JOB OPPORTUNITY:

LIAISON OFFICER

23/08/2020

ACTED

HR Department

Last Update

August 2020

Position: Liaison Officer

Department: Admin/HR**

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Location: Hargeisa

Background on ACTED

ACTED is a French humanitarian NGO, founded in 1993, which supports vulnerable populations, affected by humanitarian crises worldwide. ACTED provides continued support to vulnerable communities by ensuring the sustainability of post-crisis interventions and engaging long-term challenges facing our target populations, in order to break the poverty cycle, foster development and reduce vulnerability to disasters. Their interventions seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context.

ACTED is looking for professionally confident, self-motivated, experienced and committed team player to fill the Liaison Officer Position in Hargeisa, Somaliland.

Position Profile:

ACTED is seeking an organized, efficient, and communicative liaison officer to coordinate between our organization and with Somaliland government. In this role, you will act as the middle person between ACTED and other entities to streamline operations, resolve issues, improve communications, and generally ensure that the relationship is as beneficial and as smooth as possible. You will support general liaising work as well as represent the organization through participation in relevant meetings/forums as may be required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision and guidance of the Admin/HR Manager, the Liaison Officer will be responsible for liaising on ACTED’s behalf with various governmental authorities, including but not limited to all ministries and other relevant authorities as required. S/he will be the key focal point between ACTED and the Government and ensure program activities are communicated in an effective and efficient manner. S/he will facilitate smooth implementation of ACTED’s programming, including timely approvals of agreements, Memoranda of Understanding and other permissions.

S/he will be expected to negotiate with others, develop and foster relationships, get people to understand others’ points of view, and understand ACTED’s way of working and how it impacts its stakeholders.

Specific responsibilities include:

Government Liaison

· Build and maintain relationships with key technical managers and decision-makers in the government, different ministries and among local authorities in Somaliland. Act as a key focal point.

· To ensure timely execution of projects’ registration, Letter of Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Somaliland. Ensure the relevant documents are reviewed by AHRM before submitting them to the government entity.

· Promote ACTED’s work and raise ACTED’s image externally while ensuring the desired outcomes of ACTED’s activities in Somaliland are achieved.

· Maintain thorough knowledge of the work, as well as an understanding how that affects other entities.

· Support in planning and scheduling of meetings, presentations, and other office related events; send reminders regarding upcoming appointments

· Accompany Coordination and other Senior Staff to meetings with the Government Officials and facilitate conversations for smooth representation of ACTED in those meetings.

· Ensure senior ACTED staff are aware of and understand any concerns of Government Officials regarding ACTED’s operations and that such concerns are factored into ACTED policies communication strategy and programming.

· Support ACTED in resolving any potential challenges in ACTED’s relationship with Government bodies from the national level, regional Level and district Level.

· In close coordination with the HR department, ensure legal compliance towards national staff’s local labour laws.

· Keep abreast of new government policies/ regulations and communicate how this may affect ACTED’s work.

· Monitor, coordinate, and communicate strategic objectives of ACTED’s work in Somaliland.

· Develop and foster relationships with the community, stakeholders, and other entities.

· Support in planning and scheduling of meetings, presentations, and other office related events; send reminders regarding upcoming appointments

· Collect, analyse, and utilize data and feedback to identify opportunities to improve the relationship between the organization and the other entities.

· When and if needed, prepare official letters to the concerned Government Offices/Ministries for letters of support or information sharing.

Administration

· Launch application and follow up on entry visas for staff and;

· Launch application process for work permits/ multiple journey visa and any other related documentation as pertains international staff work in Somaliland. Computerize information of visas including (passport number, nationality, validity/expiry dates of visa, etc.) on visa follow up table.

· Update and inform you line manager on any change on rules, system of work and regulation of Embassies for visas;

· Support in renewal of office registration

· Set up the filing system based on ACTED standard filling system.

Others

· Translation of any documents required for the purposes of coordination / external relations.

· Ensure all paperwork is filed and disseminated, where necessary, to the relevant line manager for their respective filing.

• Execute the tasks described above in accordance with ACTEDs internal policy and with competence.
• Make efficient use of ACTEDs material and equipment.
• Be liable for damage inflicted to equipment or material through gross negligence.
• Maintain respectful working relationships with other staff members.

· Any other duty as may be requested by your supervisor or Coordination.

Protection Mainstreaming

· Promoting of and adhering to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy and guidelines (for site residents, ACTED staff, partner agencies, casual labors).

Qualifications/Skills Required:

· Bachelor degree in law, public administration, humanities, business administration, social sciences or social work, or any other relevant to this role

· Three to 3-5 years of relevant expertise and experience with INGO/UN, preferably experience in liaison functions.

· Extensive knowledge of the Somaliland system of Government and administration

· Self-motivated with a willingness to take initiative and solve complex problems. Capability to negotiate with and influence others

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills

· Experience in and aware of the regions customs and tradition

· Diplomatic nature and very strong negotiation skills.

· Excellent interpersonal skills and organization skills with the ability to coordinate activities and projects; experience in supporting project development

· Proficiency in English language, both written and spoken.

· Goal oriented with a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to the vision and goals of the organization.

· Ability to prepare and write official reports.

· High degree of responsibility and ownership of work;

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel and Word).

· Strong commitment to ACTED’s mission, purpose and values.