Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Preparation of Training Curricula and Provision of ToT Training (on MTP Implementation) for Mogadishu / BRA) Staff

PROJECT: Technical Assistance and Partnership Facility [NDICI Africa/2023/451-029]
 

DAI is looking for a: Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Preparation of Training Curricula and Provision of ToT Training (on MTP Implementation) for Mogadishu / BRA) Staff

BACKGROUND 

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 through to 31st December 2026, but this was subsequently extended to 31st December 2028.

OBJECTIVES 

Project objectives
 The TAPF has three main result areas:

• I.    Strengthening the capacity of the Government of Somalia, at both Federal and State levels, and in particular the Federal Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development (MoPIED), to deliver on its mandate, with respect to the National Transformation Plan (NTP) and wider development agenda. 
• II.    Strengthening identification, formulation, implementation and monitoring of European Union funded programmes in Somalia, covering renewable energy, the environment, climate change adaptation and natural resources management, amongst other topics. 
• III.    Enhancing partnerships and facilitation of policy dialogue on key topics for EU-Somalia cooperation. 

General Assignment objectives

The Banadir Regional Administration (BRA), also known as Mogadishu Municipality, governs Mogadishu (the capital of, and largest city in, Somalia), and its immediate surroundings. 

With an estimated population of more than 3.5 million people, the city is divided into 20 districts, comprising Abdiaziz, Bondhere, Daarasalaam, Dayniile, Dharkeynley, Garasbalaley, Gubadleey, Hamar-Jajab, Hamar-Weyne, Heliwaa, Hodan, Howl-Wadag, Kaaran, Kaxda, Shangani, Shibis, Waberi, Wadajir, Warta Nabada and Yaqshid. 

Each district has its own administrative headquarters and police station, but public services, especially healthcare, education and waste disposal, are primarily delivered by the private sector.

As Somalia's largest city, Mogadishu faces significant structural challenges, including rapid population growth, the presence of a large, internally displaced persons (IDP) population, many housed in informal IDP settlements, and inadequate public services and infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, schools and higher education facilities, drainage and waste disposal. 

Rapid growth of the population in the metropolitan area has placed considerable strain on existing planning systems, service delivery mechanisms and institutional coordination structures. Thus, as urban expansion and an increase in the urban population continues apace, the need for effective governance systems capable of managing growth among the urban population has become increasingly urgent.

In this regard, the Banadir Regional Administration, and particularly the Department of Planning, Investment and Economic Development (DoPIED), plays a central role in managing Mogadishu’s development, with responsibilities spanning urban planning, infrastructure development coordination, environmental management and delivery of essential municipal services. However, regardless of its mandate, BRA faces institutional and technical capacity limitations that affect its ability to effectively plan, coordinate and implement development initiatives in a consistent and integrated manner. In consequence, a programme of targeted skills training is required (aligned with the Mogadishu Transformation Plan (MTP)) that prioritises institution strengthening and promotes improved urban planning and enhanced service delivery. By focusing on strengthening technical expertise, improving governance systems, and enhancing coordination across departments and districts, a programme of targeted skills training will support BRA in translating strategic priorities (as defined in the MTP) into practical and sustainable outcomes. 

In context of the above, this assignment ToR sets out a programme of targeted training that is designed to enhance the institutional and technical capabilities of BRA staff in one of five key operational areas (urban planning, strategic planning and policy development, municipal service delivery, women’s leadership and increased participation in governance, and Training of Trainers (ToT) for implementation of the Mogadishu Transformation Plan (MTP)). 

This training programme aims to address a specific critical capacity gap in urban planning, while strengthening wider institutional systems for governance and accountability. 

The programme, as designed, will directly benefit between 30 and 35 BRA officials, in particular the cadre of Public Works Engineers from various public works departments and district administrations.

Overall, the training programme will contribute to development of a resilient, well managed and economically vibrant Mogadishu, in line with the recently developed five-year Mogadishu Transformation Plan, which has been designed to enhance the effectiveness of local government operations in the city, through improved civil service management and the improvement of public infrastructure and capacity, especially through increased involvement of the private sector, via private investment and promotion of public–private partnerships (PPP). 

Specific Assignment Objectives

The specific objectives of the “Preparation of Training Curricula and Provision of ToT Training (on MTP Implementation) for Mogadishu / BRA) Staff” assignment will be:

1. To articulate and prepare a concise, relevant and well formulated ToT training curriculum focusing on the contents of the Mogadishu Transformation Plan (MTP), compiled through stakeholder contact and discussion, and suitable for presentation to Banadir Regional Administration staff (e.g. District Planning Directors) and District Commissioners, and for adoption by the BRA authorities, as a resource material for training future BRA officials (with the aim of increasing understanding and awareness of the objectives and planned outcomes of the MTP).
2. To deliver a six-day ToT training course to 60 Mogadishu District leaders and BRA staff, with the twin objective of increasing understanding of the purpose and substance of the MTP and creating a cadre of in-house trainers capable of continuing the process of MTP dissemination into the future.   
3. To encourage and promote greater community participation in urban development, through increased understanding of development plans and ambitions, and by ensuring that citizens understand their role in relation to representative government and decentralised decision making, especially in relation to urban planning, economic growth and adoption of environmentally sustainable practices, etc.
4. To strengthen BRAs institutional and technical capacity through improved understanding among BRA staff of development priorities, as defined in the MTP.
5. To improve results monitoring and design evaluation by linking M&E to MTP progress and achievements.

SCOPE 
General: The scope and purpose of the overall “Formulation of Training Curricula and Provision of Capacity Development Training for Mogadishu / BRA Staff” initiative was first outlined in a DoPIED Concept Note that defines the objectives of the programme and the methodology through which a number of targeted training courses will be implemented among BRA staff and across Mogadishu’s 20 districts. 

In line with the proposed methodology, the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Preparation of 

Training Curricula and Provision of ToT Training (on MTP Implementation) for Mogadishu / BRA Staff will work closely with DoPIED technical staff (the DoPIED DG, heads of department and DoPIED senior management team) who will play a crucial role in facilitating the STAs work. 

Formulation of the MTP implementation ToT training curriculum will pass through a number of consultation and drafting phases, including a desk review of relevant documents, before organisation of a single six-day training workshop for up to 60 BRA technical staff and district administrators (to be held in one of Mogadisu’s four administrative “zones”: Bari, Bartamaha, Galbeed or Waliyow-Cadde). 

The STA will incorporate feedback gathered during initial consultation meetings into the draft training curriculum, which item will constitute a permanent, key deliverable of the assignment. 

The STA will also work closely with sectoral working groups (where they exist) and TAPF Key Experts (KE1 and KE2) and Non-key Experts (the BRA Coordinator – SLC) and will coordinate between the Department of Planning, Investment and Economic Development (DoPIED) and other ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), thus helping to generate a comprehensive, inclusive and fully formed training blueprint. 

Target Groups: The work of the TAPF benefits Somali citizens through increasing the effectiveness of EU cooperation with Somalia, including (in this case) support for Banadir Regional Administration planning and operational bodies, and districts / District officials.

The Strategic Planning, Policy Development and Service Delivery STA will work with and be based in the BRA Department of Planning, Investment and Economic Development (DoPIED) in Mogadishu, but will liaise and coordinate with other relevant regional institutions. 

The NKE will also interact with non-state actors, such as civil society organisations and interest groups, and with the private sector and the business community, as required, facilitating their participation in strategic dialogue, e.g. stakeholder discussions and, possibly, their participation in formal training events. 

Specific Activities

The STA is expected to undertake and complete the following tasks: Under the direct supervision of the office of the DoPIED DG, with support from the TAPF BRA SLC, and in conjunction with the TAPF Team Leader and Key Expert 2, prepare and formulate a ToT Training (on MTP Implementation) training curriculum, through direct engagement, and in coordination with municipal and regional government counterpart MDAs, and district authorities. Specifically:

• Prepare a brief and concise sector work plan, in the form of an Inception Report.
• Conduct a desk review of reports, assessments, programme evaluations, research papers (where they exist), and the MTP and, briefly, assess current institutional objectives and operational capacity, and identify gaps, weaknesses and constraints, particularly those inhibiting broader understanding of municipal development plans.
• Engage the BRA leadership, departments and district officials, through a number of targeted interviews and consultations, to identify planning challenges, gaps, opportunities and lessons learned.
• Facilitate technical consultations with other experts, civil society organisations and the private / business sector, to inform strategic direction and propose strategic planning interventions.
• Prepare a comprehensive Tot Training (on MTP Implementation) training curriculum, inclusive audio-visual presentations and handouts, sufficient to engage 60 participants over a six-day period.
• Provide mentoring and on-the-job training to regional staff and professionals during the entirety of the curriculum formulation process and the training workshop, and support institutional learning and the sustainability of planning practices.

DELIVERABLES AND REPORTING  I.e.: the Senior Technical Advisor will work on:

• Preparation of an assignment road map, in the form of an “inception report” summarising the planning process and curriculum development methodology.
• Conducting a detailed desk review of existing training curricula and training reports, programme evaluations, and demographic and performance data (working with public institutions and / or other, relevant stakeholders, to ensure that gender equity training topics are relevant and actionable).
• Convening and facilitating a series of engagement meetings with the BRA MoPIED senior management, district authorities, non-state actors, community representatives and business enterprises (ensuring productive dialogue between technical experts, policymakers, other key stakeholders and the private sector, to identify planning gaps and training needs).
• Developing the initial draft of a training curriculum, outlining the key topics and subject areas.
• Preparing workshop presentation materials and briefing notes for the planned five-day training of BRA staff and District officials.
• Organising, conducting and facilitating the five-day training, for up to 50 participants. 
• Revising the initial draft training curriculum, based on stakeholder feedback during the training workshop, and finalising a Women in Leadership and participation in Local Governance training curriculum and training materials that align with the contents of the Mogadishu Transformation Plan (MTP).
• Timely handover of Women in Leadership training materials, for uploading to the TAPF internal SharePoint platform and timely handover of financial and administrative records to administrative support staff, in line with DAI and EUD regulations.

SUPERVISION

The Women’s Leadership and Participation in Local Governance Curriculum Development STA will be answerable to the Director General (DG) of the BRA Department of Planning, Investment and Economic Development (DoPIED), working in collaboration with the TAPF BRA Coordinator (SLC), and will be supervised by the TAPF Team Leader, in close collaboration with the TAPF KE2 / Partnership Advisor. 

Time sheets will be approved by the TAPF Team Leader and the EU Delegation (EUD). 

The working language of the assignment and contract will be English, and all communication and reports will be submitted in English.

Requirements 

EXPERT QUALIFICATIONS / SELECTION CRITERIA

The Senior Technical Advisor for Preparation of Training Curricula and Provision of Women’s Leadership and Participation in Local Governance Training for Mogadishu / BRA) Staff should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• A university degree, preferably a Master’s, in one of the following fields: Public Policy or Strategic Policy Development, Project Planning, Project Management, Curriculum Development, Tertiary-level Teaching, Business Administration, Applied Research, or a related field. 
• Eight (8) or more years of practical work experience in a senior advisory capacity as a consultant with an international development organisation, private sector company, non-governmental organisation or government institution, such as a state university or college serving as a lecturer, including at least three (3) previous assignments as a curriculum developer, preparing formal course curricula and training materials, or as a ToT trainer. 
• Previous work experience as a TA or CTA (technical assistant / chief technical advisor), embedded within a host government department, leading development programmes (inclusive mentoring and capacity development experience), and / or drafting policies or training programmes / curricula. 
• Previous experience (in at least three (3) work assignments) of workshop organisation and facilitation (preferably ToT related), inclusive in-depth knowledge of, and familiarity with, interactive data collection methodologies, preparation of PowerPoint presentations and handouts, and moderating workshop tuition sessions and plenaries. 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and spoken / verbal communication skills, in both English and Somali.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills.
• Extensive knowledge of the local (Somali) development context, particularly Mogadishu, and familiarity with the current Mogadishu Transformation Plan (MTP).
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities effectively.

Input/Location/travel: 

The role is expected to commence in June 2026 (subject to continued need and resource availability), and to be implemented as a single, continuous assignment, counting from the date of first deployment of the expert.  

A maximum of 25 working days, delivered over an indicative period of approximately two (2) calendar months (subject to operating conditions). 

The main place of assignment will be Mogadishu, capital of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and headquarters of the Banadir Regional Administration (BRA). 

Travel within the city and Regional Administration will be required and will be subject to relevant project and EU rules and regulations, including security protocols and the outcome of contemporary security assessments. 

Deadline for submission of CVs: not later than 5th of June 2026

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.