Marja Suomela

Experience

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  Namibia Institute for Democracy

  May 2009 - Jul 2009

  Intern

  I organized and attended anti-corruption workshops for communities i.a. a congregation in the Katutura informal settlement, and using my organization, coordination and communication skills I achieved a productive workshop with increased knowledge about corruption amongst the participants. I also organized capacity building trainings for CSOs in CSO management.Together with the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa I organized and attended a capacity building seminar for all Namibian political parties. The topic of the seminar was strategic preparation for elections. In addition to a fruitful workshop I achieved in-depth knowledge of capacity building and Namibian political scene. I also organized training for election observers and familiarized myself with election observation process. I participated in a networking workshop with donors and civil society actors. I collected data and compiled a guide to civil society for publication. Show less

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  Finnish NGO Foundation for Human Rights (KIOS)

  Mar 2010 - Jun 2010

  Intern

  I conducted research and prepared analyses on human rights situation as well as on donor funding for human rights. Using my strong analytical skills I ensured well informed decision making regarding the future strategy of the foundation.I supported the management of more than 10 human rights projects throughout the project cycle (incl. financial administration) and conducted background studies on topical human rights issues in the focus countries. I achieved timely and transparent disbursement of funds as well as ensured constant flow of new good quality projects. I undertook communication work according to the communication strategy, including writing stories to the website, developing media relations, conducting media follow-up on human rights issues in the focus countries a well as planning and organizing a stall in an NGO fair.I assisted in the overall administration of the foundation and yearly reporting to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Show less

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  International Labour Organization (ILO)

  Sept 2010 - Dec 2011

  My work included project design and drafting proposals for future projects in the port and transport sectors; project management including recruitment of consultants, management of their contracts and quality assurance of their reports and other work; monitoring of existing projects and developing monitoring and reporting frameworks. I planned, conducted and reported an impact assessment of a technical cooperation capacity building programme, achieving better informed management and decision-making. Gradually, I took over the responsibility in managing the renewal of a training material package used in the programme and ensured the timely publication of the package.Due to the tripartite nature of the work, I liaised with constituents and other stakeholders. I undertook preparations and follow-up of several high-level tripartite meetings including preparation of meeting documents and meeting reports. I conducted a desk study on the employment prospects in transport sector. Show less I monitored and collected data on the port sector capacity building programme and supported the day-to-day management of the programme, e.g. issuing of the licences for the training material package. I supported the Department in implementing result-based management by preparing data for annual reports on the implementation of the programme of work as well as preparing documents for the meetings of the administrative organs of the organization.I organized and attended high level tripartite meetings in transport sector, including drafting of meeting documents as well as reporting from the meetings. I liaised with relevant ILO departments (mainly ILO/AIDS) to enhance collaboration and synergies and participated in the dialogue with ILO constituents and donors regarding on-going and future projects. Show less

  • Junior Technical Officer

    Mar 2011 - Dec 2011

  • Intern

    Sept 2010 - Feb 2011
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  International Labour Organization (ILO)

  Aug 2012 - May 2013

  Junior Technical Officer

  One of my main responsibilities was to review existing project management policy related to the ILO work in the port sector, identify gaps and examine possibilities on the way forward. In addition, I prepared briefings on the maritime and transport team's work in specific sectors and had responsibilities in project administration. Furthermore, I participated in preparation (editing and data collection) of a report on fishing sector.I was responsible for designing and conducting research on working conditions and social dialogue in the railways sector, including literature review and data collection on good practices and overall developments in the industry worldwide. The research led to a practical guidance manual on social dialogue in the railway sector. In addition, I was a focal point for railway sector activities and liaised with other ILO departments and the stakeholders in the railway sector. My principal achievement was the implementation of a more coherent and transparent programme management policy. Furthermore, I contributed to the effective integration of new team members and enhanced a collaborative and positive spirit in the team. Effective inter-agency collaboration led to the adoption of a draft IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice on Packing of Cargo Transport Units. Show less

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  International Labour Organization (ILO)

  Jul 2013 - Jul 2013

  Consultant

  My responsibility was to prepare a draft social dialogue manual for the railway sector, including topical labour rights issues and good practices of social dialogue.

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  Embassy of Finland in Nairobi

  Sept 2013 - Jun 2015

  I facilitated the effective completion of the Embassy's responsibilities in aid coordination and aid effectiveness work in Kenya. I coordinated and supported the Embassy's work in co-chairing the Development Partners' Group in Kenya, including preparation of and reporting on the monthly meetings of the Group. I prepared background documentation to support decision-making in the Group and was responsible for the internal communications in the Group. I supported the Deputy Head of Mission in the work related to the Aid Effectiveness Group, including renewing the aid architecture in Kenya. I conducted a political economy analysis to inform Finland's future development cooperation in Kenya.In 2014, Finland was the country co-lead for the Multilateral Organizations' Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) assessment in Kenya. I was the coordinator for this work and ensured smooth and effective progress in the assessment process, liaising with MOPAN, the UN organizations under assessment, and the stakeholders participating in the assessment.I backstopped the implementation of programmes in the governance, human rights and gender result area and monitoring and result based reporting thereof. In collaboration with the Counsellor, I participated in the donor coordination and other collaboration groups in the result area.I monitored political and economic developments in Kenya and drafted topical and analytical reports and analyses to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. As part of the communications work, I was one of the staff members responsible for the Embassy's visibility in social media, and updated Facebook and Twitter. I was the coordinator for Team Finland network in Kenya (a network of Finnish state-funded internationalization services for private sector). In collaboration with Finpro, the Finnish export promotion agency, I ensured effective networking, communication and flow of information between relevant Finnish and Kenyan private sector actors. Show less I supported the development cooperation team in the implementation and reporting of development projects in Kenya according to principles of result based management. I assisted in ensuring aid coordination through coordinating the work of development partners' collaborative body. I drafted analytical reports to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs HQ on political developments in Kenya.I drafted articles to the Embassy website, and was one of the staff members responsible for updating the Embassy pages on Facebook and Twitter.In addition, I worked together with the Deputy Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat with responsibility on representing Finland in the UNEP and UN Habitat Committees of Perrmanen Representative and in EU coordination meetings, and reporting to the headquarters. Show less

  • Programme officer

    Mar 2014 - Jun 2015

  • Trainee

    Sept 2013 - Feb 2014
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  UN Women

  Jun 2015 - May 2018

  Monitoring and reporting officer

  My responsibilities include technical advice for and quality assurance of donor reporting of the 14 country offices under the regional office, and of the regional office; follow up and review of donor agreements and donor reporting obligations; development and implementation of systems and processes to ensure timeliness and quality of the reports; and related capacity building. Since February 2016 I have been in charge of the monitoring and reporting unit in the regional office. I ensure that the donor reports are compliant with good practices in result based management (RBM) and reporting. I am responsible for the roll out and continued effective use of the corporate donor agreement management system in the Eastern and Southern Africa region. I provide advice to country offices and regional office on drafting, amending and complying with donor agreements. In addition to donor reporting, I prepare and review quarterly reports and annual reports for UN Women Headquarters.In the field of monitoring, I review the results frameworks and indicators for UN Women programmes in the region and provide technical advice in the development of logframes and performance management frameworks. I support the UN Women country offices' and regional office in the strategic planning and mid-term review processes and provide quality assurance of the strategic notes and annual work plans. I also provide technical advice to country offices and regional office in the effective and innovative use of corporate monitoring system, and ensure that corporate quarterly monitoring is done timely and in good quality.I have undertaken several capacity building initiatives in the fields of monitoring and reporting, including facilitation of two workshops for country offices on RBM and reporting on results. Show less

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  Disability Partnership Finland

  Jan 2018 - Mar 2020

  Programme Advisor
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  EUCAP Somalia

  Mar 2020 - Mar 2023

  Planning and Evaluation Officer
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  Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)

  Aug 2023 - now

  Project Manager