National Ombuds – Somaliland

National Ombuds – Somaliland | SOS Children’s Villages International

National Ombuds – Somaliland

SOS Children’s Villages International Remote | Hargeysa National Speaks English

Application deadline: March 28, 2026

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Summary by Impactpool

The National Ombuds for Somaliland will support children and young people by addressing unresolved concerns through an independent Ombuds Office. This role involves promoting child participation, ensuring safety in SOS CV programs, and guiding fair processes while adhering to principles of confidentiality and impartiality. The Ombuds will also identify trends and make recommendations to improve child safeguarding practices. The position requires strong communication and mediation skills, along with a deep understanding of children's rights and local context.

Candidate Requirements:

Minimum 5 years experience in ombudsperson, mediation, child safeguarding, or child protection

Bachelor’s or higher degree in relevant fields

Good knowledge of children’s rights and child protection issues

Minimum 3 years experience working with children and youths

Experience working in communities

Very good listening and observational skills

Strong communication skills

Strong facilitation/training skills

Ability to build rapport with marginalized children

Problem solver and mediator

Understanding of local laws and social norms

Gender and diversity sensitivity

Local language and basic English skills

Must be a Somaliland citizen with legal right to work

National Ombuds – Somaliland

Fulltime

Limited Employment Contract

About us:

The Ombuds Office for SOS Children’s Villages is an independent office supporting children and young people in situations that have not been successfully resolved by SOS Children’s Villages safeguarding processes.

An Ombuds is a trustworthy person who can listen, support, and guide children and young people. There are national, regional, and global Ombuds.

Each Ombuds follows the four principles: Confidentiality, Impartiality, Independence and Informality. They work independently of SOS Children’s Villages as a check and balance to safeguarding with the goal of finding a solution to the concern raised.

SOS Children’s Village in Somaliland Context

SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland (SOS CV) is a part of SOS Children’s Villages International, the umbrella organization to which all SOS Children’s Villages including SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland Association is affiliated. SOS CV is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that is not for profit, nonsectarian and non-partisan and which has been in existence since 1999. SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland shares vision with SOS CV International and beliefs that every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security. To realize this, SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland builds families for children in need, help them shape their own futures and share in the development of their communities.

About the role :

Location of the role: Somaliland, Hargeisa

Fulltime

Limited Employment Contract - 24 months ( with the possibility of renewing based on funds availability and performance)

In order to further their mission, SOS Children’s Villages has decided to implement an Ombuds Office.

The National Ombuds Somaliland, as designated neutral professionals, will build awareness, promote prevention, nurture child participation, and enable children and young people to be safe in all SOS CV programs and services.

She/He is a person of trust who has the skills and interest to work through their concerns and find a local solution by:

Adhering to the principles of confidentiality, independence, informality and impartiality;

Guiding a fair process through listening and supporting;

Utilizing dispute resolution skills;

Being a check and balance;

Identifying trends and making recommendations to Somaliland SOS Children’s Villages and General Secretariat (GSC).

The National Ombuds will operate independently from SOS Children’s Villages Somaliland and will report to the Regional Ombuds .

Profile, skills and qualifications :

Minimum 5 years demonstrated experience in one of the following fields: ombudsperson, mediation, child safeguarding, child protection, or child rights;

Bachelor’s or higher degree in a relevant area such as child rights or child protection, child and youth studies, mediation, social work, child psychology, safeguarding or psychosocial wellbeing, law, or equivalent;

Good level of knowledge of children’s rights or child protection/prevention and related issues - child safeguarding, child development and health, law, policies, regulations and International Standards related to children's care;

Minimum 3 years demonstrated experience in working with children and youths;

Experience in working in communities;

Very good listener with good observational skills;

Strong communication skills;

Strong facilitation/training skills - ability to develop and implement engaging trainings and ongoing support workshops for staff and children' representatives;

Demonstrated ability to build rapport with children and young people, to identify marginalized children and young people and connect with them and build trust;

A problem solver, adviser and mediator capable of resolving young people’s and adults’ concerns effectively and in a timely manner;

Understanding of the local context, including laws, policies, practices, language and social norms;

Be gender and diverse sensitive and representative;

Local language and basic English skills.

Understand the foundations of the Ombuds’ work;

You have to be Somaliland citizen and legal right to work in Somaliland;

Experience working in an NGO or international organization would be an asset.

We offer :

Training and development

Support from the Regional Ombuds

Satisfying and stimulating work

Remote and in-person work arrangements

The opportunity to work for an NGO that is a member of a recognized international network.

We are looking forward to receiving your motivation letter and CV by 28 th March 2026.

 * To protect the independence of the Ombuds Office, this position is not open to SOS Children's Villages employees or those who have been employed by SOS Children's Villages within the last 2 years, or for those who have relatives working for SOS Children's Villages.

** Please note that only successful candidates will be

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