Somalia: Environment Impact Assessment Specialist

Aug 23, 2021 | Nordic International Support Foundation
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The Nordic International Support Foundation (NIS) is a non-profit organization, headquartered in Oslo. NIS work with international donors, national governments, community leaders, national civil society groups and other key stakeholders to support processes that facilitate recovery from conflict through a variety of means, and currently implement projects in Somalia, Mali and Myanmar.

The NIS-administered Support to Somali Experts Secondment and Capacity Building Programme (SES), funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), aims to support the efforts of the Swedish government in seconding high-capacity Somali diaspora and local experts to a range of national institutions in Somaliland for the implementation of the National Development Plan (NPD). By helping to provide high-capacity diaspora experts to weakened government institutions, this programme seeks to boost their capacity to function and implement government policy. While the provision of experts under a single programme will not remedy all the capacity constraints faced by government, this programme will help to build the core competencies necessary to achieve longer-term and more ambitious development goals in the years ahead.

Introduction:

Somaliland is experiencing a serious of Environmental problems that is mainly in line with the unsustainable utilization of the natural resources. The man-made problems are extremely shaping the natural environment into unpredictable stage that resulted a great environmental degradation.

The fact is that all the development interventions in both rural and urban areas may create negative environmental impact and most of them now resulted a complex of environmental degradation this is mainly lack of EIA interventions before the start of the intervention implementation.

The Ministry of Environment and Rural Development is nationally mandated the conservation and sustainable management of the National Environment and promote the rural people livelihoods, is in search of an experienced EIA specialist that can support the Ministry in issues related to EIA.

Scope of Work

The Environment Impact Assessment Expert’s key activities will include the following:

(Note: The Listed tasks and responsibilities below are non-exhaustive and are given only as an indication)

Implementation

1. Provide technical assistance to the Environmental audits to the Ministry of Environment of Somaliland.
2. Work with Department staff to develop a standard operating manual for Environmental Impact assessments for the context of Somaliland.
3. Work with Department staff to develop new regulation and/or revise existing regulations.
4. Develop and implement institutional development strategies to support the implementation of Environmental audit compliance.
5. Develop and lead in-house trainings for core staffs in the Ministry of Environment-Somaliland.
6. Transfer of Skills-Provide training and mentoring of Environmental impact audits, including senior management, to increase staff capacity to undertake EAI regulation functions.

• Support the Ministry of Environment to develop information and education packages and programs for the relevant sector, which may include guidelines, standards, legislation (as necessary);
• Support the Ministry in compliance activities, including Environmental audits and inspections, data quality monitoring, legislative interpretation, etc.
• Participate in internal and external activities such as workshops, briefings, consultations and meetings.

Monitoring

• The Specialist will draw-up a monitoring framework and periodically monitor and assess the implementation particularly focusing on qualitative improvements.
• The Specialist will review improvements in institutional capacity and training, overall adaptation, improvements in operationalizing the Environmental Impact Assessments approach in all aspects to meet the overall objectives.
• Resulting from this process, the Specialist will determine areas that may lag or new areas that require attention, make recommendations for improvements and raise issues (technical or otherwise) that may impede progress.

Contract and Reporting Arrangements

The Environment Impact Assessment Specialist/Expert will be full-time and hired against a time-based contract for 6 months upon satisfactory performance.

The Director General will be the key person to whom the consultant will report to (on a day-to-day basis) and provide support in the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment:

The Specialist shall submit the reports summarized below, for the respective period. All documents/reports will be issued in English, submitted in both hard and electronic copies.

1. Work plan: A work plan will have to be developed with the Supervisor during the first week of assignment which will provide clear and time bound activities to successfully implement the outputs of the assignment.
2. Monthly Progress Reports: The Specialist shall prepare monthly concise reports with the relevant information on progress, and emerging challenges.
3. Annual Progress Reports: The Specialist shall prepare annual concise reports with the relevant information on progress, highlighting achievements, emerging challenges and recommendations to ensure a successful Environmental Audit approach implementation.
4. Final Report: Before the end of the assignment, the Specialist shall submit a final report detailing all the activities undertaken. The report will outline achievements and challenges and lessons learnt.

Position Description:

The Environmental Impact Assessment Specialist will carry out the following activities but not limited to:-

• Supporting environmental assessment preparation, review, monitoring and evaluation.
• Ensuring compliance with the international standard
• Assessing environmental and social impacts of planned or ongoing development activities
• Advising on steps and actions to mitigate potential or existing negative environmental impacts of development activities.
• The expert should train the staff of the Ministry and its stakeholders the EIA an Environmental Auditing
• Develop National EIA Manual for field guide.

Work experience

• Must have demonstrated, extensive, practical experience with environmental impact assessments and with environmental issues in the developing world especially in the East African countries.
• Is able to provide expert advice and to be proactive in seeking to develop new areas of work within identified objectives and strategies.
• Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations
• Must have at least 10 years of progressively more responsible practical work experience, preferably including international, and environmental or natural resource management in the developing world.

Skills

• Excellent analytical skills.
• Evidence of excellent skills in intercultural communications and ability to train.
• Offer expertise in Environmental Impact Assessment and have experience successfully working with governmental bodies in developing countries as well as the natural resource management .
• Demonstrate exceptional written and oral communication skills in English.

Education

Master’s degree in environmental science with extensive knowledge in EIA and Environmental Auditing.

Communication

Fluency in English and Somali, both written and oral (Advanced level) speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

How to apply

Equal Opportunities: We value diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees.

This position is open to Somali speaking candidates for both in-country and the Diaspora. Interested Candidates especially female candidates who meet all the requirements are highly encouraged.

Please apply here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/04c2f51dcb3b462b8037e28976e1d677