Project: Green Building

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Project: Green Building

Capacity building encompasses more than just training, mentoring, and equipping personnel. It also involves planning, designing, and providing constructions or technical assets for a sustainable future. EUCAP Somalia's Projects Cell, which consists of six international and five national staff members, plans and implements projects across mission's all three Field Offices.

© EUCAP Somalia

As defined in EUCAP Somalia's mandate, the Project Cell's work focuses on supporting Somali security institutions and the justice sector. Completed projects have included, for example, maritime workshops with a reserve of spare parts, ICT equipment for the justice sector, and police office renovations with solar panel systems. In addition to EUCAP-funded projects, the Cell has also coordinated projects funded by other EU organizations or member states.

"Basic project management courses teach that a project is a temporary organizational structure established to create a unique product or service within specific constraints such as time, cost, and quality", explains Project Manager Alexandru Nicolae.

While the product is the direct result of the project, it must be based on assessments of the needs of the beneficiaries and developed in close cooperation with them. This approach maximises benefits to the organisation or its stakeholders, ensuring that the project's outputs meet their needs. This method provides a unique opportunity to work closely with diverse teams from different backgrounds. For example, Projects collaborate with stakeholders ranging from Somali ministries to law enforcement agencies and maritime law enforcement agencies, among others.

Moreover, the work must be adapted to the local context so that the project's product meets the expectations of the beneficiaries. This cannot be achieved without strong interaction with local counterparts. Finally, a project manager must work with the environment, not against it. The objectives must be aligned with local conditions to ensure sustainable success and positive outcomes.

Locally Tailored Solutions

The work within the Project Cell is highly adaptive and requires a deep understanding of the local context. Each project demands a tailored approach, as the team must navigate complex environments. This involves not only delivering technical solutions but also fostering strong relationships with local stakeholders, ensuring that the outcomes are sustainable and truly beneficial to the communities involved. The ability to be flexible and responsive to the evolving needs on the ground is essential for the successful implementation of these projects.

It may seem a cliché to rename challenges as opportunities, but Somali circumstances also provide room to maneuver, allowing for planning and experimenting with new solutions. One such innovation tailored for local conditions is the concept of bioclimatic building, or green building, which has been designed within the EUCAP Project Cell.

Project Manager Sara Sartini has been instrumental in designing the bioclimatic or green building concept.

"The planning of a green building within the context of the EUCAP Project Cell, involves a meticulous and context-sensitive approach. Given the unique conditions in the Horn of Africa, especially Somalia, the planning process cannot rely on generic, ready-made solutions. Instead, each aspect of the project must be tailored to the specific environmental, social, and logistical challenges present in the region", she explains.

When preparing the project, she began with a thorough assessment of local needs and conditions. In a construction project, this involves understanding the climate, available resources, cultural practices, and infrastructural gaps that need to be addressed.
In essence, the planning of the green building project by Ms. Sartini and other members of the EUCAP Project Cell is a complex and adaptive process that seeks to create sustainable and contextually appropriate infrastructure, addressing both immediate needs and long-term goals in Somalia.

"The bioclimatic design approach for the new Somaliland Coast Guard Command Center in Berbera reflects a forward-thinking strategy that integrates renewable resources like sunlight, wind, air, and vegetation into the building's architecture. By leveraging these natural elements for cooling and lighting, the design significantly reduces overall energy consumption, making it a model for the sustainable development of the rest of the Coast Guard Base Masterplan", Ms Sartini tells.

While the initial construction costs of a green building may be somewhat higher, the long-term benefits include reduced energy bills, lower environmental impact, and improved resilience to climate change. These advantages make it a worthwhile investment, particularly in regions where energy resources are scarce or expensive. This pilot project not only aims to create a functional Command Center but also sets a precedent for future developments in the region. By demonstrating the viability and benefits of bioclimatic design, it paves the way for broader adoption of sustainable building practices.