Somalia: Consultancy for Coastal Farming Practices Technical Assistant

Apr 29, 2019 | Adeso
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Adeso is an expanding and vibrant African based international development and humanitarian organization. Adeso works with African communities who are yet to realize their full potential; working inside these communities to create environments in which Africans can thrive. Their belief that economic, social and environmental security is the bedrock of a healthy community drives the nature and intent of our programming. Adeso works to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: reinvigorating the economy, developing skills for life and work, providing humanitarian aid, and influencing policy.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Adeso is currently implementing a climate change adaptation project- Sustainable Coastal Restoration and Development for Somalia (SCRD) Phase III in Lasqoray District, Sanaag region. The project’s main objectives are to promote sustainable coastal habitat restoration and to alleviate poverty through date palms and mangrove as well as indigenous trees restoration, construction of fishing technology, solar powered irrigation systems for poor farmers, and to improve awareness among the communities of the importance of the coastal habitat, by focusing on effective solutions to address the development and ecological needs of communities necessary for climate change adaptation.

The project will assess understanding of climate change in coastal communities, and their understanding about climate, the challenges and opportunities faced by pastoralists in managing climate risks, as well as their adaptive capacity for the future.

The assignment is to raise community level awareness on climate change and capacity to plan and implement adaptation strategies. It involves supporting the project team to develop and implement community level participatory assessments on climate change and its effects and impacts on community livelihoods, followed by participatory community adaptation action plans development which will ensure that they can gain economically from their local resources including marine, tree based ecosystems and other resources, while preserving the environment for future generations. Capacity building will enable the needs and aspirations of the local communities to be included in the adaptation plans. Awareness raising will instill stewardship of the plans, replication of best practices, and integration with district development plans and eventually sustainably improve the wellbeing of the communities in the target areas.

SCOPE OF WORK

The project has a coastal restoration component- that has community strengthening on the seed’s variety, the nursery techniques, replanting of the Nursery/seeds and the related management. Adeso will seek technical specialist to support on the dates framing process and progressing below are indicative scope of the tasks:

  • Have first-hand visit to the project locations and observe the current practice on date and Mangrove planting. Identify the cons and pros of the current local practice. In this process, the specialist to interview farmers, fishing groups and key leaders to have in-depth understanding of the current practice
  • Provide training / capacity building to the project team and selected key farmers’/community leaders on the best practices of farming and restoration at the project locations.
  • Note the ecological zone and the need to find the characteristics that either support or deny deferent varieties of project seedlings including dates, mangrove and other native trees.
  • Advice the best mangrove seed variety for the local area, together with the project team identifies the source of the recommended variety seedlings.
  • Provide material guide to the project team to continuously strengthen best farming practices including date palms, mangrove replanting through capacity building of the local communities.
  • In the first establish benchmarks to monitor the formed seedlings such as mangrove restoration progress at the community level.
  • Depending budget availability and security permitting two mission trips/visit (one training during the first quarter of project and flow-up visit and training to fit identified gaps) to the project locations and track the progress of mangrove dates and other indigenous plants restoration and farming practices.

CONSULTANCY PERIOD

24 days (in two mission trips during the project duration)

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Environmental science or agriculture degree or equivalent other related fields.
  • Minimum 3 years experience coastal restoration and Marine resources management
  • Strong experience in providing trainings for community.
  • Significant research achievements in Marine resources management or Mangrove restorations.
  • Ability to work independently, under pressure and under time constraint.
  • A qualified Somalia National is preferred.