Position: Project Development Officer

Department: Project Development Unit

Location: Mogadishu

Direct Hierarchy: Project Development Manager

Starting date: March 2024

Background on ACTED

Created in 1993, ACTED is an international non-governmental organization pursuing a dual mandate of emergency response and development interventions in 40 of some of the world’s most vulnerable countries affected by conflicts, disasters, or socio-economic hardship. With a team of 7,000 national staff and 400 international staff, ACTED implements 500 projects a year to support more than 20 million beneficiaries, notably in hard-to-reach areas.

ACTED goes to the last mile through programs and approaches that look beyond the immediate emergency towards opportunities for longer term livelihood reconstruction and sustainable development. Guided by the motto “Think Local, Act Global” and its 3Zero –Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, and Zero Poverty – strategy, ACTED puts local territories at the centre and provides a tailored support to local needs.

ACTED is looking for professionally confident, self-motivated, experienced, and committed team player to fill the Project Development Officer position to based in Mogadishu.

Position Profile:

The Project Development Officer (PDO) contributes to the funding of Acted’s programming strategy in the Country. S/he ensures proper and qualitative grant management, including timely reporting of project achievements to donors. As well as facilitate internal coordination and communication and mentor a PDI/ PDA (if any). S/he also facilitates external communication under the projects to raise Acted’s profile and credibility with external stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Fundraising

• Context Analysis
• External relations
• Fundraising and proposal development
• Contracting
• Contribute to addressing in a timely manner all comments by donors on proposals in liaison with relevant staff in country and Acted HQ GMU and finance;
• Read thoroughly all contracts before signature, seeking Acted HQ GMU and finance advice when required.

2. Grant Management

2.1 Contract follow-up

• Ensure that contractual obligations (including visibility requirements) and reporting deadlines are known and met by Programme, MOGADISHU and FLATS team;
• When any issue is identified in meeting deliverables in the given timeframe and budget, inform relevant staff in country and seek Acted HQ Program Department advice on potential solutions that would meet donor rules.

2.2.Reporting

• Participate in and take minutes of kick-off and close out meetings for each project
• Write quality narrative reports, reflecting the progress and status of projects in a transparent, timely and professional manner, in liaison with Acted HQ GMU and finance, which will contribute ultimately to steady cash inflow.
• Work in close relation with MEAL to incorporate AME data (incl. data on input, process, output, outcome and impact indicators, lessons learnt and best practices) in reports and review M&E reports from MEAL;
• Liaise with FLATS teams when preparing reports, especially with finance to ensure greater coherence between financial and narrative reports by crosschecking the matching of data in the narrative and financial reports;
• Contribute to the monthly update of the Reporting Follow Up (RFU) and ensure smooth and regular communication with Acted HQ GMU.
• Ensure ad hoc requests from donors are addressed in liaison with the CD, programme and support teams;Partner Follow-up
• Liaise with partners when required to develop relevant grant agreements in close coordination with Acted HQ GMU and finance;
• Ensure partners report to Acted in a timely and qualitative manner as per the requirements of the grant agreement.

Management and Internal Coordination

3.1. Staff Management (if any)

• Manage a Project Development Intern and/or Assistant(s) if any, following up the work plans and day-to-day activities.
• Mentor the PDI and/ or PDA with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity.

3.2. Internal Coordination and Communication

• Facilitate interdepartmental communication and information sharing from the Base, to the Area, Capital, and even up to the regional and HQ offices by taking minutes of the various Acted coordination meetings
• Ensure these meeting minutes are sent monthly to HQ;
• Keep Acted HQ GMU and finance updated on latest developments, opportunities and challenges so that GMU can best advice on the way forward.

3.3. Filing

• File properly contractual project documents both in hard and soft copies;
• Regularly update the Resource Centre at the office with appropriate and relevant external and internal resources.

External Communication

• Contribute to Acted external communication strategy by feeding regularly Acted HQ
• Communication Department with informal updates on projects, a flash news, pictures, articles on projects progress and/or specific events for Acted communication tools, including, but not limited to, Acted Newsletter, websites and Acted Annual Report;
• Ensure the update and design of in country communication and visibility tools and publications, their dissemination and availability to Acted teams, as well as the capitalization of media and pictures of the mission.

Perform other tasks and responsibilities as requested.

Qualifications/Skills Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as development studies, international relations, economics, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience (at least 1 year) in humanitarian sector
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Editorial skills and ability to write a large number of documents in English.
• Knowledge in project management cycle and humanitarian sector in general.
• Knowledge of donor requirements and regulations related to project implementation and reporting.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in challenging and resource-constrained environments.