Description: 

PROJECT: Technical Assistance and Partnership Facility [NDICI Africa/2023/451-029]
 

DAI is looking for a: Somaliland Coordinator 
 

BACKGROUND 
The European Union funded Technical Assistance and Partnership Facility (TAPF) is a five-year initiative designed to support the European Union Delegation’s (EUD) engagement in and cooperation with the country, and to expedite progress towards achievement of the 2030 global Agenda for Sustainable Development. 
The project is being implemented through a service contract, signed between the EUD and DAI Global Belgium, and operates from DAIs offices in Nairobi and Mogadishu.
The project duration runs for a total term of 60 months, from 1st January 2024, through to 31st December 2028 (subject to adaptation and revision). 
 

OBJECTIVES Project objectives
The TAPF has three main result areas:

• I. Strengthening the capacity of the Government, at both Federal and State levels, and in particular the Ministry of Planning, to deliver on its mandate, with respect to the national development agenda. 
• II. Strengthening identification, formulation, implementation and monitoring of European Union funded programmes, covering renewable energy, the environment, climate change adaptation and natural resources management, amongst other topics. 
• III. Enhancing partnerships and facilitation of policy dialogue on key topics in EU cooperation. 
   

Assignment objectives
The Somaliland Coordinator will play a central role supporting the Somaliland Government in engagements with beneficiary agencies, and in coordination of EU cooperation. 
The Coordinator will support planning and delivery of the full range of EU-approved TAPF activities, structured around the three components of the TAPF programme listed above, including supporting state institutions with capacity development needs consistent with agreed planning processes, supporting the EUD with demand-driven technical assistance tasks, and delivering on Somaliland policy dialogue activities and events. 
 

SCOPE 
General: Working closely with programme Key Experts (KE1 and KE2), assist in TAPF activity-level delivery and programme implementation, through coordinating with relevant stakeholders, to design and facilitate priority national transformation-related activities. 
In addition to general administrative and logistics management capacity and skills, the Coordinator will possess and bring to the position, one (or more) area of specific, complementary, technical expertise relevant to EU cooperation (renewable energy, the environment, climate change adaptation and natural resources management) and / or the six general thematic areas identified during preparation and compilation of the TAPF 2025 – 2026 Work Plan (“Development Planning”, “Investment Policies and PPP”, “Monitoring and Evaluation Support”, “TVET Support”, “Climate Resilience and Environment” and “Aid Management and Coordination”).
 

Target Groups: The Coordinator’s main partner will be the Somaliland Ministry of Planning and National Development. It is expected that the Coordinator will work with and be based in the Ministry of Planning and National Development in Hargeisa, from where he / she will liaise and coordinate with other relevant institutions. 
The Coordinator will also interact with non-state actors, such as civil society organisations and interest groups (women, youth, private sector and the business community), and international donor representatives, facilitating their participation in policy dialogue activities, and sector-based analysis and consultations, e.g. community-level consultations and validation events. 
The work of the TAPF ultimately benefits Somaliland citizens through increased effectiveness of EU and other development partners’ development cooperation across the country.
 

Specific Activities: The Coordinator is expected to participate in the following activities and complete the following tasks: 

1. In collaboration with the Ministry Director General, and under the supervision of the TAPF Team Leader and Key Expert 2, proactively drive day-to-day engagement with, and promote cooperation and coordination between, assigned MDAs / government counterpart agencies and with international partners. 
2. Ensure the effective and timely engagement of government MDAs (notably, relevant Ministries, the private sector and other partners) with EU programmes and programming, through effective communication, consultation and relationship building. 
3.  Provide contextual analysis to the TAPF management on institutional structures, processes, relationships, issues and priority needs, relevant to TAPF Somaliland activities.
4. Provide proactive support to Somaliland-level strategy and policy development and to sector initiatives and opportunities addressing felt needs. 
5. Provide advice and capacity support on national transformation processes, and in specific sectors where the Coordinator brings technical specialisation and “value added”. 
6. Support work plan and technical progress monitoring, learning and reporting functions on behalf of TAPF. 
7. Coordinate and drive collaboration with selected stakeholders on policy issues, as a part of the TAPF -Somaliland policy dialogue component. 
8. Perform other ad-hoc technical and coordination tasks, as assigned by the contracting authority and / or Team Leader.
    

DELIVERABLES AND REPORTING 

• Deliver on assigned Somaliland work plan activities, ensuring endorsement and approvals, as needed, from beneficiaries and the EUD as Contracting Authority.
• Provide a monthly report to the TAPF Team Leader, briefly summarising all work carried out by the Coordinator during the month, and identifying any issues encountered and lessons learned.
• Contribute to preparation of TAPF 6-monthly progress reports, as directed by the Team Leader.
• Provide workshop facilitation, or co-facilitation, including making presentations and leading discussion, in line with TAPF work plan requirements.
• Ensure TAPF outputs and other relevant materials are recorded on the TAPF internal SharePoint platform. 
• Ensure financial and administrative records are duly obtained and returned to relevant TAPF support staff, in line with project and EUD policy.
• The working language of the assignment and contract will be English, and all communication and reports will be submitted in English.
   

SUPERVISION
The Somaliland Coordinator (SLC) will be answerable to the Director General (DG) of the Somaliland Ministry of Planning and National Development, and will be supervised by the TAPF Team Leader, in close collaboration with the TAPF KE2 / Partnership Advisor. 
 

Somaliland Coordinator Requirements 

• University degree (preferably a Masters’) in social and political science, economics, planning or a related field. 
• At least 5 years of practical work experience, working with an international organisation, private sector company, non-governmental organisation or government institution. 
• Previous work experience as a technical assistant / technical advisor, embedded within a host government department preferred (inclusive mentoring and capacity development experience, leading development programmes and / or implementation of policies, strategies and operational plans). 
• Previous experience (at least one assignment) in facilitation of multi-stakeholder workshops / consultations (inclusive in-depth knowledge of and familiarity with focus group discussion, key informant interviews and other interactive data collection methodologies, preparation of PowerPoint presentations and handouts, and moderating workshop plenaries). 
• Strong communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills. 
• Excellent written and spoken / verbal communication skills in both English and Somali. 
• Strong organisational and analytical skills. 
• Extensive knowledge of the local (Somaliland) development context. 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities effectively. 
   

Special criteria: Demonstrated extensive knowledge of the applicable “place of posting” government institutions, development actors and processes, and specialist technical knowledge of one or more sectors comprising the foundation pillars in the current development planning framework.
 

Location and travel: The role will be based in the Somaliland Ministry of Planning and National Development in Hargeisa. 
 

Travel to selected Regions / Districts within Somaliland will be required, to conduct consultations and other interactive undertakings, subject to relevant project and EU rules and regulations, including security protocols and the outcome of contemporary security assessments. 
 

Start date & duration / Input: The assignment will comprise a total of 220 working days, delivered over a period not exceeding twelve (12) calendar months from the date of first commencement. 
 

Deadline for submission of CVs: not later than 19th March 2026

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.