operational systems and procedures 

• Willingness to spend significant time in the woredas – a minimum of 20% travel is expected, and sometimes significantly more.

• Fluency in the local language (Somali) is mandatory in addition to English

• Workable knowledge and respect for the culture and norms of the project area.

• Female candidates are encouraged to apply

How to Apply

The closing date for the application is July 22, 2022. Qualified candidates should submit their application with this email address abdikadira@owdaeth.org Please state the position in the subject line during sending the email.