Country: Somalia
Closing date: 02 Jan 2015
Repeated crises linked to political, economic, social and environmental factors have eroded the social, institutional, livelihood and environmental bases of Somali communities and rendered them increasingly vulnerable to recurrent shocks. The frequency and severity of crises in Somalia that have resulted in crop failure, depletion of livestock, rising food prices, and deteriorating purchasing power have led to an almost perpetual state of livelihood crisis. Although the Somali population is, by necessity, extremely resilient, over time there has been a deterioration of relative wealth and a slowing pace of recovery after shocks. Despite the implementation of repeated large-scale disaster relief efforts aimed at saving lives and protecting livelihoods in the short term, communities have continued to slip further into crisis with each failed rain, crop failure or flair up of conflict. This demonstrates the vulnerability of communities whose resource base has been eroded by both predictable and unpredictable shocks and stresses.
Pastoralist, agro-pastoralist, and peri-urban communities have witnessed repeated erosion of their livelihood base due to the repeated shocks with insufficient recovery time, ongoing insecurity, and a deterioration of local and national governance. This has resulted in more frequent migration in search of pasture and water or an abandonment of pastoralism altogether accompanied by movement to peri-urban and urban areas. Subsistence farmers relying on rain-fed agriculture, already vulnerable to unpredictable rain patterns, have seen their capacity to cultivate the land erode due to increasingly irregular rainfall. Prices of basic commodities have fluctuated significantly as market access and trade routes are continually disrupted by conflict. These price increases have considerably impacted on households who are already struggling to meet their basic needs from a depleted asset base and decreasing household incomes. Traditional coping mechanisms have been stretched as already vulnerable households and communities struggle to cope with the situation while still trying to assist the regular influxes of IDPs from the most recent drought or conflict.
As result of this Oxfam instituted Resilience programs in Lower Shebelle and Galgadud regions targeting Pastoral and Agro pastoral communities through funding from SIDA and DFAT (Department of Foreign Aid and Trade) respectively.
PROJECTS DESCRIPTION
The resilience program facilitated community-led risk reduction processes and supported communities to develop risk reduction and preparedness plans, linked to local authority or NGO processes and mechanisms to support their implementation. The program in Galgaduud aims to strengthen traditional pastoral risk management institutions that provide support on mobility, splitting of herds, promoting mixed herds, and emergency livestock trade activities. The Lower Shebelle programme aims to improve food security and livelihoods and build resilience among vulnerable HHs and communities, while providing an effective social safety net to support the most vulnerable HHs in the targeted district through activities such as community-led mechanisms for water resource management; CFW projects for irrigation and water harvesting; “Good Agricultural Practice” (GAP) approaches promoted; provision of inputs or grants for tools, equipment, seeds, and seedlings; and strengthen community-level early warning committee.
How to apply:
If you believe you fit the job and person profile please request for additional information on ToR on the following email: somaliajobs@oxfam.org.uk and send your application using the same email
The closing date for applications is 2nd January 2015.