Environment & Energy Officer - Nakivale Refugee Settlement

About the role

HEKS/EPER (Swiss Church Aid) is recruiting an Environment & Energy Officer for its EWISE project in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda. The project improves the self-reliance and inclusive economic participation of vulnerable youth and women while restoring the environment and reducing pressure on natural resources. The officer leads environmental restoration, natural resource management and clean energy components, coordinates interventions on woodlot management and plastic waste recycling, and spends about 10% of the time giving technical support on environment, climate and energy to other projects in the country programme.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and implement the project according to approved budgets, workplan and policies, and integrate the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and climate adaptation and protection themes
• Carry out environmental, climate-risk and energy assessments and design interventions such as woodlot restoration, fuel-efficient stoves and clean-cooking practices
• Coordinate targeting of youth and women, support woodlot management committees, and deliver training on woodlot restoration, nursery management and gender equality
• Run sensitization sessions, strengthen school Eco-clubs, and set up community-led plastic waste collection and recycling hubs
• Screen project sites for environmental and social safeguards, track log frame indicators with the MEAL team, and contribute to mid-term and end-term reviews
• Ensure compliance with donor contracts, financial guidelines and national environmental regulations, and prepare donor reports and case studies
• Represent the organisation in environment and energy coordination platforms at settlement and district level and build partnerships with schools and community structures
• Help develop workplans, procurement plans and budget follow-ups, and review procurement requests within delegated thresholds
• Mainstream age, gender, disability and conflict sensitivity in all activities and support staff and partners to follow protection and safeguarding policies

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, natural resource management, forestry, agroforestry, climate change, renewable energy, environmental engineering, agriculture or a related field (master's degree an added advantage)
• At least 3 years of experience in environmental management, woodlot restoration, watershed management, climate adaptation or sustainable energy in humanitarian and/or development settings
• Demonstrated experience in environmental and social safeguards, risk assessment, community mobilisation, training and field monitoring
• Knowledge of tree nurseries, woodlot management, fuel-efficient stoves, clean-cooking technologies, solar energy, waste management, plastic recycling or circular economy approaches
• Experience working with refugee and host communities, women, youth and persons with disabilities
• Fluency in English; knowledge of Runyankole/Rukiga, Kinyarwanda, Kinyabwisha, Swahili or French is an added advantage

Required skills

• Strong report writing, data collection and analysis skills
• Proficiency in MS Office and data tools (Excel, KoboToolbox, PowerPoint); GIS or Power BI preferred