Country Representative – Kenya/Somalia Mission

BACKGROUND ON IMPACT AND REACH

IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO whose headquarter is based in Paris and is present in thirty countries. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, enabling IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its fields of intervention.

We are currently looking for a Country Representative to oversee our team in Kenya and Somalia

Position: Country Representative

Contract duration: 12 months

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Start Date: 1 March 2025

Deadline to apply: 28 January 2025

COUNTRY PROFILE

Somalia has been experiencing a multi-layered, complex, and protracted crisis over the past three decades, in particular, due to periodic disasters and climate-driven shocks, such as droughts and flooding. This has led to much internal displacement resulting in large IDP populations in urban areas. IMPACT began working in Somalia/Somaliland in 2012 in order to fill information gaps and provide timely data on the humanitarian needs of displaced and vulnerable populations. The compound and complex nature of the crisis continues to influence displacement patterns and constrain the availability of resources, while the presence of armed groups severely impedes the level of access and support provided by humanitarian actors.

In 2016 REACH was deployed in Kenya and has since then been providing information on the needs and intentions of refugees residing in the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps. Beyond the multi-sectoral focused work, IMPACT has become the go-to partner of the Kenya and Somali Cash Consortia, covering the post-distribution monitoring in a variety of contexts and multi-purpose cash programs

Kenya and Somalia have faced cyclical shocks of climate-induced displacement and conflict-driven crises, creating persistent and complex humanitarian needs. Prolonged droughts, exacerbated by the worsening impacts of climate change, have decimated livelihoods dependent on agriculture and pastoralism, forcing millions to abandon their homes in search of water, food, and pasture. Simultaneously, ongoing conflict and insecurity, particularly in Somalia, have displaced countless individuals and hindered access to essential services and humanitarian assistance. These dual crises have compounded vulnerabilities, stretching the capacities of local and international actors to provide timely and effective responses. In recent years, these shocks have intensified, amplifying the urgency for sustainable solutions that address the underlying drivers of vulnerability while meeting immediate humanitarian needs.

POSITION PROFILE

Under the management of IMPACT’s Regional Coordinator, the Country Representative (CR) is responsible for representing IMPACT and managing and developing IMPACT’s programs in Kenya and Somalia. Within their mission, the Country Representative leads the IMPACT team to achieve program excellence and ensure the highest level of impact and accountability, while ensuring compliance to IMPACT’s guidelines and standards. The Country Representative contributes to the development and implementation of IMPACT’s country strategy and promotes organizational vision and core values across the mission.

The Country Representative will be hosted by ACTED and will fall under the direct responsibility and management of ACTED’s Country Director and their delegates for all Administrative, Security, Logistics, HR and Finance issues. They will therefore fully abide by ACTED’s Security, HR, Administration and Logistics rules and regulations, and, in coordination with ACTED, will ensure IMPACT staff in their unit abide by them.

The position will be based in Nairobi, with regular visits to Mogadishu and other bases in Somalia and Kenya.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Country Representative responsibilities include the following:

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

• Ensure IMPACT has an up-to-date understanding of Kenya and Somalia’s socio-economic situation(s), respectively, the impact of the crisis, as well as the aid/humanitarian coordination mechanisms and the spectrum of aid from humanitarian to development spaces
• Develop and oversee the implementation of a Country Strategy/ies for the mission, and take a lead role in identifying strategic opportunities for strengthening IMPACT’s work in both countries, including identify funding opportunities to strengthen country programs and move into dynamic spaces, including development and climate research
• Ensure each Unit within the mission develops and pursues a Unit Strategy that is aligned with the Country Strategy objectives

FUNDRAISING

• In close coordination with IMPACT HQ, approach donors to identify funding to support IMPACT’s programs in country, including both current and new potential donors to understand the data needs within the respective Kenyan and Somali contexts;
• Oversee project proposal conceptualization, within the framework of the countries, regional and global strategy, and budget design, in consultation with ACTED and IMPACT HQ, ensuring the application of IMPACT guidelines on proposal, budget and contract design; including pursuing new partnerships within the country and fostering strong relationships and capacity building opportunities with local organizations and authorities;
• Negotiate proposal and/or contracts with donors, in close coordination with IMPACT HQ and in consultation with ACTED Country Director (when joint proposal/contract).
• Maintain relationships with current donors and partners to understand how current research and products are influencing the response and the upcoming needs for decision-makers in the respective countries.

PROGRAMME PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

• Ensure that all IMPACT programs contribute to supporting better aid planning and are aligned with IMPACT global and country strategies;
• Supervise all stages of program implementation, receiving regular updates from team members providing inputs when required, and conducting field visits to program sites for monitoring, quality control and program staff mentoring and coaching;
• Ensure dissemination of research products in a timely manner as well as oversight on how IMPACT research is used in the response, including national analytical processes (such as IPC and JIAF) and that analysis is accessible to all stakeholders;
• Maintain regular link with ACTED (as relevant) to facilitate the provision of logistic, administrative and security support to facilitate program implementation, as well as ensuring that IMPACT teams comply to ACTED’s security and other relevant FLAT regulations during program implementation;

PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT

• Grant and Project Management: ensure that contractual obligations are met in terms of deliverables as well as narrative and financial reporting requirements, provide ad-hoc support to project implementation through trouble shooting and eliminating blocking points and ensure adequate contribution to project and proposal follow up tools
• Review of research products
• Finance Management: Control project budgets to avoid under/over spending, ensure accurate and timely financial tracking, forecasting and reporting and anticipate financial risks and gaps in funding;

TEAM MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

• Provide leadership across the mission, as well as within the country Senior Management Team, transmitting IMPACT’s values and vision
• Staff Management: Ensure that all staff have clear and regularly updated TORs, workplans and Key performance Indicators against which their performance will be appraised, promote the growth and development of staff within the organisation and manage interpersonal conflicts (internal and external);
• Directly line manage Deputy Country Representative, (Senior) Operations Manager, GIS team and Kenya Research Manager to support on the linkages between programmatic inputs and the operational implications and support their individual growth and unit/team strategies
• Support managers to effectively lead their teams and encourage growth, creativity and trajectory of individuals’ career
• Administration and HR management: Ensure transparent and timely recruitment of national staff and contribute to international staff recruitment upon HQ identification, proactively adapt the staffing structure to needs and funding and ensure regular performance appraisal and career management

INTERNAL COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION

• Facilitate internal communication within the team and information sharing, ensure regular reporting to IMPACT HQ, as well as direct reporting to HQ grants management, finance, HR and program departments. Ensure that any risk to IMPACT programming, projects or staff is as soon as possible communicated to and understood by IMPACT director of country programmes and relevant HQ head of departments
• Foster an environment of sharing achievements and challenges, to promote learning and best practices across teams and units.
• Ensure regular coordination with ACTED’s Country Director, Project Development, Finance and other FLAT departments at all stages of project development and implementation, including consultations for donor discussions, participation in project kick off and lessons learnt meetings, joint drafting of monthly internal updates and drafting of donor reports or amendment requests. Ensure that all IMPACT staff is aware and fully abide by ACTED’s regulations in terms of administration, logistics and security

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

• Establish, maintain and improve active and regular working relationships with coordination platforms (clusters, sectors, working groups, NGO forum, HCT, etc), UN agencies, donors, NGOs, consortia, academia, and key decision-making forums;
• Foster strong partnerships and relationships with critical stakeholders in the response, including maintaining presences as a Core Member of the IPC Group in Somalia
• Identify potential opportunities and develop donor relationships, as relevant
• Regularly meet with partners and donors for opportunities to present critical findings from research cycles, both within organized forums as well as bilateral engagements.

REQUIREMENTS

• Years of work experience At least 5 years of relevant working experience in the humanitarian field or proven progression within IMPACT.
• Management experience Previous experience in a senior management role in an INGO at field level. Proven track record in successful management of international and national teams in humanitarian contexts, with particular understanding of the nuance of staff welfare in hardship locations.
• Leadership skills Ability to motivate and encourage teams, while providing critical understanding of priorities and impact of work.
• Familiarity with aid system Good understanding of the aid system and the research community, both humanitarian and development experience is an asset.
• Research skills Excellent research and analytical skills an asset. Experience in assessments. M&E, field research, evaluations an asset.
• Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to high level presentations/briefings. Experience engaging with donors and external actors.
• Experience in geographical region Past experience in the region/supporting is desirable;
• Academic qualifications Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Research, Economics, Development Studies, or similar)
• Software skills Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software an asset
• Multi-tasking skills Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles in complex environment; ability to prioritize and triage amongst competing priorities.
• Level of independence A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently; while also able to delegate and support on staff’s growth
• Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility and respect for diversity
• Language skills Fluency in English required, competency in Somali and/or Swahili is an asset.

CONDITIONS

• For this position, salary between 5’520 CHF and 5’640 CHF monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 500 USD NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
• Accommodation and food provided in a guesthouse.
• Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance.
• Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered).
• R&R after 2-3 months (flight ticket up to 500$ + 200$ of living allowance) if duty station allows
• Contribution to the luggage transportation: between 20 and 100 kgs, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance)
• Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable.
• Predeparture induction – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’ HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-days in situ security training;
• IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees.

How to apply

Submit your application using the link below. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Country Representative – Kenya/Somalia Mission Impact