Federal Government Of Somalia is recruiting a National Gender Specialist / Gender Expert for their Somalia office. With 7 - 8 years of experience required, this position is suited for mid-to-senior level professionals in Gender/advocacy. Applications are open until Sep, 18. Don't miss this opportunity.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
National Gender Specialist / Gender Expert
Africa Mini-Grids Program (AMP) - Somalia
Tailored assignment to support implementation, monitoring and operationalization of the AMP Somalia Gender Action Plan
Position type
National Gender Specialist
Contract type
Individual Contract
Duty station / location
Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR), Mogadishu, Somalia; consultant to be housed/based at the Ministry, and possible field travel to pilot areas
Duration
From contract start date until 31 December 2026; renewable subject to satisfactory performance, continued project needs and availability of funds
Start date
To be confirmed
Supervisor
Director of Energy, MoEWR.
Background and project context
The Africa Mini-Grids Program (AMP) is a UNDP-supported and GEF-financed programme that aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy mini-grids across Africa. The Somalia national child project seeks to support access to clean energy by increasing the financial viability of low-carbon mini-grids and promoting scaled-up commercial investment in Somalia, with a focus on cost-reduction levers, digital transformation and innovative business models.
The AMP Somalia project is implemented by UNDP Somalia in partnership with the Federal Government of Somalia, particularly the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR), the National Electricity Authority (NEA), relevant Federal Member State authorities and private Electricity Service Providers (ESPs). The project is aligned with SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, SDG 5 on gender equality, Somalia national development priorities and UNDP country programme priorities on clean, affordable and sustainable energy for economic growth.
The
National Transformation Plan (NTP) 2025â2029)
identifies the energy sector as a strategic enabler of Somalia's economic transformation, recognizing that reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy is fundamental to industrialization, productive sectors, private sector development, employment creation, and improved social services. The NTP prioritizes expanding energy access and infrastructure, promoting renewable energy development, reviving hydropower potential, advancing responsible oil and gas exploration, and strengthening the extractive sector through institutional reforms and increased investment. Under the NTP, the Government aims to increase national electricity access from
61.9% to 80% of the population by 2029
, with particular emphasis on underserved rural communities, internally displaced persons (IDP) settlements, and hard-to-reach areas. This will be achieved through investments in diversified renewable energy sourcesâincluding solar, wind, hydropower, decentralized mini-grids, and modern transmission and distribution infrastructureâwhile promoting public-private partnerships (PPPs) and bankable energy investments to accelerate nationwide electrification and support inclusive economic growth.
Furthermore, the NTP seeks to improve energy affordability and sector efficiency by
reducing national electricity tariffs by 50% by 2029
through comprehensive energy sector reforms. Key priorities include strengthening energy governance and regulatory institutions, expanding renewable energy generation, upgrading national grid and transmission networks, encouraging private sector participation through enabling policy and PPP frameworks, establishing technical electricity training institutions, and implementing a
Single Buyer Electricity Market Model
to integrate Somalia's fragmented electricity systems. The NTP also promotes long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), modernization of existing mini-grids, and development of a unified national electricity network to improve reliability, reduce operational costs, attract private investment, and ensure sustainable, affordable, and reliable electricity services that contribute to achieving Somalia's broader National Transformation Plan objectives.
Rationale for the assignment
The AMP Somalia project has a Gender Marker of GEN-2 and is accompanied by a Gender Analysis and Gender Action Plan (GAP). The GAP Review for AMP Somalia found that foundational gender work has been initiated, including integration of gender considerations in analytical studies, womenâs participation in trainings and engagement with womenâs organizations. However, the review also found that the GAP remains under-operationalized and lacks a sufficiently measurable framework, including baselines, targets, timelines, responsibilities and dedicated budget lines.
The review further highlighted the absence of a designated Gender Focal Point within the PMU or MoEWR, limited in-house capacity for gender-responsive project management, inconsistent integration of gender requirements into core deliverables, and insufficient tracking of gender results beyond participation numbers. As the project moves into pilot tendering, site-level ESIA/ESMP preparation, PBP implementation, PUE support and monitoring of results, dedicated national gender expertise is required to translate the GAP into practical implementation measures.
This consultancy will provide embedded technical support to the PMU and government counterparts, while being housed/based at the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR), to update and operationalize the GAP; strengthen institutional ownership and capacity; integrate gender into the mini-grid pilots, ESP engagement and ESMP monitoring; and improve gender-sensitive data collection, reporting and learning.
Objective of the assignment
The overall objective of the assignment is to provide long-term, embedded gender technical support to MoEWR and UNDP Somalia, to ensure the effective integration of gender equality and womenâs empowerment into the planning, tendering, implementation, monitoring, reporting and learning processes of the AMP Somalia project, with particular focus on the mini-grid pilots and related productive-use, financing, digital and capacity-building activities.
Specific objectives are to:
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Update and operationalize the AMP Somalia GAP by developing SMART actions, indicators, baselines, targets, timelines, responsibilities and budget estimates.
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Support institutional ownership by strengthening the role of gender focal points and integrating GAP follow-up into PMU, MoEWR/NEA and project governance processes.
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Mainstream gender into the mini-grid pilot cycle, including site-level consultations, ESIA/ESMP processes, ESP contracts, PBP commitments, PUE support, tariff/affordability analysis and digital monitoring.
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Support meaningful participation of women, women-led organizations, female engineers, women entrepreneurs, female-headed households, youth and other vulnerable groups in AMP activities.
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Improve gender-sensitive monitoring, reporting and knowledge management, including PIR inputs, sex-disaggregated data and documentation of lessons learned.
About Somalia
Somalia is located in the Horn of Africa and has a growing job market, particularly in the humanitarian, development, and private sectors. Major employment hubs include Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, Baidoa, and Kismayo, with opportunities from international NGOs, UN agencies, government institutions, and an expanding private sector.
Ereyada Soomaaliga (Somali Keywords): Shaqo Cusub ⢠Shaqo Buuxda