National Project Coordinator.

Posted 1 week ago

Job description
Terms of Reference of National Project Coordinator
Name of the Project: Bulsho Program – Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Resilience.
Assignment Title: National Project Coordinator.
Project ID: P508408
Duration: 12 months with 3 months of probationary period) and renewable upon satisfactory performance.
Duty Station: Mogadishu with extensive field visits to FMS, districts and communities as necessary.
Background
A National Project Coordinator is required to support the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation of the Federal Government of Somalia – FGS in the implementation of a World Bank-
financed Bulsho Project – Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Resilience (P508408). The Bulsho Project provides three years of initial anchor financing to the
government’s multi-year Bulsho Program, the main objective of which is to strengthen community and local institutions for improved social cohesion, inclusion, and resilience. The Project is targeting
effectiveness by June 30, 2025. To lead the Bulsho Project Coordination Unit (PCU) the Federal Government’s Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation – MOIFAR is seeking to hire a
National Project Coordinator to lead the federal PCU and the Bulsho Project overall.
Bulsho Program and World Bank Project Financing:
The Bulsho Project – Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Resilience (P508408) is under the lead of the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation – MoIFAR of the
Federal Government of Somalia and responsible for the national program called Bulsho, the Somali word for society. The Bulsho Program puts citizens and communities at the center of the government’s action.
The Bulsho Program is a Somali government-led initiative designed to strengthen community and local institutions, fostering social cohesion, inclusion, and resilience. As Somalia continues its recovery from two decades of civil war, the program places a strong emphasis on enhancing service delivery, rebuilding the social contract, and promoting community-centered governance. This uniquely Somali-owned and -driven initiative underscores government ownership and leadership at federal, member state, and district
levels, ensuring institutional sustainability and the realization of key policy outcomes.
The Bulsho Program is anchored in the government’s “triple-nexus” objectives, focusing on three interrelated policy priorities:
1. Supporting the realization of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States’ (FMS) Decentralization Policy and Local Government laws/Wadajir Framework, which aim to strengthen the roles of community institutions and local governments.
Advancing the National Stabilization Strategy (NSS) policy objectives by prioritizing stabilized districts, including those with interim or permanent district councils.
3. Contributing to the revised National Reconciliation Framework, focusing on social reconciliation, restoring the social contract, rebuilding trust between people and the government, promoting
social recovery, and fostering environmental peacebuilding The development objective of the Bulsho Program is to strengthen community and local institutions for improved social cohesion, inclusion, and resilience. The project will contribute to:
• Social cohesion: Enhancing the citizen-state social contract.
• Social inclusion: Empowering marginalized groups, including women and youth.
• Social resilience: Strengthening collective capacity to respond to local conflicts and climate-induced shocks.
The Bulsho Program operates within a “continuum” framework, spanning recovery, stabilization, reconciliation, and sustainable local governance. This phased approach ensures seamless transitions from immediate recovery efforts to long-term governance and institutional strengthening. The program prioritizes hard-to-reach and remote districts but remains inclusive of all regions to ensure comprehensive national coverage and impact.
Key Bulsho Project Support Areas
The Bulsho Project will provide support to achieve its objectives through:
1. Technical support and capacity buildingTechnical support and capacity building for community and local governments.
2. Matching grantsMatching grants for investments in basic services and livelihoods.
3. InnovationsInnovations promoting empowerment, inclusion, accountability, and resilience, such as:
• Collective action allowances for women and youth.
• Financial transparency platforms.
• Digital planning tools for communities.
Project Roles and Responsibilities
The Bulsho Project builds on existing institutional structures and aims to enhance the relationship between the FGS, FMS, local governments and communities including hard-to-reach areas, with an
overarching objective to Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Resilience and also building the trust between government and citizens. The Project promotes
coordination and cooperation both vertically and horizontally within Government and with communities.
The Project Coordination Unit (PCU) will have the responsibility for the day-to day management of donor- funded projects under the Bulsho program. The secretariat will work under the oversight of the TWG.
During the first phase of the program (year 1 to 5), the secretariat will be composed of a dedicated team of technical specialists, recruited on a competitive basis, who will be supervised by MoIFAR DG. The specialists’ team will work closely with the existing team from the MoIFAR Department of Local Governance. The specialists’ team role will be to train and coach the Department of Local Governance team, so that the latter can progressively take over management responsibilities for the Bulsho program.
It is expected that in the second phase (year 6 to 10), the team from the Department of Local Governance will be able to manage the Bulsho program with minimal support from donor-funded specialists.
The national Secretariat will have the role of: (i) coordinating the implementation of Bulsho program and ensuring alignment with the overall program objectives and plans; (ii) providing project management expertise and support to the secretariat at the FMS levels responsible for implementing the Bulsho Project (iii) implementing a robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track the progress, performance and impact of the program; (iv) organizing and facilitating coordination meetings, including TWG and PSC meetings, as well as other key meetings with program stakeholders; (v) compiling the reports from the FMS to produce consolidated reports for the Bulsho Program (progress and annual reports) for the TWG and the PSC.
At FMS level, MoI will establish state Project Implementation Unit (PIU) which will be coordinated by the national secretariat. Similarly to the national secretariat, in the first phase of the program, the state
secretariats’ role will be to train and coach the teams from the FMS MoIs Departments of Local Governance, so that the latter can progressively take over management responsibilities for the Bulsho program. It is expected that in the second phase of the program, the teams from the FMS MoI Departments of Local Governance will be able to manage the Bulsho program with minimal support from the state secretariats.
The state secretariats will be responsible for: (i) reviewing the designs of the proposed local and community investments – drawing from technical expertise from sector ministers, or the program facilitating partners when such expertise is missing in the ministries; (ii) overseeing the disbursement of funds to districts and towns/villages; (iii) ensuring compliance of local investments with national laws and regulations and Bulsho procedures; and (iv) ensuring sustainability of local investments by mobilizing the necessary resources from sector ministries and development partners (for example, teachers for schools, nurses and supplies for health posts, etc.).
The Project Secretariat of national and state secretariats, as well as MoIFAR and MoIs Departments for
Local Governance, will be trained in program management, procurement, financial management and safeguards policies and procedures of the donors that will fund the projects under the Bulsho program,
including World Bank policies and procedures. In the early stages of Bulsho program implementation, the WB will provide mentoring and intensive implementation support.
Bulsho National Project Coordinator – Roles and Responsibilities
Purpose of the role – on behalf of the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation – MOIFAR of
the Federal Government of Somalia – FGS that is the lead implementation agency, be responsible for project
management and leadership of the Bulsho Project and MOIFAR FGS DG will be overall lead of Bulsho
Project.
The Bulsho Project Coordinator will lead and manage the day-to-day implementation of the Bulsho Project
across the country and ensure its alignment with government priorities and policies both National, State
and Local Government levels. The Coordinator will work closely with key stakeholders including Federal
Ministries, FMS, Local Government Authorities and development partners to achieve the project’s
objectives. The Coordinator will also support the facilitating and advising on districts selection process as
well as other key identified activities in coordination with the FMS secretariat and TWG based on
government priorities and ensuring that the submitted annual work plans and right districts are selected
by the Programme Steering Committee, in line with the Bulsho project development objective. Ensuring
that the activities and priorities in the approved annual work plans are being done in the right way, by
ensuring compliance to standards and timely actions on non-compliance. Ensure that the implemented
project activities are delivering the results to its stakeholders and wider beneficiaries and their value is
being felt. Provide ongoing leadership and direction to reporting staff and teams.
Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination
• Identify, engage, and manage national, FMS and Local Government stakeholders, represent Bulsho
project in various high-level ministerial coordination and political forums to attract the right-level
of engagement and support. This includes the formal adoption, implementation and monitoring of
MOUs with participating MDAs.
• Engage actively with the World Bank for efficient management of resources, timely and transparent
management of risks and issues, and ensuring compliance to standards and safeguards, such as as
trouble-shooting, formal procurement requests, withdrawal applications, reporting, and support
organizing, conducting and concluding various project implementation support missions. Ensure
timely and quality reporting and maintenance of the Rolling Work Plan.
• Facilitate particpatory plannning in both FGS FMS and Local Government project identification and
community engagement to ensure inclusivity of Bulsho Project .
• Actively manage wider stakeholder relations through external communications via – mass-media,
social media channels, project website, and/or project newsletters etc. as per an updated
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Management Strategy and Plan, maximizing project
branding and visibility while enhancing citizen/state trust.
• Assure timely and transparent documentation, reporting on, and communicating of progress and
results achieved internally and to key stakeholder groups and beneficiaries, enhancing the visibility
amongst all stakeholders and citizens of the Somali Government as delivering critical services.
• Foster partnerships with key stakeholders, including Federal, FMS, local governments,
development partners and local communities to ensure project’s equal ownership to all.
Project Management:
• Oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of Bulsho project activities.
• Oversee the day-to-day implementation of project activities according to the approved work plan
at both Federal, State and local governments.
• Ensure to keep track of the project’s efforts to enhance MDAs’ capacity for implementation,
monitoring and supervision of activities implemented by sector MDAs and Implementing partners.
• Ensure engagement of the Independent Verification Agent to provide more timely monitoring of
completed project activities across all components of Bulsho Project.
• Lead the development of detailed project work plans, including timelines, resource needs, and key milestones.
• Ensure alignment of the project with national development, State Development and District
Development priorities (National Transformation Plant – NTP) and World Bank expectations of Bulsho Project.
• Support the integration of cross-cutting themes such as gender, sustainability, resilience and inclusion.
• Facilitate coordination meetings, technical working groups, and stakeholder consultations as well
as building and maintaining strong partnerships to support Bulsho Project Objectives.
Stakeholder Coordination:
• Facilitating communication and collaboration among project stakeholders including Government
(Local Governments/Districts, Federal Member States and Federal Government), communities and
World Bank as well as organizing and facilitating other key meetings with program stakeholders; .
Organize both Technical Working Group – TWG and the Project Steering Committee – PSC
periodically, in close coordination and consultation with MOIFAR DG plan and facilitate the agenda
and documentation and dissemination of decisions, ensure efficient and evidence-based decision-making.
• Ensure alignment of Bulshor project activities with the existing mechanisms of governance,
stabilization, reconciliation and service delivery programs along with aligning of the FGS and FMS
MDAs on planning and prioritization. Ensure adequate support is provisioned through the PCU and
PIU operations support functions.
• Ensure timely, consultative effective, and transparent decisions on matters pertaining to the
project, and that they are communicated clearly and in a transparent manner to the secretariat
staff and partners, as applicable.
Resource Management:
• In close consultation and teamwork with the Bulsho Project Teams (PCU and PIU) develop and
maintain resource plans aligned with the Bulsho Project objectives, timelines and deliverables.
• Identify required resources such as (human, financial and material) and coordinate their allocation
across Bulsho Project Activities.
• Lead and work closely with the project teams both PCU and PIU to ensure optimal use of resources
without over-or underutilization of Bulsho Project.
• Responsible for the overall Bulsho Annual Work Plans – AWP, authorizing funds requisitions,
budgets, and disbursements, while ensuring the project resources are put to good use. Ensure
transparency of funds flow at all times, through maintenance of up-to-date and accurate accounts,
facilitate audits for assurance, and ensure corrective actions are taken.
• Manage all aspects of Bulsho project finances including establishment of an efficient process and
its implementation to capture all inflow and outflow of funds, to facilitate budgeting, planning,
monitoring, forecasting, control, and periodic reporting.
• Manage procurement needs of the Bulsho by establishing and maintaining a standard process,
including that some procurement activities be prior review, and ensure that required Bank
Procurement standards, guidelines are applied to ensure transparency, fairness, and integrity in all
dealings with implementing partners and suppliers. Identify the procurement needs of the project
at all levels, by coordinating project secretariats both National and FMS secretariat, maintain a
central procurement plan, conduct procurements, administer contracts, close contracts, ensure
partners deliver on the Bulsho needs while valuing the partnership.
• Organize and manage the logistical needs of the Project Teams, along with access to necessary
tools and infrastructure, and see that they are utilized efficiently.
• Ensure proper close out procedures are initiated, including fast-tracking pending activities to
maximize benefits by the project closing date.
Reporting:
• Oversee the preparation and submission of all required Bulsho Project reports (monthly, quarterly,
annually and progress) in a timely and accurate manner.
• Preparing and submitting regular progress reports to the project steering committee and World Bank.
Ensure all reports comply with World Bank and Federal Government of Somalia – FGS
requirements, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Review all Bulsho Project reports for accuracy, consistency and completeness before submitting to the World Bank and FGS.
• Provide guidance and templates to the Bulsho Project teams both (PCU and PIU) to ensure
uniformity in report writing documentation across Bulsho Project.
Document lessons learned, best practices and success stories of Bulsho Project to complement the other
similar ongoing projects and also inform future programming.
Compliance:
• Oversee all aspects of project preparation and day-to-day implementation of the project, in line
with the directives and compliance requirements set out in the Financing Agreement (FA), Project
POM, Project Appraisal Document (PAD), various environmental and social safeguards instruments
under the project, and the project management framework. New processes are developed, and
existing ones are improved based on evolving needs. Processes are cascaded to the teams and IPs
with necessary guidance and support to ensure adoption and compliance.
• Provide oversight and technical guidance to the technical specialist to ensure their workstreams
and sectoral activities are implemented effectively and achieve the desired results.
• Ensure quality and timely submission of monthly and quarterly work and procurement plans and
Ensuring adherence to project guidelines, policies, and regulations.
• Track expenditures against allocated budgets and report variances in a timely manner to ensure
compliance with financial policies and World Bank requirements together with the World Bank’s
procedures and regulations.
• Oversee the overall staff performance management, by ensuring that the process is understood
and implemented across the Project teams, half-yearly and annual evaluations are conducted
timely, and that it drives the overall project performance and evidence-based contract renewals.
• Provide ongoing direction and guidance to the Bulsho Project team both PCU and PIU engage
actively to ensure individual and team alignment in coordination with the Technical Working Group
– TWG (MoIs FMS DGs and MOIFAR, FGS DG).
• Ensure monitoring of project-related risks, such as safety and security incidents, and maintaining
risk logs, in line with the Security Management Framework and ensure its implementation across
the Bulsho and integrated into the IP plans and activities for security protection, emergency
response, and duty of care of personnel working on and for the project and its components as well
as protection of assets, and report on any potentially fraudulent activities under the project
Sustainability
• Guide the Project teams both PCU and PIU in coordination with the Director Generals – DGs of
both MOIFAR FGS and MoIs FMS to develop a transition and capacity building strategy. Currently,
these partners provide heavy support in the form of procurement, contract management,
monitoring and compliance with safeguard requirements.
• Develop a strategy to strengthen Secretriat’s capacity to take on these functions when the external
support ends in collaboration with the respective agencies.
• To ensure complementarity of Bulsho project to other local government, early recovery and service
delivery projects coordinate with other local government actors both National and local government actors.
Forward Looking
• Support consultations with government and partners on the future direction of work started under
this phase of the project, clearly articulating the required investments for longer term resilience
building and enhanced government’s capacity.
• Continue to engage Technical Working Group – TWG, Project Steering Committee – PSC and
communities of practice structures more deeply for the resolution of any technical bottlenecks and
to support government collaboration at multiple levels for sustaining investments and maximizing impacts.
Skills and qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:
1.Educational Background
• A postgraduate degree in Governance, International Relations, Political Science, Development,
Project Management, or a related field.
2.Professional Experience
• At least 12 years of project management, coordination or implementation experience at increasing
levels of seniority.
• At least 7 years of experience in managing or coordinating large-scale government and donor-
funded local government, service institutional building programs, preferably in fragile settings.
• At least 5 years of experience in project management in Somalia
• Proven experience in capacity building, coordination, and institutional strengthening at national
State and local levels.
3.Skills
• Strong professional relationship with the Federal Member States – FMS and Local Governments
(Districts).
• Proven record of ethical good conduct with high integrity and moral values as well as strong
communication and representation skills.
• Strong organization skills
• Strong leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Proven record of working and delivering under pressure
• Project management tools and software, e.g., GANTT charts, ASANA, Monday, etc.
4.Knowledge
• Knowledge of working in multi-cultural environments and under challenging conditions.
• Knowledge of Somalia and global governance landscape and sensitivity to local contexts.
• Knowledge of Somali’s development partners particularly in the community development, social
cohesion and local governance space, i.e World Bank, United Nations, etc.,
5.Language skills/requirement.
• Excellent command in Somali language i.e. reading, writing and presenting is essential.
• Excellent command in English language i.e. reading, writing and presenting is essential
Deliverables
• Maintaining an up-to-date Project Operations Manual – POM to guide effective implementation of
Bulsho Project.
• Developing and obtaining approval for annual work plans and procurement plans in coordination
with the TWG and PSC and stakeholders.
• Preparing and submitting quarterly and monthly progress reports on project activities and key
results.
• Oversee the implementation of an Environmental and Social Safeguard instruments and tools in
alignment with Bank standards.
• Maintaining an up-to-date Secretariat staffing plan in coordination with the TWG to ensure
adequate human resources for effective implementation.
• Ensuring the establishment of an M&E plan and manage database to track project indicators and
report on progress toward objectives.
• Maintaining a log of key project risks and implementing mitigation measures where applicable.
• Ensure timely preparations and submission of end of project and sub project reports to to ensure
transparency and accountability of project funds.
• Organizing both TWG and PSC meetings, taking minutes and records as well as circulating of the
meeting minutes.
Duration of Assignment
The coordinator will be contracted for up to 3 years with a 3 months probationary period, one-year
extensions each year based on performance. Emphasizing government ownership, institutional
strengthening, and inclusive engagement, the Bulsho Project will serve as a cornerstone for Somalia’s
efforts to foster stability, governance, resilience and sustainable development, with a focus on reaching
marginalized, remote communities and hard-to-reach areas.
Reporting Obligations
The National Project Coordinator will report to the Director General – DG of the Ministry of Interior, Federal
Affairs and Reconciliation – MOIFAR of the Federal Government of Somalia – FGS.
Duty Station
Mogadishu, with extensive field visits to FMS, districts and communities as necessary.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications, including a detailed updated CV and
cover letter, outlining their experience and qualifications in relation to the role marked with the
subject title of the position (Bulsho- National Project Coordinator) by the following email
address: info@moifar.gov.so latest by 25th May 2025 at 11:59 PM Mogadishu time.
May 2025 at 11:59 PM Mogadishu time.
Attention:
Bulsho Project
Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation
Federal Government of Somalia
Mogadishu, Somalia

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