Rift Valley Institute
Job Description

Title: Programme Officer, Somali Dialogue Platform (SDP)

Location: Mogadishu, Somalia, with possible travel to Nairobi and within Somalia

Employment type: Full-time, one-year fixed term contract, subject to donor funding

Reporting Structure: The Programme Officer reports to the SDP Team Leader

SDP Team Leader

SDP Programme
Officer

SDP Finance and
Operations
Officer

MERL Advisor

Political Advisor

Political Advisor

Political Advisor

Job Purpose: The Somali Dialogue SDP (SDP) is a programme hosted by the Rift Valley Institute
(RVI)  and  funded  by  the  Somalia  Stability  Fund  III  (SSF).  The  programme  aims  to  provide
analysis,  research  and  technical  support  to  strengthen  more  inclusive  and  effective  dialogue
among Somali stakeholders to contribute to greater political stability.

The Programme Officer will support the Team Leader in the development of the programme’s
strategy  and  management  of  the  programme,  as  well  as  the  delivery  of  SDP’s  activities,
including those undertaken directly by the Rift Valley Institute (RVI) and those implemented by
partners under task orders. This includes support to planning processes, organisation of team
meetings,  the  delivery  of  SDP’s  analysis  products,  events  and  engagement  with  the  SSF
leadership, its donors and implementing partners.

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Key Working Relationships:

•  Reports to the SDP Team Leader
•  Works closely with the SDP’s Political Advisors, MERL Advisor and Finance and

Operations Officer, as well as the RVI Finance Manager.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Support in the development and implementation of SDP strategy and workplans (35%):

•  Support the Team Leader on the development of the SDP’s annual strategy, workplans
and  budget,  including  the  organisation  of  planning  meetings,  with  engagement  by
partners as required.

•  Support the Team Leader and Political Advisors on the delivery of SDP’s regular analysis,
briefings  and  meetings  with  the  SSF,  its  donors  and  implementing  partners,  including
facilitating the process of design, review and dissemination.

•  Support the design process and management of programme proposals/task orders, both
directly implemented by the SDP and through partners, including engagement with the
SSF and coordinating contributions by the Political Advisors.

Provide Administrative support to SDP (30%)

•  Support the organisation and holding of meetings and events with SSF, its donors and
partners,  as  well  as  other  relevant  stakeholders,  working  closely  with  the  Finance  and
Operations Officer.

•  Support implementation of and attend partners’ events where relevant.
•  Provide administrative support to the Team Leader in organising regular team meetings,

production of minutes and tracking of action points and activities.

•  Support the development of budget, monitoring and tracking of expenditures advising
possible

and  Operations  Officer

Finance

Team

and

on

the
overspend/underspend.

Leader

Support MEL implementation (25%):

•  Coordinate  with  and  support  the  MERL  Advisor  to  ensure  the  SDP’s  activities  are

effectively recorded, monitored and evaluated

•  Ensure all activities are captured in the SDP’s knowledge management systems and are
supported  with  relevant  documentation,  as  well  as  support  the  SDP’s  quarterly
reporting.

Support coordination and external engagement (10%):

•  Coordinate closely with SSF focal point and technical teams to ensure SDP’s activities
are designed and implemented in alignment with SSF’s goals and other programmes

•  Coordinate and work closely with other RVI staff and programmes to ensure SDP’s

activities align with RVI’s goals, principles and mission, and to promote synergies and
collaboration.

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•  Where necessary, engage other actors’ working in Somalia on governance,

peacebuilding and research programmes.

•  Represent  the  SDP  in  meetings  and  events  with  donors  and  Somali  stakeholders,  in

particular in Mogadishu, as required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications and Experience

•  A university degree in relevant field (political science, development studies, social

science etc.).

•  A minimum of 5 years of experience of supporting programme implementation in the
development sector, preferably in the areas of state-building, local governance,
democratisation, peacebuilding and/or political analysis and research.

•  Experience of supporting the production of research and analysis, including facilitating

the process of design, review, approval and dissemination of products.

•  Experience in organising and coordinating meetings, recording minutes and tracking
implementation of activities, as well as support to Programme Monitoring and
Evaluation.

•  Experience, knowledge and understanding of working in Somalia, and/or other fragile

and conflict-affected contexts.

Skills and Abilities

•  Strong administrative and organisational skills and attention to detail.
•  Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet competing deadlines.
•  Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work across a diverse team, often remotely.
•  Good written and verbal communication skills in English, knowledge of Somali an

advantage.

Requirements

•  The role is open to Somali nationals or those with the right to work in Somalia and be

able to regularly travel to Kenya and other parts of Somalia.
•  Commitment to RVI’s values, vision, aims and ways of working.

Signature: __________________________ (job holder)

Signature: ___________________________ (line manager)

Date: __________________________

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