Hirshabelle State Senior Technical Advisor

The European Union – Somalia Technical Assistance and Partnership Facility (TAPF) is a five-year initiative designed to support the European Union Delegation (EUD) to Somalia’s engagement in, and cooperation with, the Federal Republic of Somalia, and to expedite progress towards achievement of the 2030 global Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The project is being implemented through a service contract, signed between the EUD and DAI Global Belgium, and operates from DAIs offices in Mogadishu and Nairobi.

The project duration was initially scheduled to run for 36 months from 1st January 2024 until 31st December 2026, but this was subsequently extended to 31st December 2028.

The overall objective of the assignment / development initiative will be: 

To strengthen institutional governance and organisational effectiveness across Hirshabelle State Government institutions, through development and standardisation of formal organisational structures, and preparation of terms of reference covering ministries and public institutions.

The specific objectives of the initiative / assignment will be:

• To review the existing organisational arrangements of ministries and public institutions.
• To assess institutional mandates, functions and reporting relationships.
• To develop standardised organisational structures, for ministries and public institutions.
• To develop comprehensive terms of reference for directorates, and key MDA positions.
• To define functional relationships among ministries and institutions.
• To ensure organisational structures are aligned with government priorities (as defined in the HSDP II) and legal mandates.
• To build consensus and secure agreement among stakeholders, on proposed institutional arrangements.

Assignment technical experts will adopt a participatory and consultative approach comprising:

• Conducting a “kick-off” meeting.
• Review of background documents.
• Preparation of an Inception Report.

• Review of legal mandates.
• Review of existing organisational structures.
• Conducting interviews.
• Conducting focus group discussions.
• Conducting an institutional capacity assessment.

• Conducting a functional analysis.
• Organisational design activities.
• Development of reporting structures.
• Development of governance arrangements.

• Conducting technical review workshops.
• Incorporation of workshop feedback into draft documents.

Preparation of ToR for:

• Directorates
• Ministries

Validation:

• Conducting a validation workshop.

• Publication of Final Organisational Structures Manual.
• Publication of Final ToR Manual.

Thus, development of Hirshabelle operational structures and ministerial and departmental ToR will adopt a hybrid approach that combines bottom-up consultations with top-down strategic guidance, and will adopt and follow a structured, participatory, and evidence-based planning approach, to ensure ownership, alignment with national models and frameworks, and operationalisation across all state institutions.

MoPIIC will lead efforts to formulate organisational structures and departmental terms of reference in Hirshabelle State, providing overall coordination, technical guidance and oversight. Other bodies involved in the development process will include:

• (Other) Hirshabelle State Ministries
• Independent Government Agencies and Institutions
• The Civil Service Commission

This wide-ranging involvement may exhibit via a number of possible committees and advisory bodies that might serve to guide the drafting process, assign roles and monitor progress throughout the development and implementation of the assignment. For example:

Technical Working Groups (TWGs): Technical working groups might be formed, composed from focal points drawn from concerned ministries. 

TWGs could support the development of standardised organisational structures and discuss the alignment of departmental ToR among and between MDAs, in line with HSDP II and national priorities. 

The Civil Service Commission: The Civil Service Commission will play a key role in any Technical Working Groups that may be formed, advising on structures and the division of roles among MDAs. 

In general terms, the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) will work with, and be based in, the Ministry of Planning, Investment and International Cooperation in Jowhar, but will liaise and coordinate with all relevant state institutions and non-state actors, international donors, etc., facilitating their participation in appropriate stakeholder dialogue activities, e.g. in consultations and validation events. 

Under the direct supervision of the office of the MoPIIC DG, with support from the TAPF SLC, and in conjunction with the TAPF Team Leader and Key Expert 2, the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) will pro-actively lead the preparation, development and standardisation of formal organisational structures, and preparation of terms of reference covering ministries and public institutions in Hirshabelle State, through direct engagement with government counterpart MDAs. Specifically, the Expert will undertake and complete the following phases of work:

• Undertaking an institutional assessment.
• Conducting a functional analysis.
• Conducting a review of legal and policy mandates.
• Conducting stakeholder consultations.
• Undertaking organisational design and consultation events.
• Developing terms of reference (ToR) for ministries.
• Developing terms of reference (ToR) for individual directorates.
• Developing terms of reference (ToR) for the office of the State President.
• Conducting a validation workshop.
• Finalisation of organisational structures and all ToR.

The “Technical Assistance for Organisational Structures and Departmental Terms of Reference Development in Hirshabelle State” Senior Technical Advisor (STA) NKE should possess:

• A university degree (preferably a Master’s) in one of the following fields: Public Administration, Business Administration, International Development, Public Policy Development, Political Science, Project Management, or a related field. 
• Eight (8) or more years of practical work experience in a senior advisory capacity with an international organisation, private sector company, non-governmental organisation or government institution, including at least three (3) previous assignments as either a development or organisational planner, preparing regional, organisational or company-level strategic plans and departmental terms of reference, or as a project manager, designing, launching and implementing a development project, institutional reform activity or strategic plan. 
• Previous work experience as a TA or CTA (technical assistant / chief technical advisor), embedded within a host government department, inclusive mentoring and capacity development experience, leading the design, formulation and / or implementation of policies, strategies, operational plans or organisational reforms. 
• Previous experience (in at least two (2) work assignments) of workshop organisation and facilitation, inclusive in-depth knowledge of and familiarity with focus group discussions, key informant interviews and other interactive data collection methodologies, preparation of PowerPoint presentations and handouts, and moderating workshop plenaries. 
• Strong communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and spoken / verbal communication skills in both English and Somali.
• Extensive knowledge of the local (Somali, and particularly the Hirshabelle) political and development context.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, potentially stressful environment, managing multiple priorities effectively and meeting deadlines.

Start date and duration: The role is expected to commence in September 2026 and to be implemented as a single, continuous assignment, counting from the date of first deployment of the expert. 

Inputs: A maximum of 40 working days, delivered over a period not exceeding three (3) calendar months.