Job Purpose

•  Country Director oversees the implementation of ISF country programmes at represents ISF at the country level.

 Core Functions:

• Represent ISF at the country level, developing strategic relations in line with ISF’s programme goal and strategic objectives, and act as a spokesperson for the country operation.

• Lead programme planning, development, monitoring and reporting at the country level.

• Lead ISF’s partnerships at the country level, including the selection of partners, relationship management, and project oversight and support functions.  

• Lead institutional fund-raising efforts at the country level, incl. developing donor relations, identifying funding opportunities, and coordinating funding submissions locally. 

Represent ISF in the country of operation:

• Represent ISF and ensure that it is allowed to operate in the country, incl. registration and obtaining other necessary permits.  

• Lead the start of ISF programme in Ethiopia, including the acquisition and equipment of office space, recruitments, contacts with the authorities and the start of program activities.

• Lead the Country Team and act as a supervisor to team members, including staff development and performance management.  

• Develop relations with key stakeholders to support ISF programme implementation, institutional fund raising and cooperation with local authorities.

• Represent ISF in relevant networks, forums and interactions with local authorities, civil society actors and other key stakeholders.

• Act as a spokesperson for the country operation.

• Coordinate ISF communications and private sector fundraising requirements in the field.

• Be responsible for the security and safety of ISF staff in the country of operation as per ISF Security Policy.

 Programme management:

• Lead programme planning at the country level, in line with ISF strategy and programme priorities, incl. the preparation of country programmes, annual plans and annual budgets.

• Monitor and report on programme implementation at the country level and changes in the operating environment, incl. preparation of narrative and financial reports.

• Oversee risk management at the county level, including maintaining risk management plans.

• Oversee the financial management of the country operation, including budgeting, financial monitoring and reporting.

• Ensure compliance with relevant national legislation and ISF rules, regulations and policies.

• Ensure that adequate financial controls are in place and implemented.

• Oversee cash management, including preparation of installment requests and administration of bank accounts, operational advances, petty cash and other payments.  

• Support programme and project evaluations and ensure an adequate communication and follow-up on M&E findings.

• Promote practices that encourage learning and innovation in the country programme, including sharing of best practices and lessons learned between partners and across countries.

• Lead capacity building efforts at the country level, incl. identification of training needs and opportunities for ISF staff and partners.

 Partnership management:

• Lead the selection of implementing partners and be responsible for partnership management.

• Oversee project planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, including the preparation of project agreements, plans, budgets, as well as narrative and financial reports.

• Support capacity building and networking of partners.

Institutional fund raising:

• Develop relations with key institutional donors at the county level.

• Identify funding opportunities within country of operation.

• Develop local consortiums and concepts for institutional fund raising.

• Coordinate funding submissions locally with implementing partners and other members of funding consortiums.

Reporting to: Programme Director

Key relationships:  ISF country teams, Programme Team, implementing partners, donors, local authorities

International Solidarity Foundation

The International Solidarity Foundation (ISF) is a Finnish development NGO established in 1970. ISF aims at creating a world where women and girls are empowered to build their own future, their self-determination is fully realised, and their right to bodily integrity is respected. Its vision is to “be a pathfinder in empowering women and girls in East Africa by 2030”.

The goal of ISF’s 2022 – 2025 programme is to strengthen the bodily integrity and livelihood resilience of women and girls in Kenya, Somaliland, Puntland, and Ethiopia. It has five expected outcomes

• Judicial and moral duty bearers take action to mitigate violence against    women and girls 

• Women and girls collectively claim their rights

• Women's sphere of influence has expanded

• Women benefit from services and networks that support livelihood reform 

• Improved capacity of farm systems to mitigate and adapt to climate change 

The programme consists of long-term development projects that are implemented by local partners. Partners are local civil society actors such as NGOs, community-based organizations, and women’s own businesses. Partners have the primary responsibility to plan, implement, and monitor the projects. ISF works closely with partners to find solutions to local problems in a systemic way. It strengthens their capacity to learn and innovate and supports them to mainstream gender equality and women’s empowerment in their work. ISF monitors projects closely to ensure that funds are used for their intended purpose and necessary adjustments made.

 ISF’s operating model is designed to strengthen local civil societies by empowering women and their organizations, capacitating judicial and moral duty bearers, and strengthening local CSOs. Learning and innovation are at the heart of the model.

ISF’s annual budget in 2023 will be some 4 million euros. Its main donor is the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland. Other current key donors include the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Somaliland) and the EU (Kenya), as well as thousands of Finnish private individuals. Country offices are closely involved in institutional fundraising. 

ISF headquarters is in Helsinki, Finland, where in addition to the programme team, the communications and fundraising teams operate. ISF has country offices in each programme country. 

Ethiopia is a new programme country for ISF. The Somali region was selected as ISF’s target area. Initially, ISF wanted to start operations in 2022 but the plans were delayed because of the armed conflict and delays with the registration process. Finally in October 2022, ISF received a formal approval to start operations in the country. It is now preparing for the recruitment of a local team. The team will be led by a locally recruited Country Director and include a Finance and Admin Coordinator (both based in Addis Ababa) and two thematic coordinators based in the Somali region.

ISF will publish a call for local partners in early 2023 to implement projects in the Somali region. The preliminary country programme includes four projects, which will be planned with the newly selected partners during 2023. The projects will address the above-mentioned five programme outcomes with a particular focus on the prevention of FGM. The implementation of the projects will begin in 2024. The indicative country budget is 430,000 euros in 2023, gradually increasing to 800,000 euros by the end of the current programme period in 2025.  

More information about the requirements of the job

ISF has no presence or experience of operating in Ethiopia, and therefore no office nor existing partners or projects in the country. The Country Director together with the Finance and Admin Coordinator will start operations from scratch, including recruitment of a local team and selecting local implementing partners in the Somali region, and taking care of all administrative arrangements for starting a country operation, such as finding offices, setting up banking and accounting systems, acquiring necessary equipment (laptops, telephones) etc., as well as taking care of all requirements with the local authorities. This requires a great capacity to take initiative and work independently with limited support from HQs, good problem-solving skills, and an ability to tolerate incompleteness. Previous experience from similar situations and good networks are an advantage

The Country Director, reporting to the Programme Director in Finland, has the main responsibility for starting operations in Ethiopia. She/he is responsible for ensuring that all national regulatory requirements are considered when starting operations. She/he will have key role in setting up field office, recruiting Thematic Coordinators and in the local partner selection process in Somali region. She/he will oversee project planning and implementation. ISF headquarters and other country offices will  support the processes, including through visits to Ethiopia.

After the start of operations, the Country Director leads the design, development and implementation of the ISF programme in Ethiopia. In addition, she/he is responsible for relations with the authorities, local implementing partners, as well as current and potential donors. Previous experience of the main themes of the ISF programme, women’s right to bodily integrity and economic empowerment, will be an advantage at work. 

Job Requirements

Required Skills and Experience

• Due to the goal of ISF program and strategic vision, priority will be given to female applicants

Education

• Appropriate Master’s Degree.

 General

• At least 5 years’ experience from a senior management position in an international NGO. experience in leading a country operation and/or setting up a new country operation are considered advantages.

• At least 10 years’ experience in the development/humanitarian sector related to programme and/or project management (planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting)    

• Experience and a good track record in institutional fund raising

• Knowledge of relevant national and local policies, actors and networks in the country of employment

• Ability to facilitate and promote discussion, learning, and innovation

• Good skills in Office software packages, especially Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams etc.)

• Women’s rights

• Experience and passion in the promotion of women’s rights

• Connections/relations to key international FGM/GBV actors/donors in Ethiopia

Personal qualities

• Ability to take initiative and work independently with limited support from supervisor

• Ability to lead and support his/her team so that individual employees flourish

• Good planning and organizational skills

• Good networking skills

• Ability to travel regularly inside the country of employment and within East Africa 

Language requirements

• Excellent written and oral English skills

• Good knowledge of other relevant languages in the country of employment

How to Apply

Submit your CV via email: isf@ethiojobs.net