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.

1. 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) 2025–2029) 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 sources—including solar, wind, hydropower, decentralized mini-grids, and modern transmission and distribution infrastructure—while 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.

2. 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, women’s participation in trainings and engagement with women’s 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.

3. 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 women’s 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:

·         Update and operationalize the AMP Somalia GAP by developing SMART actions, indicators, baselines, targets, timelines, responsibilities and budget estimates.

·         Support institutional ownership by strengthening the role of gender focal points and integrating GAP follow-up into PMU, MoEWR/NEA and project governance processes.

·         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.

·         Support meaningful participation of women, women-led organizations, female engineers, women entrepreneurs, female-headed households, youth and other vulnerable groups in AMP activities.

·         Improve gender-sensitive monitoring, reporting and knowledge management, including PIR inputs, sex-disaggregated data and documentation of lessons learned.

Required profile and qualifications 8.1 Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in gender studies, gender and development, social sciences, development studies, sustainable energy, environmental studies, economics or a related field.

A first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree, in line with UNDP requirements.

 Experience

·         At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in gender mainstreaming, gender analysis and/or gender-responsive programme implementation in development settings.

·         Demonstrated experience developing or updating Gender Action Plans, gender-sensitive indicators, M&E tools, reporting frameworks and practical implementation guidance.

·         Experience working in energy access, renewable energy, infrastructure, private sector development, productive-use programmes, climate change or basic services is highly desirable.

·         Experience working with government institutions, UN agencies, donors, civil society organizations, women’s networks and private-sector actors in Somalia or comparable fragile/conflict-affected contexts is an asset.

·         Experience facilitating inclusive consultations, training workshops and stakeholder engagement processes with women, youth, vulnerable groups and community-based organizations.

·         Strong understanding of gender equality, social inclusion, do-no-harm principles and gender-related risks in community infrastructure and service-delivery projects.

·         Knowledge of UNDP/GEF programming, Gender Marker requirements, safeguards, SES/ESMP processes, PIR reporting or results-based financing modalities is an advantage.

8.3 Skills and competencies

·         Strong analytical, drafting and communication skills, with ability to prepare concise, practical and operational deliverables.

·         Ability to translate gender analysis into implementable actions, indicators, budgets, contract clauses and monitoring tools.

·         Ability to work collaboratively with technical teams, regulators, ESPs, government counterparts and civil society stakeholders.

·         Excellent facilitation skills and sensitivity to cultural, security and access constraints in Somalia.

·         Proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in Somali is required or strongly preferred for community engagement and stakeholder consultations.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit a detailed proposal outlining their key expert’s qualifications, relevant experience, proposed methodology, and preferred payment option(s) to [email protected]                                    cc: [email protected]   [email protected] by submission deadline of 18th September 2026.

Confidentiality:

All information provided to the consultant during the course of the consultancy shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed to any third party without prior written consent from MoEWR.