Environmental and Climate Change Officer

Job Description

Federal Government of Somalia

Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation

Post Title: Environmental and Climate Change Officer, National Programme Coordination Unit

Name of Project: Rural Livelihoods Resilience Programme (RLRP)

Duty station: Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Mogadishu Background

The Rural Livelihoods Resilience Programme (RLRP) is an 8 year project and the lead agency for the Programme is the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MAI), Federal Government of Somalia. The project’s goal is “improved and resilient livelihoods of rural smallholders in Somalia”. The Programme Development Objective (PDO) is” to sustainably increase productivity, incomes and nutrition security and enhance the resilience of rural smallholder families in Somalia. The RLRP has 3 components: component 1 Suppoet to community resilience; component 2 support to smallholder livelihoods; component 3 Programme coordination and capacity building.

The RLRP’s primary target groups will be 30,000 poor small-scale agro-pastoral households (HHs. RLRP will further include proportions for vulnerable groups, including IDPs (15 percent), women-headed HHs (30 percent), and persons with disabilities based on prevalence. The RLRP is a nationwide programme. It will focus its comprehensive efforts on five Federal Member States (FMS) of Puntland, Galmudug, Jubaland, Hirshabelle and South West. Implementation will be sequenced, starting with the initial two FMS of Jubaland and South West, and a total of five regions in the two states: Jubaland: Gedo and Lower Juba; and South West: Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation implements the Rural Livelihood and Resilience Program (RLRP). The program aims to enhance the livelihoods and resilience of rural communities. It focuses on promoting sustainable agricultural practices, diversifying income sources, and improving market access for farmers. Additionally, the RLRP works to build resilience by implementing measures such as water conservation, climate-smart agricultural techniques, and disaster preparedness. Community participation and empowerment are key program elements, fostering social cohesion and ownership of development initiatives. The

Ministry strengthens institutional capacity to ensure effective implementation and long-term program sustainability.

The National Programme Coordination Unit (NPCU), reporting to the MoAI, will be responsible for day to day management of the Programme and will be in charge of planning, coordination, monitoring nd evaluation, financial management and procurement fuctions. The NPCU includes the position of Environmental and Climate Change Officer, a position that will be filled through secondment from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Federal Government of Somalia. The Environmental and Climate Change Officer reports to the National Programme Coordinator.

Job description

Under the supervision of the National Programme Coordinator, the Environmental and Climate Change Officer will be responsible for the integration and implementation of environmental and climate change components within the RLRP, ensuring all project activities are compliant with environmental safeguards and climate change considerations in line with national regulations and IFAD’s environmental and social standards. S/He will be responsible for the following duties:

● Lead the implementation, monitoring, and updating of the ESCMF to ensure project activities comply with the necessary environmental, social, and climate change guidelines and standards(SECAP).

● Carry out environmental and climate change risk assessments for proposed project activities. Propose and help implement mitigation measures as per the ESCMP.

● Develop and implement training programs to enhance the capacity of project staff and stakeholders on environmental and climate change matters related to the project.

● Liaise with relevant government authorities, project stakeholders, and communities to ensure proper implementation of environmental safeguards.

● Monitor the implementation of environmental and climate change aspects of the project, prepare reports, and ensure appropriate actions are taken based on monitoring results.

● Report to the Project Manager and PSC on the implementation of environmental and climate change actions in the ESCMF

● Work with project contractors to ensure understanding and compliance with environmental and climate mainstreaming and the ESCMP.

Skills and Qualifications
● A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Climate Change, or a related field.

● A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in managing environmental and social issues in development projects, preferably in the agricultural sector.

● Demonstrated experience in implementing Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP).

● Familiarity with the environmental laws and regulations of Somalia and IFAD’s environmental and social standards.

● Excellent communication and training skills.

● Proficiency in English and Somali languages.

● Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

● Experience working with international donors or financial institutions in Somalia.

● Proven experience in managing climate change-related issues in rural development projects.

● Experience in dealing with sensitive social issues, including engagement with affected communities.

● Proficiency in relevant computer applications and databases.

Duration: The initial secondment will be for one year with six-month probation, period, renewable every year on continued satisfactory performance.

How to apply
If your qualifications and experience meet this job requirement, please submit a written application letter and C.V and copy of academic qualification in one document, not three separate attachments, quoting your name, the job title, including daytime contact phone numbers, as well as the names and contact information of three references to reach the below-mentioned by 17:00 on May 31st, 2024 to Mustafe.cismaan@moa.gov.so or info@moa.gov.so Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.