Ethiopia: Regional Climate Resilient WASH Advisor

Nov 9, 2023 | WaterAid
View Original

The purpose of this role is to lead the delivery of the Climate Change Aim. The incumbent will provide technical support and oversight and lead in achieving its influencing outcomes. The position-holder will lead and/or facilitate the development of quality, impactful, inclusive and innovative strategy and programmes on WASH and Climate Change and provide technical guidance and advice in their delivery. The incumbent will achieve this through a programmatic approach combining field-based programmes with learning, research and advocacy initiatives and work in collaborative partnerships with various stakeholders in the public and private spheres, including civil society organizations, National and Local Governments in East Africa and the private sector.

The East African Regional Climate Resilient WASH Advisor will play a crucial role in advancing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives in the East African region, with a focus on building climate resilience. The Advisor will work collaboratively with regional partners, governments, and local communities to develop and implement strategies that ensure access to safe and sustainable WASH services while mitigating the impacts of climate change. This position requires a deep understanding of WASH systems, climate adaptation, and regional context. The Climate Resilient WASH Advisor will contribute to defining clear narratives for climate resilience WASH policies. The person will be a recognised WaterAid East Africa spokesperson and expert advisor on climate change and climate-resilient WASH. In addition, Incumbent will play a major part in realising WaterAid's ambition to strengthen the resilience of WASH to climate change and achieve regional change through its research, policy work, global advocacy priorities and campaigns.

The role will be instrumental in achieving WaterAid's aims and mission and provide key support to Senior Programme and Technical Staff in Country Programmes in the East Africa Region while partnering with other colleagues outside the region, including Programme Support Unit (PSU) and Global Policy and Campaigns (GPAC).

Ensure technical support is provided to CPs on Climate-resilient WASH services and serve as the technical Advisor on climate within the Regional Team.

Responsibilities:

WASH and Climate Programme development

  • Provide contextualised support in climate proofing of the ongoing WaterAid East Africa (WAEA) programmes.
  • Analyse the evolving political economy of climate-resilient WASH to guide WAEA for adaptive programming and planning.
  • Support WAEA in developing the capacity of the relevant staff and partners on Climate change, water security and its links with WASH.
  • Develop, implement, and oversee a comprehensive climate-resilient WASH five-year strategy for the East African region, considering local climate challenges, vulnerabilities, and available resources.
  • Lead and manage regional WASH projects, ensuring that they are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with project objectives and quality standards. 
  • Design the WASH and Climate Change inputs for the situation analysis. Provide timely, comprehensive and current data to inform WASH and Climate Change policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation.
  • Participate in strategic WASH and Climate Change programme planning and implementation discussions. Support/lead WASH - Climate donor proposals (for climate financing), ensuring alignment with WaterAid Global strategy (specifically WaterAid's Strategic Aim 3 - Climate resilient WASH services) and CPs' strategies and all Aim three programmes.
  • Ensure the Climate programmes (under WaterAid's Strategic Aim 3) are aligned with government plans and priorities on climate change, such as Climate change policies, NAPs and NDCs
  • Assist in formulating WASH and Climate Change outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification. Prepare required documentation for programme reviews.
  • Work with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies for achieving WASH and Climate Change output results in the country programmes (CPs).
  • Coordinate WASH and Climate works and initiatives in the East Africa region.

Technical and operational support for programme implementation

  • Provide technical and operational support to CPs, NGO partners and other relevant actors to implement WASH and Climate programmes
  • Identify technical gaps and use WaterAid ''Build-Borrow-Buy'' approach to increase capacities of CPs on WASH and Climate
  • Participate on behalf of the Regional Team in WASH and Climate Change programme meetings to review progress, share WaterAid's good practices and models, and provide expert advice and guidance.
  • Develop policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for use by CPs and the Regional Team for advocacy and policy influencing purposes.
  • Prepare protocols and procedures to be able to respond effectively and timely to any case of climate disaster/emergency.

Innovation, Programme Learning for sustainability and Influencing

  • Ensure the capture and documentation of Climate Change and WASH models and practices for influencing WASH and Climate Change policy and practice.
  • Support the development and delivery of robust advocacy strategies necessary for integrating WASH in Climate Change process, plans and strategies at different levels (using analysis of published documents, research, public debates and WaterAid's own country programme experience).
  • Advocate for policies and practices that promote climate-resilient WASH at the regional, national, and local levels and provide technical input to relevant policies and guidelines.
  • Commission research and analysis on the region's climate trends, water availability, and sanitation issues to inform evidence-based decision-making.
  • With support from the MEAL teams, document the qualitative and quantitative outcomes and impacts of WaterAid and partners' work on Climate Change and WASH, to ensure successful implementation and adaptation in line with its theory of change.
  • Develop policy papers and technical guides to support resilient WASH programming and policy influencing in the CPs.
  • Support documentation of best practices and innovations in CPs to contribute to cross-learning in the region.
  • Identify critical areas where capacity gaps exist in WaterAid country offices and among partners and provide support to address these gaps in coordination with the Regional Team and PSU/GPAC.
  • Provide training and capacity-building support to regional WASH professionals, government officials, partners and community leaders on climate-resilient WASH practices and technologies.
  • Identify and promote good practices in the region that enable WaterAid to achieve high levels of technical excellence.
  • Undertake systematic documentation of its experiences for sharing
  • Write papers with other relevant staff in Country Programmes, region, and PSU/GPAC to disseminate its experience more widely, especially at key regional and global events
  • Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and documentation of WASH and Climate Change action research and innovation (technical or systems).
  • Prepare learning/knowledge products covering innovative approaches and good practices to support overall WASH and Climate Change sector development.
  • Create and deliver learning opportunities for WaterAid East Africa staff to ensure its sector capacity remains up-to-date wit latest developments.
  • Contribute to the systematic assessment of WASH and Climate Change sector capacity gap analysis in collaboration with government and other stakeholders and support the design of initiatives to strengthen capacities systematically.
  • Participate as a resource person in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of partners and other relevant stakeholders.

Sector engagement and networking

  • As delegated by the Region, represent WaterAid in relevant national CSO, donor, and government forums related to Climate Change and WASH to influence the thinking of other stakeholders, persuasively advocate for WaterAid's WASH and Climate Change agenda and build WaterAid's reputation as a sector leader.
  • Represent WaterAid in regional and global processes and debates on climate change especially on Climate Change and WASH.
  • Encourage and actively promote cross sectoral linkages and learning, especially with health, education, disaster mitigation and risk reduction.
  • Build regional stakeholders, international organisations, NGOs, and government agencies to leverage resources and expertise for climate-resilient WASH initiatives.
  • Establishing and maintaining a strong network of key players - within the WASH sector and in broader water resource communities - to increase influence and position WaterAid as a leading organisation in addressing the threats to sustainable WASH services.
  • Identify key opportunities for the region to be represented to promote and enhance its understanding and experience of technical issues on WASH and Climate.
  • Lead in developing joint proposals for fundraising and technical research and participate in advocacy actions promoting its work, knowledge, and experience.
  • Influence other stakeholders through focused advocacy in promoting practices that, based on its experience and that of its partners, are effective in ensuring sustainable access to and use of water and sanitation services.
  • Be the key spokesperson in the region on technical matters related to WASH and climate delivery practices.
  • Be a member of the Regional Leadership Team and contribute to the region's effectiveness in promoting WaterAid's mission.
  • Work closely with the Programme Support Unit as well as with the Country Programmes
  • Participate in regional fora to ensure WaterAid's position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in national and regional policies and mechanisms on WASH and climate agenda.

Essential skills

  • At least a master's Degree in Climate Change, Environmental Studies, water resource management or Climate Financing from a recognised university; Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are a strong asset.
  • Minimum 10 years of demonstrated practical experience in climate-related programming, working at a senior management level in the International development sector.
  • Proven experience in WASH and/or water resources management (governance/ management).
  • Proven experience in policy and advocacy and leading campaigns' design and delivery.
  • Proven experience in building the networks and coalitions required to drive an effective change agenda - especially with major international agencies, governments and NGOs.
  • Should have competency in WaterAid common approaches to work, including partnerships, convening, inclusion, systems strengthening, creating behavioural change, and mainstreaming gender and inclusion of youth.
  • Proven experience in developing diverse donors' successful funding proposals
  • Thorough understanding and linkages with stakeholders/institutions involved in Climate Change research, development and implementation of programmes (preferably with a potential interface with WASH/water resources).
  • Excellent knowledge of potential funding agencies/ institutions related to Climate Change and understanding of processes and priorities of these entities.
  • Understanding of issues of gender and inclusion in the East Africa context and proven experience of using inclusion/transformation frameworks or approaches.
  • Technical WASH experience: water security, climate change, well-updated on innovative technologies, systems, and approaches
  • Experience in developing, designing, and implementing WASH and climate programmes
  • Strong experience in at least one of WaterAid's key thematic areas - Water security, Water resource management, Urban, Sanitation, WASH & Health, sector strengthening (sustainable services).
  • Ability to develop organisational strategies and translate them into plans and budgets
  • Ability to plan own work, setting priorities and completing them when faced with competing demands
  • Experience in operational planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation
  • Ability to prepare and write high-quality reports
  • Fluency in English and good communication skills, including proposal preparation and presentation.

Desirable skills

  • Proven ability to innovate and develop a successful change agenda on climate change for external influencing purposes.
  • Demonstrated ability to build collaborative partnerships and alliances for influencing government policy and programme delivery on Climate Change issues.
  • Willingness and ability to travel throughout East Africa, with some overseas travel.
  • Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
  • Team player and ability to work across geographies.
  • A team player, able to work responsibly, under pressure, and collaboratively across diverse groups and cultures.
  • Innovative
  • Delivery focused, holding self and others to account
  • Committed to continuous personal development
  • Ability to work in different environments and with diverse stakeholders
  • Commitment to WaterAid's values and a working style that reflects these.

How to Apply

Interested in the position and have the right skills and attributes? Send application, consisting of a letter of interest and a CV to EArecruitments@wateraid.org using 'Application for WAER RCRWA' as the subject of the email.

Please note: candidates applying for this role must be able to demonstrate eligibility to work in WaterAid East Africa countries (Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda).

Application Deadline: 13th November 2023.