Project Manager

Job title:                                  Project Manager   

Department:                            Programs  

Reports to:                               Project Coordinator      

Duty Station:                           Kismayu, Somalia

About Lutheran World Federation(LWF)

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is an international humanitarian organization that has global presence in countries Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central America. The global headquarters of LWF is in Geneva, Switzerland. At the regional level, LWF is headquartered in Nairobi Kenya to serve both the Kenya and Somalia country programs.

The Lutheran World Federation provides quality humanitarian assistance to displaced and affected communities and focuses on three priority areas;

1- Quality services: covering the areas of education and WASH - with primary focus on education.

2- Protection and social cohesion: protection services to support vulnerable and at risk persons with major focus on child protection, Gender-Based Violence survivors, persons with specific needs (PWDs, older persons), child mothers, and women at risk, and also supporting community social cohesion/peace building activities.

3- Sustainable livelihood: climate friendly livelihood interventions in crop and animal production, vocational skills training and development, enterprise development, micro-finance and business development skills training.

Besides the above three major priority areas, LWF provides other life-saving humanitarian assistance occasioned by natural disasters (drought, floods, etc.) through quick impact projects in its areas of operations.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) World Service Kenya Somalia Program established presence in Kismayo, Jubbaland State in Somalia in 2017 in order to create a continuum between its refugee assistance and protection program in Dadaab refugee camps, Kenya, and Kismayo, Somalia. From 2017 to date, LWF has been working closely with the relevant Jubbaland State Ministries including Ministry of Education and Higher Learning (MoEHL), Ministry of women, family affairs and human right, ministry of humanitarian affairs.

From 2022, courtesy of the generous donors support LWF Somalia area program has embarked on program expansion to implement new projects in Kismayo and areas outside Kismayo, including Dhobley district. More information about the LWF Kenya-Somalia program can be obtained.  https://kenyasomalia.lutheranworld.org/

Project description

This project will be implemented in Jubbaland State, Federal Government of Somalia mainly in Kismayu (Calanley, Fanole, Farjana, Gulwada, Midnimo) and Dhobley (Wadajir, Kutur, Degelema, Tula Barwaqo).The main project participants are the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugee-returnees, Somali migrants and populations on the move, vulnerable host communities both rural and urban-based, and the ethnic minorities who suffer a high risk of vulnerabilities with a focus on women and girls, PWD/CWDs, and youth. Other key stakeholders include community leaders, local authorities, relevant line ministries and duty bearers.

The goal of this project is to contribute to the enhanced resilience and social cohesion among Somali communities in Dhobley and Kismayu.

JOB SUMMARY

The Project Manager is responsible for the timely and effective delivery of protection and social cohesion, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene(WASH) and other sector-related activities at all stages of project cycle management complying with technical, LWF/donor standards and supporting the mainstreaming of the Protection and WASH issues within other program sectors to accomplish objectives and outcomes within the contextual constraints. The Project Manager is the overall leader in the planning, implementation and undertaking in all the project’s strategies with a focus on child safeguarding, youth and adolescent protection, persons with specific needs and community social cohesion, WASH interventions such as constructions in line with LWF country strategies through provision of oversight and working closely with LWF field engineer to ensure expected project’s objectives and goals are achieved.

Further objectives for the PM concern the capacity building and mentoring of staff; humanitarian needs identification through monitoring of the evolving situation, context analysis to contribute to the development of the future programing including writing new proposals, internal coordination to reinforce LWF’s CLWR project integrated approach.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management and Implementation

• Be responsible for the implementation, management and monitoring of project activities related to protection and WASH across multiple project locations with a specific emphasis on protection sector.
• Effectively manage all budget items under his/her responsibility to ensure timely implementation and in accordance with donor requirements and organizational procedures.
• Provide direction and monitor staff in their implementation of the work plan and quality of technical activities, share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines.
• Ensure program’s adaptability to the operational context. Adapt tools and project implementation approaches.
• Oversee program performance, budget control, expenditures, procurement, and overall project cycle management as per contractual obligations, timelines, and donor compliance in coordination with the Team Leader.
• Ensure implementation of protection and WASH mainstreaming/integration guidance for other technical teams and programs (Mine Risk Education/Humanitarian Mine Action, Shelter, Livelihood, Emergency Response) and promote multi-sectoral approaches.
• Works closely with Logistics, Human Resource and other support units to ensure effective implementation of the project activities.
• Ensures integration of Protection and WASH activities with other core sectors and close collaboration particularly with child protection, shelter, Education, Food Security and Livelihoods.
• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and AAP (Accountability to Affected Population) in the project activities.

Technical Management and Quality Control

• Ensure implementation of protection and WASH projects according to the overall LWF Somalia strategy, LWF harmonized approaches, in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Minimum standards for Protection in Humanitarian Action, the Sphere Charter, Inter-agency Case Management Guidelines, Emergency Protection Monitoring and Community-Based Protection considering remote modalities and technical guides on WASH interventions, WASH response, shelter, Food Security and Livelihoods.
• Ensure the highest quality of Protection interventions, synergies, and coherence among all projects.
• Works closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL/PMER) team   to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of programmes and accountability measures, ensuring that feedback from all relevant stakeholders is considered in programme design.
• Strengthen the Protection Monitoring System including documentation and analysis of information.
• Guide Protection Team to ensure quality in the protection deliverables according to technical guides and SOPs.
• Conducts regular quality assessments of programming (case management, PSS, etc.) to ensure that services provided are according to standards and are of high quality.
• Identify gaps in relation with the overall implementation and provide recommendations to improve program quality.
• Develop and revise necessary tools, forms, technical guides, and SOP for LWF protection-related activities in coordination with the relevant technical line coordinator.
• Provide capacity building to LWF staff and partners in collaboration with the line manager.

Staff Management

• Leads and Manages the project team and defines expectations, provides leadership and technical support needed and evaluates direct reports regularly.
•  Leads on the recruitment of the project staff when needed and ensures their capacity building as per the project needs.
• Manages program staff development strategies, performance management & appraisals as per LWF HR processes through effective use of LWF systems including establishment of clear, measurable objectives, ongoing feedbacks, periodic reviews, fair & unbiased evaluations, coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities.
• Facilitate regular meetings to assist on information sharing between project staffs, to ensure all staffs are aware of project objectives and current work plans and to provide the opportunity for feedback.

Information Management, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Reporting

• Continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives within relevant project programs as well as strengthen the effort to document the impact of activities.
• Develop program monitoring tools and support in monitoring of outcomes and outputs in coordination with the PMER unit.
• Support and lead in writing management and donor reports. Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement.
• Liaise with the PMER unit to develop and implement a M&E plan for protection related activities, develop the community feedback mechanism, map lessons learnt and identify opportunities for evaluations and quality improvement.
• Oversee knowledge sharing across teams and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs.
• Conduct regular audits of Protection Information Management (PIM) databases to ensure the accuracy of data and maintenance of tools.
• Ensure participation and empowerment of persons living with disabilities and project communities affected by conflict and displacement, and maintain an age, gender, and diversity-sensitive lens throughout the protection programming.
• Prepare weekly and monthly project progress reports/activity reports for submission and filing
• Contribute in the preparation of donor reports e.g. six months’ report, annual reports.
• Participate in proposal development exercises/workshops.
• Maintain clear records and data on all aspects of implementation relating to all general protection activities with confidentiality.

Advocacy

• Advocate on key and sensitive protection and social cohesion concerns in key events and coordination structures e.g. cluster coordination meeting, international events etc. 
• Collect information needed to support LWF’s advocacy strategy
• Maintain a strong relationship with co-workers to ensure program efficiency. 

Coordination and Representation

• Represent LWF and actively participate in coordination meetings for Protection and relevant sub sectors/working groups and provide feedback to staff and management team on relevant issues.
• Proper stakeholder’s engagement through the projects cycle and during inceptions.

Partnerships and Localization

• Develop and strengthen relationships with networks, other relevant stakeholders, and partners in the Somalia. 
• Actively explore and identify potential partners in line with the localization strategy in coordination with the Partnership team.
• Engage in bilateral coordination with local and INGOs to expand and strengthen LWF’s partner networks, as well as support in roll out of Protection activities with partners.

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, social work, public health, development studies, project management or related field.
• Proven experience of minimum 5 years within international humanitarian and development programs with minimum 3 years in managerial positions with NGOs, INGOs in leading program/projects.
• Demonstrated solid experience in the management of key programmatic areas relevant to Gender Transformative and Protection response in programs.
• Additional experience and commitment to, and understanding of, participatory approaches to respond for disaster affected people, child protection, GBV and Climate Resilient.
• Experience working with Children, IDPs and vulnerable host communities will be added advantage.
• Understanding of SPHERE and Protection minimum standards.
• Project Management experience of Protection and WASH in emergencies/Humanitarian setting.
• Previous experience of managing and developing a multi-disciplinary team.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge of and experience with Protection WASH and Information Management System
• Solid experience in project cycle management, including proposal writing, budget management and donor reporting.
• Excellent communication, organizational and presentation skills
• Good analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to work independently with guideline and clear expectations
• Ability to maintain good working relations with colleagues, beneficiaries, other agencies and other project stakeholders/local authorities.
• Excellent working knowledge of English and Somali (spoken and written)
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel 
• A person of high integrity that will model

LWF/WS Kenya Somali Program core values:

Dignity and justice

Compassion and commitment

Respect for diversity

Inclusion and participation

Transparency and accountability

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

External

Somalia Project Coordinator, Somalia Team Leader, Country Representative, General staff Somalia/Nairobi

Government authorities and especially LWF Somalia’s line ministries, Partners NGO/INGO security focal persons, Community networks, Local leaders, religious leaders….

“LWF/DWS is an equal opportunity employer, irrespective of gender, race or religious affiliation. LWF/DWS is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for humanitarian agencies. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect the organization’s commitment to the prevention of abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries.”

Job application procedure

Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect the organization’s commitment to the prevention of abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries.
Disclosure: LWF participates in the The Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (misconduct-disclosure-scheme.org) which requires LWF to conduct reference checks with prior employers including questions about employee misconduct. By proceeding with this job application, you consent to LWF requesting a Statement of Conduct from your previous employers. This Statement of Conduct is requested from previous employers for all candidates for employment and provided to all employers that request it from LWF.

Qualified candidates who are interested in the above position should submit an updated detailed CV and application letter (in English), giving a day time telephone contact and email addresses of 3 (three) work.

Closing date: 27th May 2024. 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

NB: The position is open for Somalia Nationals only.