Project Manager ICSE - Bossaso, Puntland, Somalia (SC UK)

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INTRODUCTION
Save the Children has a long history of engagement in Somalia and in Somaliland stretching as far back as 1954. In more recent times (since 1992) Save the Children UK has maintained an operational office in Hiran Region in what is now called the Central South Zone of Somalia (CSS). Since 2000, both Save the Children Denmark and Save the Children UK have been working in Somaliland. In 2004, Save the Children UK established an office in Puntland State in response to the Tsunamis and continues to undertake programmes from this office while Save the Children Denmark in Puntland works through partners. In the past two years Save the Children Finland has been financially supporting the work of both Save the Children Denmark and Save the Children UK in Somalia/Somaliland.

As part of the Global Save the Children Alliance ‘Unified Presence’ initiative, Save the Children Denmark, Save the Children Finland and Save the Children UK programmes in Somalia/Somaliland unified by January 2010. By unifying the three organizations we shall be creating one single Save the Children organization in Somalia/Somaliland which has a substantial and effective portfolio of programmes that will promote the rights of children to health, nutrition, livelihoods, protection and education.

Somalia is one of the harshest places on the planet, with an extreme environment that presents huge challenges to its people just in terms of simple survival. The combination of a hostile, predominantly arid environment, difficult terrain with settlements scattered over vast distances, the legacy of a nomadic way of life and a civil conflict that has shattered social structures has led to massive internal displacement of up to 1.5 million people. The displacement of people mainly into the North East Somalia has mainly been due to the relative stability and peace throughout the conflict in Somalia. Despite being relatively peaceful, the government and social infrastructures are very weak. Most of the displaced and their families have settled in key towns of Puntland mainly Galkayo, Garowe, Qardho and Bossaso. The settlements of these IDPs have inevitably resulted into competition for scarce resources, mainly water, food and other livelihoods. As a result children mainly from the IDP community have borne the brunt of hunger, malnutrition, inability to access schooling, poor sanitation facilities and suffering from preventable diseases. All these add up to mean that the protection of children in general and their chances of surviving to productive adulthood are among the lowest as compared to other countries in the world.

Due to its relatively unscathed status, Puntland has been the destination for many of Somalia’s IDPs, particularly from the war-ravaged south. It is clear that this has led to a considerable influx of population into the region, which does not have the infrastructure to cope with such a population increase. Bossaso, Qardho and Garowe, though suffered a moderate level of physical destruction have to cope with poverty and environmental problems. Strongly affected by a large influx of IDPs, they have a limited absorption capacity because of their weak urban services. The local authorities lack capacity to provide basic services for its population.
Hence, in towns like Bossaso and Garowe, there is limited space due to the influx of the IDPs, stiff competition for water resources, limited livelihood opportunities, limited access to basic schooling as well as access to basic health, sanitation and nutrition services. The net result is a major survival and well being gap among the IDPs who normally would have the last priority in accessing the above services.

JOB PURPOSE

The Project Manager ICSE is responsible for planning, organising, directing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluation of Save the Children’s ICSE program in Puntland. The job holder is expected to have extensive professional knowledge and experience in education planning and management in addition to management of education in emergency programs in a complex environment. S/he will serve as the technical resource person for planning and execution of all the ICSE project and ensure that the objectives/results of the projects are met to the satisfaction of the beneficiaries, communities, ministries of education, SC and donors. The job would demand frequent interaction with and provision of technical support to SC INGO, government and NGO partners. The manager is also expected to effectively manage a dedicated team of local and international staff.
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