Solutions Advisor , Seconded to UNHCR (P5)

Operational context

Achieving solutions for internally displaced people remains a key priority for the Government of Somalia, Somalia as framed under the National Solutions Strategy (2020-2024) and as reflected in the National Development Plan (NDP). It is also an essential dimension of peacebuilding, socio-economic transformation, poverty reduction, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the country.

The displacement context in Somalia is multifaceted and long-standing. A mass caseload of primarily urban, protracted internally displaced persons is estimated to range between 2,900,000 (OCHA / IDMC) and 3,100,000 (CCCM Cluster) million people. There remain 30,024 refugees and asylum seekers within Somalia, while 87,544 Somali refugees have returned to Somalia and 765,983 Somali refugees remain living outside Somalia.

In follow-up to the report of the High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement (Shining A Light on Internal Displacement: A Vision for the Future), the UN Secretary-General issued his Action Agenda on Internal Displacement laying out commitments for comprehensive and stepped-up collective action to address internal displacement and durable solutions. In concert with the recommendations of the High-Level Panel’s report, the Action Agenda frames government leadership as a primary enabler of Solutions and a principle objective of UN support in advancing IDP solutions.  Additionally, the Action Agenda is intended to better engage development partner planning and financing as a primary driver of IDP Solutions requirements in key areas such as infrastructure, health and education. The Action Agenda features concrete follow-up commitments by UN system entities as well as calls on other key stakeholders, including Member States and International Financial Institutions, to step up efforts to advance solutions to internal displacement, while strengthening prevention, assistance and protection efforts.  In order to strengthen UN leadership and accountability on durable solutions, the Secretary-General has appointed a time-bound Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement, Mr. Robert Piper. He has also established an interagency Steering Group on Internal Displacement Solutions to help galvanize UN wide action and reform.  At country level, the Secretary General’s Action Agenda designates UN Resident Coordinators to lead comprehensive solutions efforts in conjunction with governments, the UN system and partners.  Under the work of the Special Advisor, 15 pilot countries including Somalia have been established to define and test modalities for implementation of the Action Agenda under national government priorities.

Somalia as a pilot country continues a strong legacy of IDP solutions-oriented efforts over previous years, including investments by the UN and international community aimed at advancing IDP Solutions through advisory support, expertise and the establishment of a focal point unit within the Resident Coordinator’s Office.  These efforts have formed a strong foundation and alignment to the goals of the Action Agenda, and have led to the establishment of the Government’s National Solutions Strategy 2020-2024, which is the product of coordinated, government-wide efforts led by the Durable Solutions Unit within Somalia’s Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, and which has strong links to national development planning, disaster risk reduction efforts, and broader peace and security goals.  The National Solutions Strategy 2020-2024 provides the basis for strong Government leadership in framing and delivering solutions to internally displaced persons and displacement-affected communities alike.  The Strategy builds on previous legal, policy and international frameworks including the Government’s 2020 IDP Policy, and a process to finalize a dedicated IDP law. Collectively, these efforts will continue to help operationalize frameworks such as the Nairobi Declaration on Durable Solutions for Somali Refugees and Reintegration of Returnees in Somalia, the New   York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, and the application of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) alongside the domestication of the Kampala Convention in Somalia.

Aim of the mission

While advancing the objectives of the Action Agenda, and in direct support to government leadership on IDP Solutions especially in operationalizing the objectives and commitments outlined in the Government of Somalia’s National Solutions Strategy (2020-2024), the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office requires an Advisor for IDP solutions-related efforts across the UN country team, with the Government, and international partners.  The Solutions Advisor will provide direct support to the Resident Coordinator’s functions in relation to the SG’s Action Agenda and in support of the lead role of the Government on IDP Solutions in order to ensure active coordination of an integrated, coherent and effective effort to advance IDP solutions in Somalia.

Objectives

• Advance coordination, resourcing and technical support to Government leadership and commitments for IDP Solutions under the National Solutions Strategy, including mobilization of UN, private sector and international development partners.
• Support the prioritization, coherence, effectiveness of internal displacement solutions coordination in Somalia within and beyond the UN System.
• Advance internal displacement solutions coordination on internal displacement as part of the advancement of the Action Agenda, Nexus   the New Way of Working.
• Support internal displacement solutions coordination to strengthen the operational coordination on Centrality of Protection
• Support data and information production to deliver fact-based advocacy and support for internal displacement solutions. Strengthen the support to localized solutions coordination in field locations.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head of the Integrated Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC in Somalia, the Solutions Advisor will:

• Support the RC, the UN Country Team (UNCT), the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and UNSOM, as well as Programme Management Team and Inter Cluster Coordination Group in their collective programmatic and operational efforts toward providing solutions for displacement affected communities (IDPs, returnees and their hosts), particularly through the implementation of the Government’s National Solutions Strategy, and the related activities of the National Development Plan (NDP), the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the joint and collective efforts of the Government, UN system, local and international partners:
• Provide strategic advice to the RC on all matters pertaining solutions to internal displacement.
• Under the supervision of the Head of the Integrated Office, lead and manage the work of the Internal Displacement Solutions Unit.  Provide supervisory oversight over the work of other Solutions Unit staff, including the Data Officer, the Advocacy and Communications Officer, the Urban Displacement Advisor, and national Durable Solutions Field Coordination Officers.
• Track and analyze current and future solutions programming by the United Nations Country Team in Somalia.  This includes the programming which is both within the Joint Cooperation Framework, and that which is not included.
• Support resource mobilization activities for internal displacement solutions activities.
• Coordinate and support the development/dissemination of regular communication material on internal displacement solutions.
• Perform any other task as assigned by the Resident Coordinator or Head of the RC Office.
• Maintain positive working relations and manage information flows between and among key stakeholders including government counterparts, UN focal points/Agencies, INGOs, private sector, civil society and the donor community.
• Engage with relevant Government entities involved in solutions to internal displacement.  This includes frequent contact with authorities at both capital and local level.
• Support the Resident Coordinator in convening the UN Solutions Group at the Head of Agency level.
• Update the Office of the Special Advisor on Solutions to Internal Displacement, to update and review progress on IDP Solutions and the Action Agenda.
• Actively engage development partners, including International Financial Institutions (IFI’s) in planning and implementation of Solutions efforts, convening a regular discussion of development-focused priorities on the IDP Solutions agenda.
• Establish and maintain a network of key stakeholders, including with FGS/FMS counterparts, NGOs, donor community, diaspora, private sector.
• Contribute to relevant policy dialogue and policy development processes such updates to the Government’s National Development Plan, the UN’s Common Country Analysis, and including relevant regional initiatives such as the Nairobi Declaration on Durable Solutions for Somali Refugees and Reintegration of returnees in Somalia and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF).
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with relevant partners such as the World Bank, NGOs (NGO consortium, ReDDS, etc.), IGAD, AFDB, IDLO.
• Support knowledge sharing and information management within and outside the UN System.
• Actively participate in global practice networks on durable solutions and other knowledge networking forums (i.e. World Bank Displacement and Development community of practice, Global Early Recovery Cluster, etc.) and share relevant information with UN agencies.
• Support the Government of Somalia at National and Sub national level.
• Maintain regular contact with relevant government counterparts toward realization of Government commitments on Solutions and implementation of the priorities established by the Federal Government of Somalia, and the operational requirements of affected communities and local and municipal government at the Federal Member State level in Somalia.
• Support the capacity of government at federal, sub-federal and local levels including on data management to facilitate reporting, monitoring and evaluation of solutions-oriented activities, and exploring possibilities to solicit nation-wide partnerships to achieve solutions.
• Support government-led efforts in the finalization of the proposed law on the protection of and solutions for internally displaced persons.
• Coordinate the engagement of humanitarian and development stakeholders in planning, data management and financing for solutions and strengthening prevention and assistance efforts.
• Support advocacy and knowledge sharing activities with national/subnational/local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to promote the understanding of durable solutions and build the capacities of the government to provide durable solutions to its citizens.

 Profile

 Experience

• 12 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing technical and management advisory services.
• At least 7 years of experience in either public sector (national or multilateral, including UN), private (academia, non-governmental sector, corporate), with increasing level of responsibility. At least 4 years of experience in crisis and fragile settings with strong relevant experience in forced displacement and development/durable solutions.
• Demonstrated managerial and leadership experience; demonstrated experience in programming, partnership development and resource mobilization; interagency/ multi-stakeholder coordination, excellent coordination, negotiation and communication skills, as well as ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners (public, private, civil society and academia).
• Experience in engaging development community partners, including Multilateral Development Banks and in the implementation of national development programmes and planning.
• Experience in protection programmes with in-depth knowledge of the main protection and humanitarian standards       Knowledge of the UN RC system and UN Missions is desirable.
• Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter- relationships among international organization and national governments.
• Previous experience in development or recovery planning is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with the UN, particularly the UN Reform Agenda.
• Solid experience in usage of MS Office package and web-based management systems.

 Essential requirements

• Language requirements: Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement.
• Advanced education degree in Development, International Relations, Political Science, Economics, Human Rights, Migration Studies, International and Humanitarian Law or related field. An equivalent of 3 years of professional experience in those fields can be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Integrity.
• Professionalism Respect for diversity.

Duration: starting date asap, for up to 12 months

Duty Station: Mogadishu, Ethiopia

Contact: SHA contract.

This position is exclusively open to Swiss citizens (or Lichtenstein) or holder of a valid working permit (C permit) in Switzerland. Candidates who do not fulfil this condition will not receive response.

Thank you to send your application at the earliest to:  

Isabelle Mellana (isabelle.mellana@eda.admin.ch)
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
Humanitarian Aid
Field Resources H
Eichenweg 5
3003 Berne