Environmental and Safeguarding Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Organization: Alight, Somalia
Position: Environmental and Safeguarding Officer
Location: Laas’anood-North East State, Somalia
Duration: 12 months, renewable based on performance, funds, and need for the position
Employment Type: Full time
Posted: 
Closing Date: 12th May 2026

ABOUT ALIGHT

Alight is a global humanitarian and development organization working with displaced and marginalized communities to co‑create solutions that go beyond meeting basic needs. Formerly the American Refugee Committee, Alight has nearly 50 years of experience delivering high‑quality services in more than 20 countries, reaching over 4 million people annually.

Our mission is to build meaningful lives for and with displaced people — lives filled with dignity, joy, and connection. In Somalia, Alight has been active since 2011, partnering with governments, civil society, and local communities to strengthen essential services such as health, water, and education, while supporting durable solutions for displaced persons. Alight maintains offices in Mogadishu, Kismayo, Dhobley, Hargeisa, Laas Anood, and a regional office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Barwaaqo Project Background

The Somali Water for Rural Resilience II (Barwaaqo Project) is a flagship five‑year initiative financed by the World Bank and implemented by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) through the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIED). Building on the achievements of earlier programs such as Biyoole and WALP, Barwaaqo is designed to help Somali communities withstand and adapt to recurring climatic shocks, including droughts and floods, while strengthening long‑term resilience.

The project focuses on four integrated pillars:

• Water Infrastructure Development: Construction of haffir dams, subsurface dams, pipelines, tanks, and kiosks to expand reliable access to safe water.
• Agriculture and Livestock Services: Support for agro‑pastoralist livelihoods through improved irrigation, rangeland management, and veterinary services.
• Environmental Restoration: Catchment rehabilitation, soil and water conservation, and biodiversity protection to reverse land degradation.
• Institutional Strengthening: Capacity building for local and national institutions to manage water and environmental resources sustainably.

Alight has been contracted as the Third‑Party Implementing Agency (TPIA) for Sool and Sanaag regions, where it is rolling out investments across eight target sites. These interventions are expected to directly benefit 48,382 individuals (15,782 women; 12,663 men; 19,937 children) and 80,000 livestock supporting and safeguarding the livelihoods of agropastoral communities.

Role Purpose

The Environmental & Safeguard Officer provides technical leadership, compliance oversight, and field monitoring to ensure all Barwaaqo project activities—including construction of dams, pipelines, tanks, and water kiosks—are implemented in line with:

• World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)
• Project Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)
• Contractor Environmental, Social, Health & Safety (ESHS) obligations
• National environmental standards

The officer ensures environmental, social, and SEA/SH safeguards are integrated across all project stages: design, construction, operation, and decommissioning.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Environmental Compliance & ESMP Implementation

• Lead the rollout, monitoring, and periodic updating of site‑specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) across all eight project sites.
• Ensure contractors comply with ESMP provisions, including pollution prevention, waste management, occupational health and safety (OHS), and community safety.
• Review and approve contractor method statements for alignment with environmental and social safeguards.

2. Environmental Monitoring & Site Assessments

• Conduct regular field inspections to track vegetation clearance boundaries, soil erosion, land degradation, and topographic disturbance.
• Monitor flood‑prone areas using 10‑year flood modelling, drainage patterns, sedimentation, and silt trap performance.
• Assess catchment conditions and rangeland degradation using NDVI and CIR analysis.
• Maintain and update monitoring tools consistent with ESMP mitigation and monitoring plans.

3. Safeguards Oversight

• Oversee compliance with safeguards covering OHS, community health and safety, biodiversity protection, and cultural heritage chance‑find procedures.
• Implement invasive species control measures (e.g., Prosopis management) and support sustainable land management interventions such as semi‑circular soil bunds and rangeland restoration.
• Ensure all workers sign and adhere to the Code of Conduct.

4. SEA/SH, GBV, and Protection Measures

• Collaborate with gender specialists and field teams to operationalize SEA/SH‑sensitive grievance redress mechanisms (GRM).
• Establish confidential, survivor‑centered referral pathways and awareness training for workers and communities.
• Monitor contractor compliance with SEA/SH requirements embedded in bidding and contract documents.

5. Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare and submit environmental monitoring reports, incident reports, and monthly progress updates in line with project reporting obligations.
• Maintain organized records of ESMP updates, contractor compliance, GRM records, monitoring data, site visits, and training activities.
• Use agreed reporting trackers to ensure timely and accurate documentation.

6. Capacity Building & Community Engagement

• Train Village Development Committees (VDCs), Project Management Sub‑Committees (PMSCs), field monitors, and local leaders on environmental safeguards, water safety, waste management, and rangeland management.
• Support integration of environmental data into Community Investment Plans (CIPs) to strengthen local ownership and sustainability.
• Facilitate participatory engagement to ensure communities understand and contribute to safeguard measures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Natural Resource Management, or related field.
• 3–5 years professional experience in environmental management in development or humanitarian settings.
• Demonstrated experience implementing ESMPs and ESF‑based safeguards.
• Familiarity with SEA/SH safeguards, GRM processes, and community‑based protection approaches.

Competencies

• Strong analytical and environmental assessment skills.
• Excellent understanding of rural dryland ecosystems.
• Knowledge of World Bank ESF and Somali environmental regulations.
• Strong stakeholder coordination skills.
• High integrity, professionalism, and commitment to confidentiality

Work Conditions and Reporting

• Reporting Line: The Environmental & Safeguard Officer reports directly to the Alight Project Team Leader. The post holder will also be working closely with the National Environmental and Safeguard Specialist, who is a member of the national project coordination unit.
• Status: Full‑time and field intensive role.
• Duty Station: Based in Las’anod, with frequent travel to project sites across the Sool and Sanaag regions.
• Travel Expectation: Up to 70% travel.

Join Our Team

Alight is seeking a dedicated Environmental & Safeguard Officer to support the implementation of the Barwaaqo Project in Somalia. This role is critical to ensuring that all project activities — from water infrastructure development to environmental restoration — meet the highest standards of compliance, safety, and sustainability.

We are looking for a professional who is passionate about environmental management, committed to community engagement, and skilled in applying international safeguard frameworks. The successful candidate will play a key role in monitoring project sites, guiding contractors, and building local capacity to protect ecosystems and strengthen resilience in pastoral and agro-pastoral communities.

If you are motivated by impact, thrive in field-based work, and want to contribute to building meaningful lives for displaced and marginalized communities, we encourage you to apply and become part of Alight’s mission.

How to Apply

Submit a one‑page motivation letter and a current, updated CV (2–4 pages) with three references to [email protected] before the closing date. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

NB: Please state on the subject line of the email: Environmental and Safeguard Specialist

For more information about Alight’s work and impact, visit: https://wearealight.org