Energy Specialist (Safe Access to Fuel & Energy)

Organizational Setting

More than a decade into the conflict, the humanitarian crisis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states in Northeast Nigeria remains one of the most severe in the world today with the third highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa surpassed only by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia.[1] As of August 2020[2], over 2.1 million persons remain displaced across the BAY states with women and children making up 81 percent of the overall crisis-affected population and 87 percent of the new displacements.[3] The ongoing conflict has generated interconnected vulnerabilities that negatively affect availability of and access to food, agriculture inputs, finance, farming land, extension services, markets as well as agricultural and alternative livelihood options. The situation remains critical as many cannot meet their food needs, especially in areas where large-scale displacements have taken place. The impact of the conflict is compounded further by climate variability that negatively affects production systems resulting in poor agricultural productivity with direct negative impacts on livelihoods and food security.

Nigeria was ranked one of the ten most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of climate change. The three northern zones in Nigeria show the highest vulnerability due to limited adaptive capacity, sensitivity and high level of exposure. Rising temperature and unpredictable weather patterns lead to increased levels of insecurity and often are a driver of natural resource based migration and conflicts. With reliance on agriculture (including livestock) and natural resources for livelihoods of the majority of the population, adaptation measures are critical. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is highlighted by the Nigerian Government both as a mitigation and adaptation measure to address the combined challenges of food security and climate change. It aims at sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and increasing of on-farm and off-farm incomes, adapting the agricultural food systems to climate change, while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural practices.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified an already highly fragile humanitarian context, negatively impacting agricultural livelihood activities across both the region and the country. The effects of the pandemic soon became evident, particularly in relation to food supply chains and interstate movements of agricultural produce, including both food commodities and fuel energy for household consumption. Given that the majority of the population of the BAY states relies on agriculture for their livelihoods, the COVID-19 pandemic has further weakened access to critical energy sources for household food production and as a result, has exacerbated the already critical need of fuel energy and creating a compounded protection risk for vulnerable women and girls who travels miles in search for firewood for household cooking.

FAO through the support of its donors is implementing a programme with a component of Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) in the BAY states as a means of translating protection into action. Given that more than 90% of people in Borno State depend on firewood and charcoal for meeting daily cooking needs, FAO SAFE activities include establishment of Fuel Efficient Stoves (FES) and briquette production centres, distributing of FES and briquettes to vulnerable people, supporting local livelihoods through training in technical/business aspects of stove production, and increasing energy supply through Community-Based Forestry Management interventions. The main objective is to address immediate needs of the most vulnerable people in the short term and to reduce protection risks

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Nigeria and under direct supervision of the Head of Sub-Office in Maiduguria in collaboration with Emergency Programme Coordinator and Assistant FAO Representative (P) and other technical experts in Emergency Operations in the North East of Nigeria.

Technical Focus

Support the implementation a component of Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) in the BAY as a means of translating protection into action.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Nigeria, immediate supervision of the Head of FAO Nigeria sub office for the North East; Programmatic guidance of the AFAOR for Programme and Emergency Programme Coordinator, the incumbent will support effective and timely delivery of the SAFE component of the FAO Programme. Specifically, the incumbent will:

Support the development and implementation of the SAFE intervention in the FAO Nigeria Northeast programme, including the establishment of fuel-efficient cook stove and briquette production centres.

• Lead the development of business models for the production and distribution of fuel efficient stoves and briquettes for commercial sustainability
• Work closely with line government ministries to support the promotion and development of SAFE and CSA
• Support implementation of climate smart agriculture activities under the programme including agroforestry scale up
• Support the promotion of SAFE and CSA through knowledge generation, participation in relevant meetings and other events in the country and articulate the importance of SAFE in protection of beneficiaries
• Coordinate and oversee the day-to-day field operations of all SAFE and CSA related activities in the emergency programme and ensure effective monitoring and reporting of progress of activities.
• Lead community engagement through the Community Based Participatory Planning approach (CBPP) with support from the Gender and protection specialist for the selection, sensitization and distribution of fuel-efficient cook stoves and CSA activities to project beneficiaries.
• Work closely with programme and M&E teams to create and maintain project trackers for the implementation of all SAFE activities and ensure regular update of the tracking tool and initiate procurement actions in a timely manner for timely delivery of project activities.
• Liaise with M&E team and implementing partners to conduct Post Distribution Monitoring of SAFE and CSA related activities to gather feedback and comments to support programme reviews and improve delivery.
• Be innovative and contribute to improvement of the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy and CSA components of the programme
• Support and participate in CSA dialogues and studies, and ensure timely submission of reports
• Participate in interagency coordination and working groups related to SAFE and climate smart activities
• Work closely with Communication teams to develop and disseminate SAFE and CSA products including policy briefs, newsletters
• Collaborate with implementing partners and in close consultation with the gender and protection specialist for the preparation of training materials and training of project beneficiaries on SAFE, gender and protection activities.
• Develop Letters of Agreement with partners for the implementation of SAFE and CSA project activities and monitor implementation including timely reporting
• Contribute to interim and terminal reporting by providing field data and lessons gathered from the fields during project implementation.
• Support resource mobilisation efforts by contributing to concept note writing and providing relevant assessments and evidence based field data in access to energy and Climate smart agriculture
• Support the development of at least one concept note on CSA and SAFE
• Perform any other duties as required by FAO.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree with at least 5 years of experience or Bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences and/or other related field of study is preferable with 7 years of experience.
• Additional qualifications and experience in climate smart agriculture and sustainable energy will be an added advantage.
• Working knowledge of English (level C);
• National of Nigeria

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Relevant experience working in humanitarian context in the field of agriculture and sustainable energy management.
• Experience and knowledge in the area of Energy and CSA
• Sound knowledge/experience in working with communities and diverse stakeholders in conflict-affected areas.
• Experience of working with the federal or state government especially in the NE
• Good and proven experience in project management and development.
• Strong personnel management experience and proven ability to work well in a cross-cultural team and environment.
• Excellent planning and organizing skills; accurate with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and human relations and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel extensively within the operation area.
• Knowledge of the NE is an asset

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/