1. Background to SDF
The Somaliland Development Fund – Phase 3 (SDF3) covers the period 2025–2028, with the
possibility of a two-year extension. SDF3 aims to strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable
communities, enhance livelihoods and employment opportunities, and promote private-sector
engagement in climate-smart solutions. The programme is aligned with NDP3 and Somaliland Vision
2030 and is currently funded by Denmark and Norway.
Under SDF3, the Ministry of Livestock and Rural Development (MoLRD) is implementing the
“Increasing Climate Resilience through the Qool Caday Livestock Centre of Excellence Project”. The
project aims to rehabilitate and protect 8,000 hectares of communal rangeland in Salaxley District,
including a 6,000-hectare drought reserve, while establishing the Qool Caday Livestock Centre of
Excellence as a national hub for climate-smart livestock production, training, research, innovation and
extension services.
To ensure the long-term sustainability, effective management and replication of these investments,
MoLRD intends to develop nationally applicable legal, regulatory, governance and operational
frameworks for Livestock Holding Grounds, Drought Reserves and Livestock Centres of Excellence
in Somaliland, using the Qool Caday Livestock Centre of Excellence as the pilot model. The developed
frameworks assignment will establish clear legal mandates, governance arrangements, management
and financing mechanisms, operational procedures and oversight systems, supported by priority legal
instruments, institutional and operational frameworks, a financial sustainability model, implementation
tools, and a costed roadmap for roll-out.
2. Summary of the role
SDF3 seeks a Legal and Regulatory Specialist to work as a part of a multi-disciplinary team that will
be developing national legal, regulatory and governance frameworks for Livestock Holding Grounds,
Drought Reserves and Livestock Centres of Excellence in Somaliland. The role requires a highly
experienced specialist capable of reviewing legal, policy, regulatory and customary governance
arrangements and developing practical, nationally applicable legal and regulatory instruments to
support the effective governance, management and operation of these facilities.
3. Key tasks
• Review existing laws, policies, regulations and customary governance arrangements relevant
to Livestock Holding Grounds (LHGs), Drought Reserves (DRs) and Livestock Centres of
Excellence (LCEs).

• Assess the legal and institutional status of these facilities and identify gaps, overlaps and
inconsistencies relating to ownership, land tenure, resource-use rights, governance mandates,
management responsibilities and enforcement mechanisms.
• Review relevant regional and international models and identify good practices applicable to
the Somaliland context.
• Develop a national legal and regulatory framework for the establishment, governance,
management and operation of LHGs, DRs and LCEs.
• Prepare the priority legal and regulatory instruments required to operationalise the proposed
framework, including guidance on the approval and adoption process.
• Support stakeholder consultations, validation workshops and the finalisation of all legal and
regulatory outputs.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Qualifications and Skills
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a recognised university.
• Post graduate qualification in legal drafting, Public Law, Land Governance from a recognised
university.
• Membership of a recognised professional legal body in the country of domicile.
General Professional Experience
• At least ten (10) years of professional experience in legal and regulatory reform, public policy,
governance, natural resource management, land administration or institutional development.
• Demonstrated experience working on legal and policy assignments in developing countries,
preferably in the Horn of Africa.
Specific Professional Experience
• Demonstrated experience in at least two (2) completed assignments involving legal, policy or
regulatory review and reform.
• Demonstrated experience in at least two (2) assignments involving natural resource
governance, land governance, rangeland management, environmental management or
related sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting legislation, regulations, by-laws, regulatory guidelines,
institutional frameworks or policy instruments on at least two (2) assignments.
• Demonstrated experience in at least one (1) assignment involving customary governance
systems, land tenure arrangements or community-based resource management.

5. How to apply
Interested candidates should send their application (cover letter and CV) to the Somaliland
Development Fund Secretariat through e-mail [email protected]. Candidates should indicate
in their cover letter how they fit the criteria outlined in the advert. All applications must be received by
Sunday 1 November 2026 at 1600hrs East African Standard Time. Applicants should clearly
indicate the position they are applying for in the email subject line.
Any attempt by a candidate to influence the outcome of the recruitment process in any way which can
be interpreted as canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification from being considered for this
position.
This position is open to both International and Somaliland candidates.