Terms of references (ToR) for the position of Economic Development Officer

Duty station / Country: Somalia, Baidoa, Bay Region

Duration:6 months

Project title (se applicable);AICS

Starting date: 08/03/2024

Line Manager: Economic Development Officer

Functional Manager: Emergency Program Manager and Program Coordinator

Salary range: According to COOPI salary grid for national staff and as per experience of the candidate

About COOPI

COOPI- Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For more than 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.

COOPI in Somalia

COOPI has been active with its humanitarian and resilience programs in Somalia since 1984. COOPI has been implementing emergency and long-term resilience building projects including food security & livelihoods, water and sanitation and health, to improve the living conditions of thousands of vulnerable families.

COOPI has been providing response and supporting the most basic and pressing needs of communities in Southwest State, South Central, Banadir, Jubaland and Somaliland. COOPI has a long-standing presence in those locations providing both emergency humanitarian support and building resilient livelihoods through a multi-sectoral approach with specific focus on crisis affected populations. COOPI's main operational and coordination offices are located in Mogadishu, Baidoa and Dollow. COOPI also has a support and regional office in Nairobi.

Overview of the Position

The Economic Development Officer will have overall responsibility in facilitating the planning and implementation of all Peri urban economic development activities under AICS at the community level and ensuring that all proposed objectives and targets are achieved. S/he will provide guidance to communities on Good Practices related Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) or community managed Microfinance Institution skills, RAIGO-Rapid Appraisal of income generating opportunities (RAIGO), and Business Development Services (BDS) through participatory facilitation methodology. In addition, will make sure beneficiary are identified, mobilized and organized into VSLA, Microfinance associations and marketing groups while ensuring regular  field visits to monitor activities and timely reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Facilitate planning, organization and management of agro-pastoral activities.

Conduct awareness/sensitization meetings on VSLA and BDS activities among communities and local leaders.

Facilitate the community vulnerability Analysis in target villages to define community gaps and provide basis for planning.

Develop strategies and work plans (annual/quarterly/monthly) to ensure effective implementation of VSLA & BDS  activities in target locations as outlined in detailed implementation plan.

Facilitate the identification and/or formation and mobilization of local structures (VSLA, IGA groups, Cooperatives, financial institutions and marketing groups) in the villages and district to assist in delivery of program interventions.

Facilitate beneficiary identification in consultation with communities & local leaders.

Facilitate the identification of Community Village Agents

Facilitate Capacity building of farmers and Community Agriculture Mobilizers (CAM) and partner local NGOs.

Identify technical capacity gaps and problems for beneficiaries and Village Agents face and skills/knowledge they have in  VSLAs, Business Development, IGAs and related fields

Train the beneficiaries and Village Agents in good practices and innovations related to Village Savings and Loans, BDS, RAIGO cooperatives/ organization & marketing.

Train Economic development Groups/Associations/Committees on governance/leadership, VSLA, BDS and IGAs activities operation and management and sustainability

Facilitate training of beneficiaries and Village Agents using participatory extension methodologies group approach and workshops)

Coach and mentor the Village Agents and partner local NGOs for effective facilitation/support of  VSLA, IGAs and BDS activities.

Strengthen the capacity of partners – local government,  partner local NGO, associations  and cooperatives in implementation and managing of VSLA, IGAs, VST and BDS activities

Facilitate organization of exposure/exchange visits and any other events for the beneficiaries to foster learning and experience sharing.

Key Technical areas

Ensure timely procurement and delivery/provision of right quality and quantity of supplies/kits/tools required by the beneficiaries and ensure these are used appropriately

Facilitate establishment of village savings groups,  VSLAs and  IGAs, Vocational skills among the target communities

Overseeing when the VSLAs are purchasing shares and have meetings

Facilitate the sorting out of any misunderstandings that may arise within VSLAs to ensure smooth running.

Facilitate establishment of  vocational skills center or linkage to existing ones for the youth to learn different skills based on market survey results in order to equip them with skills for self-employment

Facilitate market assessment in order to establish skills gaps to guiding the training of youths in vocational skills training centers.

Facilitate in-depth value chain analysis and meeting with actors throughout the market chain to gather critical market information

Explore and promote ways that would support beneficiaries in transport, financing and contractual imperatives; product quality, packaging and marketing etc

Support or strengthen community-level early warning committees to promote risk management.

Ensure linkage/integration economic development activities with Agropastoral and pastoral activities to foster synergies.

Monitoring, evaluation, documentation and reporting of ED activities

Conduct regular follow-up visits to VSLAs, IGAs groups and VSTC to see if they are applying the technologies/practices and provide technical assistance where there are gaps

Track progress of the ED (savings groups, VSLAs, IGAs etc) activities to see if targets set in the annual work plan are being met (using data tools and MIS packages) and take corrective actions to remedy any deviation from work plans.

Facilitate data collection from savings groups and mange/supervise the MIS information flow to Program Manager.

Support the preparation of monitoring plans for the savings groups and ensure they get involved in own monitoring and evaluation of VSLAs, IGAs etc activities

Monitoring and supervision of Village Agents performance in the villages.

Facilitate the monitoring and supervision of Village Agents in target villages/locations by relevant local government administration and Ministry officials.

Consolidate/compile monthly, quarterly and annual activity reports  and special events showing achievements, lessons, constraints and recommendations which should be submitted to relevant authority at the agreed time

Assisting IGA Entrepreneurs to assess their local economy and find markets for their products and services.

Carry out quarterly/annual review meetings to assess performance of activities against set targets at the community and program level.

Conduct crop ED assessments and document benefits from these and write success stories.

Monitor and facilitate use of the Community Early Action information (collect & dissemination) to strengthen beneficiaries preparedness to any potential shocks (drought, floods, conflicts etc) at community and district levels

Participate in field level assessment and or evaluation of project performance/valuations.

Coordination and visibility

Represent the agro-pastoral activities at relevant (Agriculture/Livelihood) sub area/district meetings with government, INGOs, Local NGOs and other players in the district/area

Build relationship and coordinate with clan leaders and other stakeholder (district authorities, cooperatives, private traders, finance institutions, and relevant government Ministries/departments) working on economic activities in the operational area/district

Facilitate meetings between IGA owners with new potential buyers

Participate in field level coordination meeting with local government authorities and other agencies.

Coordinate closely with the Agro-Pastoral & Pastoral activities to foster complementarity.

Cross-cutting issues

Provide guidance on making sure all economic development activities embraces cross cutting issues – gender, environment and peace/conflict mitigation measures.

Ensure balanced gender (men, women and youth) representation and participation in project activities. 

Explore and support ways that would ensure BDS/VSLA/IGA activities are integrated with agro-pastoral and pastoral activities.

Other.

Perform other related duties as requested by the supervisor

Qualification & Requirements

Diploma/Degree in Community managed Micro-finance or Business Administration.

Experience.

At least two years on community development

Experienced facilitator /trainer

Experience in data analysis

Familiarity with principles and practice of savings-led microfinance and with strong awareness of challenges faced by traditional methodologies.

Good computer skills including Microsoft Office and Outlook

Excellent communication (writing and oral), reporting and presentation skills in English and Somalia

Good command in English-spoken and written and ability to speak and write Somali Language

Willingness to travel to all project locations on regular basis.

Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit their applications through email to through link https://forms.gle/68mrkx7CH2GNeQES7   with subject line as “Economic Development Officer” by 15.03.2024.

The application should be a cover letter and CV as one document and indicate the title of the position on the subject line this will ensure we capture your application in the right way. Applications should include contact details of three professional referees. One referee must be the applicant’s Immediate supervisor. COOPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Brief Conditions:

COOPI has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the organization, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. COOPI also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

COOPI reserves the right to transfer position as per need / project demand any time during the project.

COOPI reserves the right to close the application before deadline, if the required number of candidates is attained Rolling basis review of applications.

Other Terms & Condition will be part of Job Contract.

Important Information and Notice.

Carefully observing the details as follows:

Only motivated applicants who are able to perform the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications will be considered.

CVs will be reviewed on rolling bases.

Due to the large numbers of expected applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted and invited for an interview. We apologies for the inconvenience.

COOPI considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, colour, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

This ToR shall be inclusive of any other task specifically assigned by the direct supervisor for what concerns the implementation of the program activities.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.