Country Director – Horn of Africa

Organisation Background

Founded in 2011, the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) is an international non-governmental organisation that supports humanitarian aid workers by establishing safety coordination platforms in insecure contexts. INSO provides registered NGOs with a range of free services, including real-time incident tracking, analytical reports, safety-related data and mapping, crisis management support, staff orientations and training.

INSO provides daily support to more than 1000 NGOs operating in 16 of the world’s most insecure countries.

INSO is registered in the Netherlands with its headquarters based in The Hague, the international city of peace and justice.

INSO Horn of Africa

INSO Horn of Africa was launched in 2019 as a regional entity regrouping INSO Kenya existing since 2012 and INSO Somalia existing since 2015. INSO HoA office is based in Hargeisa, Somaliland, coordinating and supporting INSO’s activities in Kenya, Somalia, and Somaliland.

Job Summary

As Country Director you will lead, manage and direct program implementation. You will use your solid program and human resources management skills and be a natural and confident leader, communicator, consensus-builder and networker. You will combine keen intellect and analytical skills with pragmatism, patience and a good sense of humour. You enjoy the challenge of translating strategic concepts into workable practices in difficult environments. Ideally, you will come from an NGO/humanitarian background (senior management and programs). The Country Director is based in Hargeisa, Somaliland and reports to the Regional Director- East Africa

Major Responsibilities:

Program Leadership and Management

• Provide engaged, effective leadership across the program, ensuring that it performs across all functions – program delivery, finance, operations, human resources, etc.
• Develop and deliver annual program planning, aligning program development strategy with realistic assumptions of future funding.
• Manage INSO Horn of Africa’s donor relations and produce high-quality, compelling proposals and progress reports that underscore our impact.
• Line-manage the leads of programs, finance, and operations teams.
• Promote and exemplify a culture of openness and collaboration.

Service Delivery

• Develop and maintain a nuanced personal understanding of the Somali and Kenyan contexts and the prevailing challenges to humanitarian safety and access.
• Supervise all INSO Kenya and Somalia service delivery, ensuring that program targets are met, quality is maintained and that services remain relevant and responsive.
• Deliver strategic analysis to senior humanitarian leadership, including through monthly directors’ briefings, quarterly analytical reports and as needed on request.
• Lead crisis management support to NGO partners during critical incidents.

Essential Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Previous experience as an NGO country director or senior program manager, preferably in Somalia or the region.
• Solid understanding of principles and practices in broad humanitarian action.
• Master’s Degree-level of education or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 5 years in conflict affected contexts.
• Minimum 5 years in an NGO senior management role.
• Proven analytical skills and experience producing and editing analytical products.
• Experience with grant management, donor proposals and reporting.
• Excellent networking, diplomatic and representative communication skills.

Preferred Characteristics:

• Recent experience in Somalia or a similar context.
• Previous INSO experience (as a team member, member of INSO’s country advisory board or beneficiary).
• Knowledge of Somali language.
• Direct experience and involvement in a crisis management role.
• Existing local information networks and contacts.
• Experience and interest in data management, analytics, and research.

Key Personal Competencies:

• A people manager
• Calm in stressful situations
• A good listener
• An effective communicator
• Team player
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent analytical skills

Terms & Conditions:

12-month renewable contract with competitive salary and benefits. This position is open to national and international candidates and is based in Hargeisa, Somaliland.

INSO’s Safeguarding Policy

INSO is fully committed to safe recruitment, selection and vetting of all potential new staff, trustees and volunteers and we will ensure rigorous compliance with our Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policy throughout the recruitment process.