Vacancy announcement

Job Title: Technical Advisor

Reporting to: Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development and UNDP

Location:  Galmudug State of Somalia

Closing Date:  25 August  2022

Start Date: 1 September 2022

Background

Charcoal production and its export from Somalia have been in practice since pre-colonial times to meet local and regional energy requirements and provide livelihoods opportunities for Charcoal Value Chain Beneficiaries (CVCBs). However, charcoal production is not environmentally sustainable with demand exceeds regeneration rate of Acacia forest ecosystems causing accelerated deforestation, and rapid land degradation. Charcoal production in Somalia not only destroys the environment, it also funds the elements and organizations behind conflicts. Local demand for charcoal has also been increasing driven by lack of alternative energy, and reliance of inefficient firewood, and charcoal cook-stoves. A multitude of complex issues surround the production of charcoal leading to triple threats – in the forms of irreversible environmental degradation, perpetual conflicts and dependence on short-term income from an unsustainable livelihood option.

The overall goal of the program is to promote energy security and more resilient livelihoods through a gradual reduction of unsustainable charcoal production, trade and use. The program has four major objectives, namely:

• To mobilize key stakeholders in the region and build institutional capacity among government entities for the effective monitoring and enforcement of the charcoal trade ban, the development of an enabling policy environment for energy security and natural resources management;
• To support the development of alternative energy resources; and,
• To facilitate – for stakeholders in the charcoal value chain – transition towards livelihood options that are sustainable, reliable and more profitable than charcoal production.
• To start reforestation and afforestation for the rehabilitation of degraded lands.

Objectives of the assignment

The objective of the assignment is to support the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development in Galmudug state in the implementation of joint charcoal reduction project activities and enhance the capacity of the ministry.

Scope of Work

1. Support the implementation of project activities in the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development of Galmudug state
2. Collate data and information on the production and use of charcoal
3. Support the respective ministry in establishing LPG franchise businesses in the major cities in Galmudug by;
   1. Identifying suitable beneficiaries for the franchise business models as well as households
   2. Train the established franchise business on business management and marketing and monitor their performance

• Train beneficiary households on the safety of LPG

1. Training both existing and cooperatives in the production and marketing of fuel-efficient cooking stoves
2. Gather information and coordinate public awareness sessions based on alternative energy option for charcoal reduction at household levels including the use fuel efficient cooking stoves, LPG systems and solar systems
3. Manage and expand the established nurseries by;
   1. Prepare a clear plan for tree nursery activities
   2. Supervise nursery activities such as mixing soils, sowing of seeds, watering seedlings, filling seedlings bags, pruning, weeding.

• Recording and documenting number of seedlings planted and their germination date

1. Develop community tree nursery establishment guide manual
2. Prepare training manuals for nursery beneficiaries as required

1. Support the ministry in the identification of suitable degraded land for rehabilitation by replanting the seedlings in partnership with local communities
2. Establish and train community forest associations in sustainable forest utilization and management
3. Train communities in alternative livelihood options to charcoal production such as bee keeping for honey production, production of green charcoal and marketing of forestry products
4. Support in preparation of promotional materials such as brochures and briefs for dissemination
5. Produce monthly reports on activity implementation
6. Provide any other technical support that the ministry might require.