Somalia: Cross border Policy (INT1827)

Introduction and Background

As part of the ongoing cross border project, human security for vulnerable pastoralist and agro-pastoralist Project is working the cross border areas of Ethiopia and Somaliland. This project started July 2012 The goal of the project is to contribute to the development of enabling conditions for human security for vulnerable pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in border areas of Ethiopia and Somaliland. The Project aims to address long existing needs of the community and aims to invest in strengthening governance, increasing resilience to drought and improving livelihood security.

The project tries to tackle problems threatening fundamental and long established pillars of pastoralism. Proposal also aims to address said gaps through a shift from repeated, reactive emergency responses to laying the foundations for building resilient communities and improving the human security of pastoralists along the Ethiopia-Somaliland border

Livelihood insecurity perpetuates pastoralists and agro-pastoralists’ vulnerability to drought and marginalization from political processes, undermining social cohesion and their abilities to benefit from peace dividends. This project improved and supported pastoralists and agro-pastoralists’ livelihood strategies as well as alternate livelihoods marketing- to ensure greater sustainability.

This project is seeking a seasoned policy advisor consultant that speeds up key regional and cross country policy plan of the project, this role will also need huge engagement with different stakeholders in the region and Ethiopia involved in TAD, pastoralist mobility and cross border trade.

General Objective

The general objective of this short term professional consultancy is to recruit seasoned consultant that leads regional interventions and strengthen collaboration with IGAD level institutions with the aim of enhancing impact of cross border project

Specific Objectives

1. To achieve implementation of policy interventions of the project in a manner that contributes to key cross border pillars.
2. Improved coordination and collaboration with regional stakeholders to enhance on trans boundary animal disease, trade and mobility

Expected outcomes of the consultant

• Address Restricted cross border movement for livestock through AU IBAR and ICPALD by influencing and advocating IGAD transhumance protocol. Ensure the protocol is pro pastoralists and addressing community needs
• Provide technical backing on building evidence based country specific policy work that feeds in to different policy engagement at regional level to create buy in and facilitate change
• To work with ICPALD and AU-IBAR to accelerate work on bilateral and multilateral protocols on strengthening collaboration on community resilience building initiatives, animal disease control, management and coordination mechanism between Ethiopia and Somaliland with support from the ground team
• Lead formalisation/creation of fair trade in the cross border areas that does not exacerbate inequality based on cross border trade study findings that leverages ongoing initiatives of cross border trade license. Aim is to promote active implementation of current geography but also to extend beyond these sites
• Together with country policy adviser build the capacity of country teams and partners on relevant priority areas identified as appropriate

Key deliverables/outputs expected to underscore in three month deployment period

• Develop and disseminate policy briefs on cross border policy pillars for policy influencing and disseminate through appropriate channels
• Support and contribute to proposal writing for potential cross border project phase over
• Convene and facilitate a regional policy workshop for the cross border project aimed at influencing decision affecting cross border community
• Develop regional engagement strategy in line with Mobility, TAD and cross border trade
• The consultant to undertake lobby meetings with authorities in both Ethiopia and Somaliland especially CVO Ethiopia and Somaliland Livestock Ministry as well as frontline border staff on both sides of the border to establish improved coordination. Meet and collaborate with regional bodies engaged in similar thematic area
• Develop at least three policy papers in relation to cross border project policy component used for sharing wider audiences for advocacy and influencing purpose

Consultant Profile

1. Should be able to conduct thorough policy interventions at field and ability to influence regional bodies.
2. The consultant should have at least 8 years of hands on experience on livestock, trade and mobility policy preferably in the pastoral context of Somali ecosystem
3. Strong background in campaigns work, especially in developing countries, and in particular within Horn of Africa.
4. A thorough understanding of regional political landscape.
5. A strong understanding of drylands issues, and relevant regional global forums and bodies
6. A thorough understanding of advocacy strategy development and policy analysis
7. Strong experience in policy development in organisations and ability to link this to programme and campaigns development and delivery
8. Supportive and effective manager and good team player
9. Sound understanding of major economic, social development and poverty issues facing

Consultancy Period:Oxfam will recruitment competent and capable consultant for a period of four months starting from Sep the 1^st until end of November(three month period) 2015, with possible extension opportunity based on the performance shown by the job holder.

Location of the Consultant: cross border project policy advisor consultant will be based in Hargeisa office, where the project management is seated, with frequent travel to Ethiopia and Nairobi.

Benefits:The position is non accompanied post, offering competitive salary to selected person. Oxfam will cover food and accommodation given that the recruited individual is outside Somaliland

If you are interested and meet above mentioned competencies please send a Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter. The closing date for Applications is September 23^rd 2015.

To apply for the above consultancy, please send your application to**HecaConsultancy@oxfam.org.uk**