Team Leader - Somalia Stability Fund III (SSFIII)

1. Background

Adam Smith International (ASI) has been contracted by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to deliver the Somalia Stability Fund (SSF).

The SSF III is a follow on from SSF I & II, implemented from 2012 to 2016 and 2016 to 2021 respectively. The current phase is implemented by an ASI-led consortium that includes First Call Partners, Laasfort Consulting and Interpeace. The Fund delivers its activities through: i) government entities at the FGS level and in all FMSs; ii) ‘framework partners’, i.e. consortia delivering on thematic areas throughout the lifecycle of the Fund; and iii) ‘non-framework partners’ i.e. entities contracted for one-off initiatives; and iv) core partners (partners delivering core services such as MEL and Research).

The programme is funded by the UK, Denmark, the European Union (EU), Germany, the Netherlands, and the US.

Objectives of SSF III

SSF III aims to improve stability in Somalia through more inclusive distribution of power and resources, greater political responsiveness and accountability, and acknowledgement and redress of historical human rights violations.

2. Main Tasks and Responsibilities

The Team Leader is responsible for overall strategic leadership of the programme, senior stakeholder engagement, quality and timeliness of delivery, and ensuring the Fund remains adaptive to political and contextual change.

The Team Leader’s role has a range of tasks and responsibilities grouped as follows:

 Leadership and Strategy

• Lead the Fund Manager, working with the Head of SSF and Project Director, promoting high performance, staff well-being, retention and behaviours aligned with ASI values.

• Foster a culture of learning, adaptation, and politically informed programming – and ensure alignment of team and implementation partners around programme strategy and interventions.

• Oversee the design, procurement and delivery of a coherent portfolio of activities aligned with SSF strategy and risk appetite.

Management and Operations of the Fund

• Strategic implementation: work closely with the SMT to implement SSF strategy and policies, aligning operational activities with the overall programme objectives;

• Operational management: oversee the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the other units, ensuring efficiencies and effectiveness across all teams;

  i) Reviewing and quality assuring programme progress reports and programme deliverables (or other presentations and briefings) for submission to client.

  ii) Working with the PMU to ensure timely submission of these reports and deliverables to the client.

  iii)Lead preparation and revision of workplans, ensuring adequate resourcing, alignment with strategy, logframe and client priorities, with PMU support.

• Team leadership: lead and develop a high-performance management team, fostering a goal-oriented and accountable work environment, where responsibilities and lines of accountability are clear and respected;

  i) Ensuring clear and effective team structure and line management arrangements are in place for all SSF team members, ensuring development needs are identified and supported

  ii) Support, advise and mentor state leads on programmatic, relationship and project management issues including supporting the team on adapting investments to respond to changes in the context. 

• Performance monitoring: timely and accurate information to SMT on the operational condition of the SSF, and provide solutions for improvements when needed

• Process improvement: identify opportunities for improvements in the quality of delivery, productivity,  efficiencies and increase in value for money;

  i) Taking an evidence-based approach to management decision-making and how interventions and work-steams are scaled up or down, or dropped, based on timely information regarding what is and is not working, for who and why and/or material changes in the operating context

• Compliance and risk management: oversee the PMU work on both and lead on identifying and proposing mitigations for the strategic risks to the SSF operations.

Stakeholder Relationship Management and Comms

• Advise the SMT on managing relationships with government counterparts, donors and key stakeholders.

• Lead engagement with government and key non-government implementing partners.

• Act as the primary technical point of contact for the client, ensuring the PMU is informed and engaged on significant matters.

• Monitor and ensure coherence and quality of communications between the client and SSF team members.

3. Reporting

The Team Leader will report to the Project Director, and will work in close collaboration with the Project Management Unit (PMU).

4. Direct reports

The following will report directly to the Team Leader (this may be revised as per the needs of the Fund in discussion with the Project Director):

• Country Manager,

• Finance Risk and Procurement Lead,

• Head of Knowledge, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Communications,

• Technical support unit

5. Duty Station

The Team Leader will be stationed in Nairobi, with travel to Mogadishu or other parts of Somalia as as required for project implementation, key meetings with the project team, government stakeholders and donors, and any other appropriate reason.

6. Candidate Requirements

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive senior leadership experience (10+ years) managing large, complex, multi-donor programmes in fragile and conflict‑affected states, preferably in governance, stabilisation, peacebuilding, or political transition contexts.

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary, geographically dispersed teams, with a track record of building high‑performing teams, promoting staff well‑being, and managing performance effectively.

• Demonstrated experience in politically informed, adaptive programme delivery, including the ability to adjust programming to context changes, and take evidence-based decisions on programme design and delivery.

• Proven experience overseeing programme operations, including activity design, procurement oversight, risk management, work planning, budgeting, and value-for-money approaches.

• Significant stakeholder engagement experience, including leading relationships with senior government officials, donors, diplomats, and non-state actors.

• Exceptional communication and representation skills, with experience drafting high-quality reports, briefings, and presentations for donors and senior government stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to uphold ethical standards, ensure safeguarding, and promote a culture of accountability and compliance.

• Willingness to be based in Nairobi and undertake regular travel to Somalia.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• Somalia experience, including understanding of federal–member state relations, political settlements, clan dynamics, conflict drivers, and sub-national governance.

• Strong technical expertise in one or more of the SSF thematic areas: democratisation, local governance, conflict management, conciliation, or community-level stabilisation.

• Experience working for major development partners, such as FCDO, EU, USAID, Denmark, Germany or the Netherlands, and an understanding of donor requirements, compliance obligations, and reporting standards.

• Experience working within consortium structures, managing relationships between implementing partners and ensuring coherence across multiple workstreams.