SOMALIA
QUESTS-MIDA (Qualified Expatriate Somali Technical Support-Participants)
QUESTS-MIDA is a joint initiative among Somali authorities, UNDP Somalia and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) that facilitates the transfer of skills, knowledge, and experience from qualified Somali expatriates in the Diaspora to public sector institutions in Somalia as part of the Somali Institutional Development Project (SIDP). Diaspora for change If you are an experienced Somali professional from the Diaspora and wish to use your skills to support development in Somali institutions, or you manage a public institution in
Somalia that is in need of human resources development or capacity building support, then QUESTSMIDA may be the right project for you. www.quests-mida.org Participating Institutions in Somalia SIDP provides support to the institutions through QUESTS– MIDA to identify the needs and profiles of required qualified Somali experts. The relevant profiles are then advertised on the QUESTS-MIDA website. Support provided by QUESTS-MIDA staff includes: • Managing the entire recruiting and
IOM IN ACTION
monitoring process, which is carried out in a systematic and transparent manner.
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The project began in 2009 and is currently in its third phase of implementation;
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Under the first and second phase, 42 participants have been placed throughout all three regions of Somalia;
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Recruitment of 30 participants in the third phase is currently on going through a recently signed agreement between IOM and UNDP;
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These experts can be found at such institutions as Interior, Finance, Planning, and in such agencies as Civil Aviation, and the Civil Service Commission among others;
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IOM recently signed an agreement with UNDP for the third phase that will include 30 participants. The phase will last 1 year with a total budget of almost USD 3 million.
• Facilitating contact between selected participants and the beneficiary institutions. • Providing the participant with necessary documentation, briefings and logistic assistance. • Monitoring the participant while in assignment.
• Supporting the host institution on providing the participant with an adequate working environment
• Qualified Somali women in the Diaspora are encouraged to apply to vacancies and participate.
Criteria of eligibility
• Proficiency in Somali and English.
• Legal residency or nationality status outside Somalia with documented proof or right-of-return to the same country. • At least 25 years old and a medical certificate is required. • Ability to work in a team and adjust to difficult living and working conditions. • Genuine interest and commitment to the development of Somalia.
General selection process • Vacancy advertisement on QUESTS-MIDA website. • Candidates fill out an online application on: www.quests-mida.org • Short-listed candidates are interviewed by a panel and a decision is reached based on merit. • Subsistence allowance is provided to the participant based on education level and years of work experience.
“THERE IS A HUGE BRAIN-DRAIN IN SOMALIA “
• Qualifications matching the specific requirement of QUESTSMIDA. Relevant university degree and years of experience.
AND THE COUNTRY IS SUFFERING FROM A LACK OF HUMAN CAPITAL. His Excellency Dr. Abdiweli Ali, Former Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
The Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government, Dr. Abdiweli Ali, was at one point a participant of the program as an expert advisor to the Ministry of Finance of the State of Puntland. Dr. Abdiweli contends that Somali professionals living outside the country should come home with their skills and experience because ‘there is a huge brain-drain in Somalia and the country is suffering from a lack of human capital.’ To reverse this imbalance, Dr. Abdiweli sees that ‘it is time to go back’ home. From his own perspective, this is not only about reversing the brain drain, but is also about giving back to society that had invested in these professionals since many of them acquired their formative education in Somalia. To that end, he said, ‘My intention is to help and to give back…’
“You can have a good life in the U.S. and never leave, but the question in life is how you make a difference. If I can change just one life for the better, then I have done my work on Earth. What is it they say? To whom much is given much is expected.” His Excellency Dr. Abdiweli Ali, Former Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
MIGRATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL International Organization for Migration (IOM) Somalia Mission Gitanga Groove – off Gitanga Road, Lavington PO Box 1810 – 00606, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 292 6000 Email: iomsomalia@iom.int www.iom.int
MARCH 2013
WITH THANKS TO OUR PARTNER:
WE WORK WITH: • Government • Somali diaspora • Civil society • Private sector