I. General Information

Post/Title: Senior Communication Specialist

Positions Type: Diaspora expert

Duty Station: Mogadishu, FGS Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MOECHE)

Duration of Assignment: 12 months

Deadline for applications: 1 July 2023

II. Background Information

About the MIDA FINNSOM III, Health and Education Project

The past decades have seen continued migration from various African countries, causing a “brain drain” that has debilitated various public sector systems across the continent. Through the IOM Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) programme, Somali diaspora professionals have supported institutional capacity building, service delivery, and policy development of health and education institutions across Somalia since 2015.

The MIDA FINNSOM PHASE III – Health & Education project – contributes to strengthening the Health and Education sectors in Somalia towards achieving specific priorities in the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) and the Essential Package for Health Services (EPHS), as prioritized and outlined by the government. The project aims to do so by engaging and enhancing the role of qualified Somali diaspora experts willing to temporarily return to their country of origin. In particular, through assignments within key ministries and public institutions (including hospitals and universities), Somali diaspora experts contribute addressing gaps and enhancing strengths in the planning and delivery of health and education services, coherently with the needs identified through the dedicated baseline assessment conducted during the inception phase of the project. Furthermore, a component of the project is devoted toward contributing to the creation of stable and sustainable access to employment opportunities in the health and education sectors for local experts and interns, who will work in close coordination with the Somali diaspora experts – therefore reaping long-terms benefits of knowledge transfer, competencies sharing and skills development.

III. Duties & Responsibilities

The Federal Government of Somalia’s Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MOECHE), through the technical assistance provided by the IOM MIDA FINNSOM III Health and education project, seeks to build the skills of its senior communication specialist.

The selected candidate will play an integral role in working with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGoS), its Member States (MS), the Higher Education institution teams and other stakeholders to put into place a strategic communication plan for the Ministry. The selected candidate will be working under the direct supervision of the MoECHE’s Director General and will have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that aligns with the Ministry’s objectives and goals.
• Advise and support the Ministry’s communications team on best practices for developing and disseminating communication materials, including press releases, social media posts and website contents.
• Research and identify new and innovative communication methods and platforms to reach key audiences.
• Monitor and analyse communication metrics.
• Provide guidance on crisis communication planning and management.
• Provide clear technical support, capacity building and mentoring to the personnel of the Ministry of Education deployed in the MS, with a focus on the fundamental steps required to draft and implement a strategic communication plan.
• Actively seek out and promote formal and informal training for all staff in the Ministry of Education.
• Plan and coordinate social media campaigns for ongoing activities within the Ministry of Education.
• Liaise with all the MIDA education advisors to produce a quarterly report on key developments achieved by them.

The MoECHE Project Coordinator, the MoECHE M&E Specialist, and IOM’s project team will support this assignment through interaction with the qualified expatriate and beneficiary institution.

IV: Requirements:

Besides the specific outputs mentioned in section III, the MIDA FINNSOM III Heath and Education project is requiring the following deliverables to be submitted throughout the assignment. These are the standard requirements for all assignments under this project:

1. Transfer of skills: The main responsibility of the qualified Somali expatriate—which he/she will be measured against—will be to ensure continuous and systematic transfer of knowledge and skills as related to the assignment. It will have to be agreed with the beneficiary institution that staff will benefit from this knowledge.
2. Work plan: A work plan must be developed with the Supervisor during the first week of the assignment to provide clear and time-bound activities to successfully implement the outputs of the assignment. This work plan will be shared with the supervisor, MoECHE coordinator, MoECHE M&E Specialist and IOM project team. This work plan can be revised during the assignment to reflect on new developments or changes.
3. Quarterly and Final Reports: Quarterly progress reports will be submitted by the expert to the supervisor, MoECHE Coordinator, MoECHE M&E Specialist and IOM project team. At the end of the assignment, the participant must also provide a final report covering the duration of his/her assignment.
4. Exit interview: An exit interview will be conducted to ensure that a proper exit plan has been put in place to sustain the achievements, upon completion of the assignment.

V: Qualifications

Level of Education: Master’s degree in media, education, public relations, international relations or social science.

Bachelor’s degree in media, education, public relations, international relations or social science. A minimum of 5 years’ experience will be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree.

Area of Study: Media, education, public relations, international relations or social science.

Years of work experience in what area(s): At least 5 years of relevant work experience in communication and public relations, with a minimum of 3 years’ experience working with a governmental institutions, especially in the East and Horn of Africa.

Experience in developing communication strategies.

Knowledge of Somalia Education System, ESSP and Education Sector Coordination structures.

Languages needed:

• Fluent in English.
• Fluent in Somali.
• Arabic language will be an advantage.

General Skills / Other Requirements:

• Experience in safeguarding and feedback and complaints response mechanisms.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills.
• Demonstrable attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.
• Ability to work under pressure, problem solve and deliver results in a fast-changing environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communications skills.
• A full commitment to MOECHE’s core values.

VI: Subsistence Allowance

The monthly stipend amount will be determined by the MIDA FINNSOM III, Health and Education project, based on degree and years of relevant experience.