Background Information

About Somali National University

Somali National University was established in 1954. The SNU developed over the next twenty years into an expansive institution of higher learning, with 13 departments, 700 staff and over 15,000 students. Due to extensive damage to its facilities as well as the difficulty of holding classes and acquiring books and other necessities in the wake of the civil war in the early 1990s, classes at the university were indefinitely suspended. On 16 August 2014, the federal government officially re-opened the Somali National University at a meeting of the Board of the University. The event was chaired by President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who serves as the Chancellor of the University.

After more than 23 years, SNU was re-instated 2013 by the internationally recognized Federal Government of Somalia heralding a new era of public education. The university operates in two campuses, one in Shabelle and that is the building where the university was first established in 1956. The second campus is located in Waberi district of Mogadishu. Currently, seven of the original faculties have been re-established, which are instrumental to Somalia’s rebuilding and recovery. These include:

Faculty of Education & Social Science, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Economics & Management, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Veterinary, Faculty of Engineering and Civil Service college.

Duties & Responsibilities

Contextual information: Laboratory Scientist Technical Advisor with assistance from the IOM MIDA project, seeks to build the capacity and knowledge of Laboratory department staff. To run medical laboratory used for diagnosing of tropical diseases, food microbiology test and research. Somali National University seeks a qualified Laboratory Scientist Technical Advisor who can both provide services, job training and supportive supervision to the local staff of the University. Under the overall guidance of the Director of the University, the Laboratory Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Assist the establishment establishment of Central Laboratory at Somali National University
2. Provide seminars/workshop for food hygiene, vaccine programs.
3. Training students on how to run the laboratory tests so that they can be employed when they graduate.
4. Advice and Support routine laboratory test procedures as outlined in the laboratory standards.
5. Develop laboratory standard operating procedure manuals for all the tests.
6. Develop quality control procedures in performing all testing and set up quality assurance manual.
7. Provide health and safety training courses.
8. Carrying out experiment and assisting students with research projects.
9. Set up workshops for project proposals, project writing, and literature review.
10. Train students and local staff on how to gather, interpret, record research and data.
11. Train local staff the maintenance and operations of lab equipment; able to detect malfunctions as they occur by review of instruments results. Troubleshoots the problem with technologist or service Representative assistance.
12. Supports establishment of TQM activities, QC testing of lab reagents and maintenance of equipment.
13. Supports and Works closely with all laboratory personnel to ensure reliable service and accurate test results.
14. Maintains open communication with supervisors, pathologists, and fellow employees to ensure optimal operation of department. Communicates pertinent information to other departments in a clinically relevant time frame.

Target Outputs (Measurable Results)

3 – 5 specific outputs; these must be clear, measurable and time-bound for the project to determine success of assignment (e.g. Transfer of specific skills to beneficiary institutions civil servants). For the purpose of this ToR, “Outputs” do not include writing reports to be submitted to IOM (this is covered in Section V).

• Able to work by his/her own
• Evidence of using laboratory protocols and guidelines
• Proven ability of good laboratory skills and interpretation date analysis of laboratory and understating imaging results
• Quality of making decisions for the accurate results
• Evidence of good communication English command
• Demonstrate skills in preparing training manuals

Requirements

Besides the specific outputs mentioned in section IV, MIDA Italy is requiring the following steps/actions to be undertaken throughout the assignment. These are 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 which civil servants will have to benefit from this knowledge.

2. Work plan: A work plan must be developed with the Supervisor during the first week of assignment to provide clear and time-bound activities to successfully implement the outputs of the assignment. This work plan will be shared with the IOM Mogadishu MIDA Programme Officer. This work plan will be revised if the contract will be extended.

3. Monthly and Final Reports: Monthly progress reports will be submitted by the incumbent to the Supervisor and to IOM Mogadishu MIDA Programme Officer. At the end of the assignment, the Participant must also provide a final report covering the duration of his/her assignment.

Qualifications

• Level of Education: MSc Medical Microbiology, or Medical Laboratory
• Years of work experience in what area(s): 5 years or more
• Languages needed: Fluency in Somali and English

General Skills / Other Requirements

1. Good communication skills
2. Ability to operate as part of a team, but also independently, depending on the situation
3. Ability to use Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
4. Ability to identify innovative approaches to problems in a challenging environment.

Monthly Stipend

The monthly stipend amount will be determined based on degree and years of relevant experience.

Security and Insurance Modalities

Health insurance—including evacuation due to medical emergency—will be provided by the project. However, experts will be requested to provide a recent medical certificate stating that they are physically fit and able to work in a hardship area in Africa.

Please note that IOM, according to the contract, will not be responsible for the security of the qualified Somali expatriates. The host beneficiary institution will be responsible for the security of the individual. Before leaving the country of residence or upon arrival in Nairobi or in Somalia, the qualified Somali expatriate will receive a pre-service briefing including security advice and cultural background.