Background of Somalia NGO Consortium

The Somalia NGO Consortium (SNC) is a mechanism that brings together local and international NGOs working in Somalia to encourage information sharing, cooperation, coordination and joint advocacy in order to improve the lives of Somalis affected by conflict, natural disasters and poverty. The Consortium aims to facilitate a more coherent NGO voice and assist NGO members to channel their concerns and suggestions to appropriate decision makers in the most effective format. Having already established itself in Mogadishu, Nairobi, Garowe and Hargeisa to better serve the needs of members in their various locations.

Overall objective

SNC is seeking applications from qualified and talented candidates for the position of Advocacy and Communication Specialist, based in Mogadishu, Somalia with at least 50% travel. The Specialist will be responsible for working with consortium members to identify and advocate on key issues of concern for national and international NGOs, leading related communication and information initiatives to ensure that the collective interests of consortium members are represented to influence key decision-makers. S/he will lead the development of advocacy and communications products and liaise with the media on a regular basis. The Advocacy and Communication Specialist should strive to understand the context in which NGOs are operating, engage with policymakers, analyse the funding landscape and be equipped to deputize the Director as required.

Key Responsibilities & Tasks

Advocacy (50%)

• Lead the development and implementation of the consortium’s advocacy strategy in collaboration with members and other relevant stakeholders, identifying clear timelines and planned products;**
• Work with members in general and the advocacy working group in particular to develop policy positions and advocacy messages that reflect the priorities of the membership and the communities they seek to serve;
• Identify and lead Consortium advocacy efforts through developing and facilitating relevant advocacy products including policy briefs, briefing notes, position papers and background papers. The Specialist would lead these process including member engagement sign-on.
• Support regional representatives in Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Garowe to identify advocacy opportunities for engagement with authorities on thematic issues.
• Facilitate/support the advocacy, peacebuilding, localisation, communication and resilience working groups by participating in relevant forums, leading discussion and identifying priority actions to ensure related advocacy is coordinated and well-informed. Build relationships with NGO staff and beneficiaries, as well as relevant advocacy partners (including existing advocacy alliances) to advance membership initiatives and promote dialogue and collective engagement on key issues.
• Liaise with advocacy leads from international coordination structures such as InterAction and ICVA to strengthen linkages with Somalia for better engagement to prioritise Somalia agenda.
• Represent SNC in advocacy forums at the national, international and global levels.

Communications and Information Management (40%)

• Through desk and field trips and research, identify, collate and store effectively, materials relevant to SNC activities and advocacy priorities;
• Gather, analyse and repackage information for use by a wide range of audiences
• Initiate, research and write targeted information products
• Harmonize existing internal communication tools and support their development and dissemination
• Assist the Consortium in the timely production or updates of necessary materials to disseminate information internally and externally. Such materials may include situation reports, programme strategy, fact sheets, capacity statements, briefing notes, annual reports, etc
• Develop press releases and media products to support membership initiatives
• Develop and maintain list of media and establish professional relationships to support membership and overall consortium work
• Develop rolling key messages regularly and talking points for the Director as required
• Manage the Consortium’s social media platform ensuring that Consortium’s messages and activities are clearly represented
• Oversee SNC web site technically and editorially and in line with the forums web policy
• Work closely with SNC Director, Regional Coordinators, Partnership and Grants Manager, Membership and Communications; Advocacy working group, Communication working group and key staff from the partners to ensure communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are harmonized

Other tasks (10%)

• Provide support and training to staff and partners on advocacy, principles of communications, including informed consent, and information collection and dissemination;
• Strengthen the capacity of implementing partner organizations in communications and support with implementation.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong communication, coordination and representational skills.
• Demonstrated capacity to recognize when and where proactive action is required and to initiate timely and appropriate action
• Collaborative approach with strong analytical and writing skills
• Ability to use discretion and strong personal diplomacy
• Demonstrated understanding of the Somali operational context, culture and language will be regarded favourably

Required Qualification and Experience

• University degree in communication, social sciences, information management or a similar field
• 3-5 years’ experience in advocacy, communications and dissemination in an international environment with good understanding of the current development and humanitarian trends and issues
• Proven experience of communicating information and advocacy with a wide range of different audiences and working knowledge of Somalia
• Demonstrable experience with advocacy/lobbying and/or communications (NGO or other stakeholder)
• Proven experience in developing a high quality of advocacy and communication products
• Ability to review and edit reports and other written documentation for dissemination and publication in English and/or Somali
• Ability to collect information and undertake research under potentially difficult and constraining conditions
• Ability to present information and communication products for a range of different audiences
• Experience in social media as well as media liaison and media tools e.g. photography, video etc.
• Awareness of potential sensitivity of information in operating context and the ability to differentiate between information for internal versus external audiences
• Willingness to work and travel in difficult circumstances and adhere to agree security procedures
• Knowledge of international humanitarian/development system and the mandates of the actors involved
• Proven understanding and experience of advocacy within a complex humanitarian context. Strong willingness to work and adapt to the NGO sector in compliance with humanitarian principles