India: Consultant– Private Sector Engagement (Transboundary Water Governance)

Jan 11, 2020 | Oxfam India
View Original

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. It is an international confederation of 20 organizations (affiliates) working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.

Oxfam India is an equal opportunities employer. To know more about Oxfam India please visit: www.oxfamindia.org

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

About the project Transboundary Rivers of South Asia

The Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA) is a five-year (2016-2021) regional programme being jointly implemented by Oxfam and its partners in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar to understand and address challenges related to transboundary rivers, and work together to create conditions to reduce poverty of communities living in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and the Salween river basins. Oxfam believes that empowered community having access to and control over water resources can significantly contribute to reduce poverty and inequality, and achieve prosperity. To make it happen, Oxfam is implementing the TROSA project in collaboration with governments, private sectors, and civil society networks and alliances at all levels in those four countries. The project aims to achieve following outcomes:

  1. Government policies and practices in water resources management are more inclusive of community concerns and meet national and international standards
  2. Practices of private sector respect community access to water resources actively contributing to reduce conflict.
  3. CSOs increasingly participate in or influence trans-boundary water governance, women inclusion and resolution of water conflicts.
  4. Local communities are better able to reduce their vulnerability to water resource related shock including from conflict & disasters
  5. Local communities have more secure access and control over their water resources
  6. Increased participation and influence of women in trans-boundary water governance, policies & processes

Job Title: Consultant – Private Sector Engagement (Water Governance)

Department: Programmes and Advocacy

Location: Oxfam India Lucknow Office with field travel to TROSA project areas.

Level / Pay Band: Consultant

Contract: Term of 6 months with a possibility of extension

Scope of Position

The incumbent will anchor the work on the issues of water Governance with special focus to

  1. Supporting the Oxfam India TROSA teamand partners in its programmes related to private sector engagement including Research and Advocacy and gender mainstreaming in all actions. This wil be aligned with the basin-level ToCs, the regional policy engagement strategy and the approved Y3 work plan.
  2. Conducting Research on specific themes related to Transboundary water governance with special focus on water quality and other areas of governance which could be of potential use for policy level Advocacy in governmental and non-governmental platforms.
  3. Organizing events, consultations, workshops and seminars which are required to bring the various stakeholders together for a dialogue, most importantly the private sector, including Industry associations and funders.
  4. Preparing Policy briefs, Evidence Based reports, articles and other documentation as deemed essential and required by the theme lead and thereby recommend progressive suggestions for improvement in the work
  5. Constantly engage with Oxfam India, and the PMU and its partners with new and innovative ideas.

Key Responsibilities and Specific Deliverables:

Activity Description :

1. Citizen Science Approaches in Water Governance

  • Coordinate with field partners to plan and organize training for citizen science volunteers in water quality testing with support from PHE experts
  • Monitor and support, CSO networks and citizen science volunteers in data collection and analysis using the WG-CAN platform.
  • Manage development and dissemination of infographic reports on Citizen Science Data
  • Coordination with other relevant stakeholders/networks and work closely with Oxfam Nepal and PEI on basin – level engagement through CS-Data analysis and usage.

2. Multi-stakeholder dialogue on Responsible Business promoting corporate water stewardship :

  • Develop Protection Strategy for influencing campaigns in Mahakali Basin
  • Dissemination of Water Footprint Study and Citizen Science Reports in platforms relevant to the safeguarding of water rights of riparian communities in Mahakali Basin
  • Engage with relevant stakeholders including private sector companies, government authorities, regulating authorities and others to promote Corporate Water Stewardship in Mahakali Basin
  • Organise Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Responsible Business promoting Corporate Water Stewardship in Mahakali Basin.
  • Development and Dissemination of Policy Brief on Corporate Water Stewardship with guidance to improve water quality/usage

3. Evaluate policies and disclosures of companies and financial Institutions and influence compliance and accountability tools :

  • Developing and sharing of disclosure based metric based on NVGs Framework to assess Private Sector companies in Mahakali and Brahmaputra with support from Oxfam India TROSA and Private Sector Engagement team
  • Commission disclosure based analysis of companies having an impact in Brahmaputra and Ganga RBs with support from Oxfam India TROSA and Private Sector Engagement team
  • Support coordination in Commissioning of studies to develop Policy Brief and Discussion papers on Water, Business and Human Rights in South Asia and its dissemination

4. Traders meet on Inclusive space for Trans-boundary navigation and trade:

  • Provide coordination support to TROSA in Brahmaputra Basin in organizing Traders meet on Inclusive spaces in Transboundary trade

Skill and Competence :

  • Essential: Master’s/ M.phil in Social Science/ Environmental Science/ Regional Development/ Sociology/ Economics/ Geography/ Population studies/ Political Science/ Social Work/ Planning and/or Business Administration/
  • Should be fluent in English and Hindi.
  • Computing skills (should be fluent in MS Office, especially Word and Excel and electronic communication).

Essential:

  • Good analytical, advocacy and research skills with the capacity to analyze issues on private sector investments and priorities in water governance critically for better policy level dialogue and Advocacy.
  • Excellent networking skills with different stakeholders especially with Private Sector Actors and civil society networks and alliances. An understanding of national policies governing private sector investment, corporate laws or voluntary/CSR guidelines, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and UN Global Compact, Safeguarding Mechanisms of MDBs like World Bank. ADB and AIIB Transboundary water governance and its various issues would be very desirable.
  • Prior experience of capacity building and training on PSE would be essential.
  • Ability to inspire and motivate teams and networks towards action. Have strong Research, communication and people’s skills – ability to manage and work in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team.

Desirable:

  • Ph.D in relevant subject.
  • Knowledge on public policy, specifically those related to private sector and corporate governance, Water Governance framework and International conventions including Business and Human Rights, gender and other issues related to rights of indigenous communities and on water related issues is highly desirable.
  • Experience of writing blogs, newsletters, and articles in journals is desirable.
  • Results oriented and have good planning, management and organisation skills – should be a self-starter.
  • Should have a very thorough understanding of the current socio-economic situation in the country especially on issues related to water.

Location

The position is based in Oxfam India Lucknow Office.

Travel:

The Consultant – Private Sector Engagement (Water Governance) may have to travel extensively in Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for various activities within the project. During the course of the work the candidate is expected to comply by Oxfam India security and safety protocols, policies and procedures.

Interested candidates may apply with a motivation letter and a CV to mukunda@oxfamindia.org by 16th January, 2020.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.