Coordinator & Lecturer in Social Science- Somali Diaspora Expert At International Organization for Migration

I. General Information

**Position:**Coordinator & Lecturer in Social Science

Position type: Diaspora Expert

Date of Issue: 5 March 2024

Duty Station: Somali National University

**Duration of Assignment:**12 months

Deadline for Applications: 26 March2024

II. Background Information

About the MIDA FINNSOM III Health and Education Project

Over the last few decades, there has been a consistent trend of migration from diverse African nations, leading to a “brain drain” that has adversely affected numerous public sector systems throughout the continent. Since 2008, the IOM Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) program has been instrumental in harnessing the expertise of Somali diaspora professionals. These professionals have actively contributed to institutional capacity building, service delivery, and policy development within health and education institutions across Somalia.

The MIDA FINNSOM phase III – Health and Education project – contributes to strengthening the health and education sectors in Somalia toward achieving specific priorities in the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) and the Essential Package for Health Services (EPHS), as prioritized and outlined by the government. The project is devoted toward contributing to the promotion of sustainable employment opportunities in the health and education sectors for local experts who will work in close coordination with the Somali diaspora experts to exchange knowledge and experiences and contribute with their requisite expertise.

Brief background of SNU and the Faculty of Education

The Somali National University (SNU) was established in 1954. SNU obtained its official university status in 1969. From 1971 to 1973, other degree courses were instituted including agriculture, chemistry, medicine, engineering, and geology. In the mid-1970s, the teacher’s college at Lafoole, one of SNU’s remote campuses, was made stand-alone institution (“Lafoole Teacher’s College”). The language of instruction was English. In 1973. The SNU developed into an institution of higher learning with twelve faculties.

The Faculty of Education and Social Sciences was known as Lafoole College of Education and had its beginning with the founding of the National Teacher Education Center in 1963. The original campus buildings have been augmented by several new structures including additional classrooms, expanded library capacities, and new laboratories. In the wake of the civil war in the early 1990s, classes at the university were suspended. After the civil war, Somali National University was reopened in 2014. The faculty now offers six academic programs at the undergraduate level that are designed to develop the intellectual, academic and professional capacity of the students enrolled. Our pre-service programs in teacher education combine disciplinary knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge with practical field experiences in areas such as science and mathematics education, language education and social science education.

III. Duties & Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities for the position would be to conduct knowledge transfer on the geographical, historical, cultural, and political factors that influence development.

Specific duties include:

• Gathering learning materials, resources and preparing lesson plans
• Setting and achieving curriculum objectives
• Engage with the Rector and other senior technical staff and ensure that the Somalia National University is linked to educational projects and Finnish higher educational institutions.
• Helping students prepare for debates or any other extra curriculum activities
• Documenting and following up on important actions and decisions from meetings.
• Prepare, and/or submit reports, work plans, and various project documents and deliverables.
• To fully utilize formative assessment in the delivery of the programme.
• Seek financial support for SNU from Higher Education Institutions Institutional Cooperation Instrument (HEIICI) Programme aims at improving research and teaching capacity as well as access to good quality teaching methods, research.
• Promote high standards in all aspects of learning, particularly by creating transformative, engaging learning experiences through innovation to reach a global audience of lifelong learners.
• Inspire and motivate SNU students and academics on the concept of a digital library.
• Inspire new partnerships while fundraising and maintaining relationships with existing SNU supporters to encourage donations.
• Develop and implement a coordination strategy with the University of Helsinki.
• Lead the development of effective planning, implementation, and monitoring between SNU/University of Helsinki under the MIDA FINNSOM project.

IV. Requirements

Besides the specific outputs mentioned in section III, the MIDA FINNSOM III Heath and Education project is requiring the following deliverables to be submitted throughout the assignment. These are the standard requirements for all assignments under this project:

1. Transfer of knowledge: The main responsibility of the qualified Somali expatriate—which he/she will be measured against—will be to ensure continuous and systematic transfer of knowledge and skills as related to the assignment.
2. Work plan: A work plan must be developed with the Supervisor during the first week of the assignment to provide clear and time-bound activities to successfully implement the outputs of the assignment. This work plan can be revised during the assignment to reflect on new developments or changes.
3. Quarterly and Final Reports: Quarterly progress reports will be submitted by the expert to the supervisor and IOM project team. At the end of the assignment, the participant must also provide a final report covering the duration of his/her assignment.
4. Exit interview: An exit interview will be conducted to ensure that a proper exit plan has been put in place to sustain the achievements, upon completion of the assignment.

V. Qualifications

Level of Education:

• Master’s degree in social sciences and relevant fields

Years of work experience in what area(s):

• 5 – 10 years of relevant work experience

Languages needed:

• English and Somali

General Skills / Other Requirements:

• Experience in working with Finland-based education institutions

VI: Subsistence Allowance

The monthly stipend amount will be determined by the MIDA FINNSOM III, Health and Education project, based on qualification and years of relevant experience.

VII: Security and insurance modalities

Health insurance—including evacuation due to a medical emergency—will be covered by the project. However, experts will be requested to provide a recent medical certificate stating that they are physically fit and able to work in a hardship area in Africa.

Please note that IOM, according to the contract, will not be responsible for the security of qualified Somali expatriates. The host beneficiary institution will be responsible for the security of the individual.

Before leaving the country of residence or upon arrival in Somalia, the qualified Somali expatriate will receive a pre-service briefing including security advice and cultural background.