The UN Joint Programme for Local Governance and Decentralised Service Delivery (JPLG) is a five year programme implemented by the ILO, UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UNDP and UNCDF. Established in 2008, the programme is due to commence on its third phase (2018 – 2023) in July 2018. The objective of the programme is to contribute to the achievement, within Somalia and Somaliland, of local government institutions that advance peace and stability by effectively and accountably responding to the needs and rights of all Somali people. This is to be achieved through three outcomes: i) policy, legal and regulatory frameworks on local governance finalized; ii) local governments have the capacity to deliver equitable and sustainable services, promote economic development and peace; iii) local governments demonstrate improved engagement of citizens, with an emphasis on women and marginalized groups.

The programme is aligned to the United Nations Strategic Framework (UNSF) Outcome 2.3: Strengthened local governance through the provision of basic and public services will contribute to peace and stability, and the National Development Plan (NDP) Priority 2: Peace, Security and Rule of Law, and the Comprehensive Approach to Security (CAS). The programme places strong emphasis on gender and women in local governance, human rights and good governance principles of transparency, accountability and participation.

The ILO component in the JPLG covers supporting the establishment and strengthening of the capacity of local governments in Somalia for delivering equitable services in particular, for planning and managing public infrastructure service delivery for equitable access to social and economic amenities allowing the promotion of inclusive social and economic recovery and growth. The ILO also focuses on supporting local governments to create an enabling environment for and stimulate the recovery and revitalizing of their local economies and engagement of the private sector in service delivery. This entails working with the national, state and local governments to play their respective roles and responsibilities; as well as engagement and providing support towards the private sector, training institution/academia, non-state actors and communities.

Each participating UN agency has a Project Manager assigned to provide strategic direction, coordinate delivery with the partner agencies and ensure alignment, manage the implementation and be responsible for the results within the JP. A Programme Fund Management Unit (PFMU), headed by a Senior Programme Manager (SPM), coordinates the overall JP and all agencies, and manages day-to-day programme functions and operations. A Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising the Agency Project Managers form part of the PFMU and provides technical oversight.

The ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan (CO-Addis Ababa) requires the services of a Project Manager to manage and implement the ILO component of the JPLG. The Project Manager will be based in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Reporting lines: 

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the Director of the ILO Country Office in Addis Ababa. While the technical backstopping will be provided by DEVINVEST in ILO Headquarters, the Project Manager will also mobilize and obtain technical support from the Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWT) in Cairo and others as and when required.

The Project Manager will be responsible for the programme implementation, ensuring the timely and effective delivery of activities and outputs of the programme. Specifically, the Project Manager will perform the following duties:

Representation, leadership and strategic guidance

• Provide the ILO’s policy and strategic direction and guidance within the JPLG during the programme implementation.
• Work and coordinate with, and act as the liaison between the JPLG’s participating UN agencies and the PFMU, to ensure ILO mandate articulation, portfolio coherence and complementarity.
• Represent the ILO and work closely with the relevant national, state and local governments including all relevant technical and sectorial line ministries vis-à-vis the ILO component.
• Participate in and provide substantive contribution to technical working groups (TWG), inter-agency and donor meetings, high-level partner fora and missions.
• Effectively manage the ILO team recruited for the programme.

Programme Implementation and results-based management

• Ensure effective implementation of the programme by providing technical inputs, planning, administration, monitoring and evaluation of programme activities in accordance with applicable ILO rules and regulations as well as requirements set out in the programme document and agreements with the donors.
• Ensure conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, ILO programming guidelines and country/action programmes and Office procedures and practices.
• Cooperate closely with the concerned government(s) at federal and local levels, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and other relevant organizations and institutions (where appropriate), target groups and donors, in the planning and implementation of activities, as required by the JPLG.
• Develop and oversee implementation of partnership agreements with government and non-governmental, inter-UN agency, local institutions and private sector service providers; monitor and review delivery to ensure performance and relevance.
• Organise regular stakeholder consultations, meetings and workshops; prepare and present agenda, background papers, briefings and presentations; act as facilitator, prepare proceedings and reports.
• Effectively allocate and manage the ILO budget, allocate funds, approve and track expenditure, oversee implementation to ensure delivery of results against the JP results framework.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of regular progress reports by the programme staff, and prepare consolidated status and technical reports as required.

• Keep abreast of technical issues related to the mandate and themes of the ILO and the implementation of the JP, programme delivery approaches and operational matters and advise team, JP partners and management accordingly.
• Work with Technical Experts to support national partners undertake policy, institutional and technical reviews and reforms including the revision, harmonisation and development of legal, institutional and regulatory structures and instruments. Manage implementation with national and local partners ensuring approach, tools and practices are fit for purpose and context, are effective and responsive to needs and conform to programme and budget objectives.
• Support the organizational fundraising actions by maintaining regular contact with donor representatives and when required submit programme funding submissions and concept notes in collaboration with ILO–Addis Ababa, Regional Office for Africa and Partnerships and Field Support Department (PARDEV) in Geneva.
• Work closely with relevant ILO Headquarters technical units, including DEVINVEST, and specialists in DWT-Cairo, to ensure effective technical support, coordination and collaboration for maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the programme implementation.
• In collaboration with ILO Department of Communications (DCOMM), ensure ILO visibility where appropriate, especially where results are being achieved, for the further development of resource mobilisation ensuring that the impact of the ILO components within JPLG are acknowledged and further developed.

Advocacy, knowledge management and sharing

• Ensure proper knowledge management throughout the JPLG implementation, including the identification, collection, organization and analysis of existing knowledge and baseline data relevant to the programme, and effective information sharing with the programme stakeholders and beneficiaries.
• Promote the development of knowledge and information sharing products and tools and mechanism for sharing to facilitate institutional and technical learning and uptake internally and within programme partners and stakeholders.
• Manage the development and publication of guidelines, tools and training material.

Advanced university degree in public administration, business administration, economics, planning, political science or related social science fields.

At least seven years of professional experience related to development cooperation project or programme management and/or co-ordination of complex multi-sector programmes or projects, and at least five years at international level. Work experience in directly managing programming in the field with at least one UN agency or organization.

Experience working in conflict/post conflict environments would be an advantage.

Excellent command of English.

• Demonstrates integrity and respect for UN and ILO standards at all times and model the UN’s and ILO’s values and ethical standards.
• Advocates and promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN and the ILO.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability as well as non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.
• Ability to develop clear strategic goals and strategic planning, excellent management and leadership skills.
• Ability to promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of office management procedures, practices and methods.
• Ability to plan and organise work.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including the ability to write accurate reports. Ability to negotiate.
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team and ability to work under pressure.
• Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standards.
• Discretion, sound judgement and diplomacy.
• Ability to represent the Organization. Ability to prepare and deliver speeches on various activities of the organization.
• Ability to advocate and communicate effectively and facilitate peer management for results.
• Ability to drive results-based management with:
  • Capability to ensure that impact measurement is undertaken (beyond immediate results frameworks)
  • Proven marketing competence to enhance ILO’s image and knowledge of ILO’s presence and delivery.

• Respect for others with ability to work in open, matrix management style sharing and receiving positive criticism and ensuring the overall ILO delivery of results.