Job Identification : 6958

Locations : Baidoa, Somalia

Posting Date : 11/17/2022, 02:28 PM

Apply Before : 12/02/2022, 04:59 AM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : NB2

Vacancy Type : National Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area : Economics

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Arab States

Contract Duration : 1 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience : Bachelor’s Degree – 2 year(s) experience OR High School certificate- 5 year(s) experience

Required Languages : Fluency in written and spoken Somali and English.

Vacancy Timeline

2 Weeks

Job Description

Background

Project Description

Saameynta: Scaling-Up Solutions to Displacement in Somalia is a joint UN programme which responds to large-scale displacement in Baidoa. This is to be done through urban planning, local taxation systems to raise revenues in support of local actions, housing, and economic development to generate livelihoods and employment. UNDP is responsible for actions in economic development.

Baidoa’s economy is severely influenced by insurgency. This affects access to farmland, water resources, movement of people, transit of goods, and infrastructure development. Travel in and out of Baidoa town is for many people only possible by air, with road access now curtailed for more than 10 years.

Despite this, Baidoa has strong linkages with the regional agricultural economy. Given that Baidoa’s location in Somalia’s main sorghum and maize growing area is key to employment and livelihoods in Baidoa town, it follows that agricultural growth should be a target of actions under Saameynta. In other words, agricultural growth in SW State will be a major contributor to Baidoa’s growth and to employment and livelihoods in the city.

As in the rest of Somalia, growth prospects for livestock in Baidoa and SW State are limited by domestic factors rather than demand in foreign markets. In addition to improving rangeland management, animal health and increased forage and feed availability, there are opportunities to improve animal welfare along transit routes and at market centres and ports. Baidoa is a major livestock trading center.

The extent of diversification to fruit and vegetables in the areas around Baidoa is demonstrated by greater supply of locally produced crops. Some 10-15 years ago there were shortages of vegetables in Baidoa, with most supplies brought from elsewhere in Somalia. While to some extent the shift to local production has been enabled by irrigation from boreholes, rainfed production dominates and `cultivation is mainly limited to the two rainy seasons.

The local economy together with linkages to the wider economy of SW State and Somalia will be the source of employment and livelihoods for IDPs and the host community. Actions in support of long-term growth and employment are possible will reflect the structure of the economy, targeting the parts of the local economy which can grow and offer jobs. Accordingly, there will be an economy-wide approach to growth, employment, and livelihoods through support to local business and institutions. The actions aim at providing longer-term support and are a complement to humanitarian actions.

UNDP as one of the implementing agencies of the project Saameynta: Scaling-Up Solutions to Displacement in Somalia is seeking to recruit an Agriculture Development Assistant to support the project implementation to be based in Baidoa. The Assistant works under the direct supervision of the UNDP Project Coordinator.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

•  The Assistant will support the design, implementation, and monitoring of support to agricultural and livestock development as part of UNDP’s actions on growth, livelihoods, and employment in Baidoa.
•  Provide regularly updated information on policy and strategy by the SW State government and other public bodies on agricultural development in SW state.
•  Assist the Project Coordinator to compile data on crop and livestock development in Baidoa and SW State. This will include support to the design and implementation of surveys for feasibility analysis, action planning and monitoring
•  Identify and liaise with stakeholders in the public and private sector to collect information and to facilitate discussions with UNDP staff and consultants face-to-face and online.
•  Contribute to periodic project reports, preparing briefs on specified actions as required.

Institutional Arrangement

•  The Incumbent will report directly to the UNDP Saameynta Project Coordinator.

Core Competencies

• •  Achieve Results- LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
  •  Think Innovatively- LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
  •  Learn Continuously- LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

• •  Adapt with Agility- LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
  •  Act with Determination- LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

•  Engage and Partner- LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
•  Enable Diversity and Inclusion– LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

•  Business Direction & Strategy- Business Acumen- Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
•  Business Direction & Strategy- Entrepreneurial Thinking -Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate
•  Business Management- Communication -Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels
•  Business Management- Digital Awareness and Literacy-Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed
•  Business Management Customer Satisfaction/Client Management- Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  High school Certificate
•  Bachelor’s degree in any of the following areas: agriculture or agricultural economics with 2 years experience

Experience:

•  Minimum of 5 years relevant experience of working in the agricultural sector or related sectors
•  Skills in agricultural specialist, with good understanding of agricultural economics
•  Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)
•  Experience working with UN organizations / international NGOs in Somalia or other countries of the region
•  Experience in projects implementation in post-conflict situations
•  Proven ability to deliver results in complex and challenging environments, and to translate strategies and good practices into practical and feasible solutions.
•  Experience of working in the agricultural sector or related sectors (including agricultural trading) would be an advantage.

Required skills

•  Skills in agricultural specialist, with good understanding of agricultural economics
•  Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)
•  Experience working with UN organizations / international NGOs in Somalia or other countries of the region
•  Experience in projects implementation in post-conflict situations
•  Proven ability to deliver results in complex and challenging environments, and to translate strategies and good practices into practical and feasible solutions.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies.

•  Experience of working in the agricultural sector or related sectors (including agricultural trading) would be an advantag