Senior Program Assistant (Gender and Environmental Peacebuilding)

Overview of position

• Our clients Somalia’s environmental peacebuilding portfolio under community stabilization programming recognizes the interlinkages between environmental sustainability, conflict prevention & peacebuilding. This lies in the understanding that environmental issues can exacerbate existing conflicts, act as potential triggers for new conflicts & cause displacement & instability. Addressing environmental challenges can promote sustainable peace by fostering cooperation, addressing root causes of conflict & promoting inclusive & equitable development. The environment is often at the center of resource based conflicts, such as competition over water, land & natural resources. Conflicts related to these resources can be detrimental to human security, exacerbate poverty & inequality & impede long term development & stability.

• By integrating green economy, green governance & green environment activities, environmental peacebuilding programming seeks to address these challenges holistically through its integrated regenerative package of activities. Through our clients EU funded breaking the climate conflict in Hirshabelle, Denmark funded forging a greener peace in Hirshabelle, they are seeking to address the complex & interconnected challenges that often underlie conflicts related to the environment in newly recovered locations from & affected by Al Shabaab as well as fragile areas where community stabilization teams are able to work such as certain areas. Rather than implementing isolated interventions, our clients seeks to implement holistic approach that foster synergies between different activities & actors, enhancing their collective impact on peacebuilding efforts.

• Our client also ensures that its environmental peacebuilding activities are conducted with an inclusive & participatory approach. Local communities, especially those affected by conflicts & environmental issues, are involved in the planning & implementation processes. By adopting this approach, our client aims to effectively contribute to fostering resilience, peace & sustainable development in unstable, conflict affected & newly recovered areas from Al Shabaab in Somalia. 

• Within this context, our client is cognizant of the important role & untapped potential of women in both leading & contributing to peacebuilding efforts & environmental peacebuilding initiatives. It is also aware that women will require a special focus during environmental peacebuilding programming. In view of this & its effort to further women’s, empowerment, as well as inclusion & consideration, our client is therefore recruiting a Senior Program Assistant (Gender & Environmental Peacebuilding), under the overall supervision of the Program Officer (Climate Conflict) & under the direct supervision of the National Program Officer (Environmental Peacebuilding). The successful candidate will coordinate & monitor programmatic & administrative tasks to facilitate the successful implementation of these activities. The candidate will be required to work directly with communities & local government officials to prioritize, oversee & monitor stabilization activities in the region focused on engaging these groups & their role in the society. This position will require frequent travel primarily in Hirshabelle state (security permitting).

Role objectives

• Actively seek opportunities & contribute to designing environmental peacebuilding & stabilization activities within the green governance pillar & across the green environment & green economy pillars with a specific focus on women & other marginalized groups. 

• Lead field implementation of environmental peacebuilding activities under the forging a greener peace in the Hirshabelle state of Somalia project in Jowhar, liaising with implementing partners & reporting to the Project Officer to realize the successful implementation of milestones & project goals. 

• Assist in setting up of climate resilience hub in Balcad & Jowhar. 

• Ensure timely coordination with our clients Somalia resource management unit including procurement of necessary materials, supplies, logistical support & payment of vendors for all activities.

• Ensure continuous monitoring of the progress against objectives & indicators of activity providing inputs to M&E team.

• Work with the our clients Somalia procurement & finance units to ensure timely implementation of activities & submission of payment documentation for relevant activities.

• Provide regular updates to the Program Officer (Stabilization) & prepare activity reports. 

• Support the comms team in providing inputs to visibility & communications products in accordance with communications plan & donor compliance. 

• Develop activity level concept notes & activity proposals.

• Actively seek opportunities for collaboration with other environmental peacebuilding partners.  

• Support other environmental peacebuilding projects when needed (EU, JOSP).

• Undertake duty travels to provide technical support for activity implementation as needed.

• Perform any other duties as may be assigned, based on needs & the capacity of the candidate.

Project reporting

This role works under the overall supervision of the Program Officer (Climate Conflict) & under the direct supervision of the National Program Officer (Environmental Peacebuilding).

Key competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in political or social sciences, international relations, development studies, migration studies, human rights, law or related fields from an accredited academic institution with four years of relevant professional experience or completed high school degree from an accredited academic institution with minimum of six years’ relevant work experience. A minimum of four years of relevant professional experience in women centered & / or women related stabilization & peacebuilding activities & environmental activities isrequired for bachelors degree holders. 

• Demonstrated knowledge in community based activities, stabilization & environmental peacebuilding concepts. 

• Previous work experience in coordinating with local & state government authorities & civil society organizations.

• In depth knowledge of the broad range of women empowerment & gender quality related subject areas 

• In depth knowledge of the broad range of environmental & peacebuilding related subject area.

• In depth knowledge of community based activities.

• Knowledge of UN & bilateral donor programming.

• Demonstrated proficiency & knowledge of information technology in Microsoft Office applications especially Excel, Word & PowerPoint

• For this position, fluency in English & Somali is required (oral & written).

• Respects & promotes individual & cultural differences. Encourages diversity & inclusion.

• Maintains high ethical standards & acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles / rules & standards of conduct.

• Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent & committed manner & exercises careful judgment in meeting day to day challenges.

• Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.

• Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected & fairly treated.

• Develops & promotes effective collaboration within & across units to achieve shared goals & optimize results.

• Produces & delivers quality results in a service oriented & timely manner. Is action oriented & committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

• Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge & innovate.

• Takes ownership for achieving the organization’s priorities & assumes responsibility for own actions & delegated work.

• Encourages & contributes to clear & open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring & motivational way.

• Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example & demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision. Assists others to realize & develop their leadership & professional potential.

• Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best & develop their potential.

• Promotes shared values & creates an atmosphere of trust & honesty.

• Works strategically to realize the organization’s goals & communicates a clear strategic direction.

• Leads with humility & shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

Team management

This role has no team management responsibility.

Further information

• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply for this role.

• The highest educational certificate of the selected candidate will be sent for verification.

Disclaimer:
· At no stage of the recruitment process will CTG ask candidates for a fee. This includes during the application stage, interview, assessment and training.
· CTG has a zero tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) which is outlined in its Code of Conduct. Protection from SEA is everyone’s responsibility and all staff are required to adhere to CTG’s Code of Conduct at all times.