WASH Governance Director - Mali Urban WASH

Job Description

Overview

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 6,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects.  

RTI’s Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI’s experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world. 

SG&R’s Global Agriculture, Water, and Environment division is working to mitigate and address the impacts of climate change and build resilience in impacted communities through policy and governance support, capacity building for local actors, and support for responding to natural and human-caused disasters. 

Program Description 

The five-year USAID/Mali Urban WASH activity will provide assistance to SOMAGEP to improve access to drinking water for populations in the towns of Macine, Denne, and the Greater Bamako District. Mali has made modest progress in expanding access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). The Malian Drinking Water Management Company (SOMAGEP) faces several challenges that hinder its ability to provide sustainable access to water and effectively manage the water supply system, particularly in the towns of Macina (Segou Region), Djenne (Mopti Region), and the greater Bamako District. Rapid population growth and urbanization strains the water supply system, and the increasing water demand surpasses the existing capacity, further stressing the already limited resources. Climate change exacerbates the situation, leading to erratic rainfall patterns and reduced water availability. Weak institutional capacity and governance issues within the company hampers effective decision-making, planning, and implementation of projects.  

Support will focus on planning, financing, and implementation of infrastructure and related services. Emphasis will be on reliable operations and maintenance arrangements and equity and accessibility of the resulting services in urban and peri-urban areas. The Activity will combine infrastructure support with capacity building in planning, operations, and maintenance to increase the sustainability of services. USAID Mali will also seek to ensure proper tariff setting in all infrastructure work. 

Position Description 

The WASH Governance Director plays a critical role in the anticipated activity and will be responsible for managing and leading technical assistance and capacity building activities that support water institutions and service providers, including SOMAGEP, in the water and sanitation sectors to strengthen and expand services to existing and new customers. The Director will work closely with other Directors and the Chief of Party to ensure that all activities are integrated and support one another. The Director may report to the Chief of Party or other assigned leadership position.
Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the WASH Governance Director include, but are not limited to: 

• Provide overall vision and leadership on technical assistance and capacity building with key institutional counterparts and service providers in the water and sanitation sectors. 
• Define capacity building needs of Société Malienne de Gestion de l’Eau Potable (SOMAGEP) and oversee improved public service delivery and self-sufficiency through implementation of capacity building and technical assistance to improve operations and maintenance systems, asset management, budgeting, cost recovery, monitoring and reporting, and adoption of commercially viable management approaches. 
• Define capacity building needs of l’Agence Nationale de Gestion des Stations d’ Epuration du Mali (ANGESEM) and oversee capacity building and technical assistance to improve cost recovery, operations and maintenance, asset management, and overall advancements towards area-wide sanitation goals. 
• Oversee technical assistance activities to strengthen and reinforce regulatory frameworks and national strategic planning in water and sanitation, including uptake or adoption of improved regulation of water and sanitation services; review and development of inclusive WASH sector policies, laws, and governance structures; and design and implementation of policy reforms. 
• Lead design and implementation of technical assistance activities to strengthen sub-national and national strategic planning and implementation in water and sanitation, including supporting advocacy for WASH enabling environment improvements and sustainability planning. 
• Oversee technical assistance, training, and promotion of improved technologies and innovative design for water and sanitation structures and facilities, including systems strengthening for planning, design, and construction; promoting female-friendly basic and safely managed sanitation to achieve area-wide sanitation goals; and technical support for appropriate technology and innovation in construction of safely managed sanitation facilities. 
• Lead overall tasks related to monitoring, evaluation and learning through data collection and management systems in partnership with local institutes, learning partners, and other relevant entities.  
• Ensure synergy between governance component activities and infrastructure. 
• Guide governance team on preparation and delivery of high-quality technical reports; lead annual workplan development, goal setting and establishment of indicator targets, and contractual reporting to USAID, including quarterly, annual, and other performance reports as requested. 
• Foster and maintain effective, professional relations with government counterparts, local organizations, international donors and other stakeholders for successful implementation of project governance activities. 
• Diplomatically supervise component staff and coordinate programs with partners from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. 
• In coordination with the Chief of Party, liaise with USAID and RTI home office on technical and financial implementation of and reporting on policy programming. 
• Manage any subcontracts and grants with local partners that include activities under the project’s governance component, ensuring the quality and timeliness of deliverables. 
• Oversee performance monitoring and evaluation to ensure all governance project targets are met or exceeded – making recommendations for improvement in program implementation. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and 12 years of experience, Master’s degree and 10 years of experience.  
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience and expertise in the implementation of large and complex projects relating to governance and accountability, government oversight and management of public services, public-private partnerships, water utilities management, and/or WASH service delivery. 
• Five years proven leadership of similar sized international donor programs with strong skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, and budgeting. 
• Five years’ substantive experience working with counterparts at various levels of government, private sector leaders, and other stakeholders in governance and accountability, policy reform and design, WASH service delivery, and/or enforcement of water sector regulations. 
• Experience working with water sector governance in Mali, with demonstrated understanding of existing governance structures in the GOM, service delivery, private sector, and communities.   
• Demonstrated skills in building, mobilizing, and leading multidisciplinary teams. 
• Demonstrated skills and proven ability to develop, articulate and implement a strategic vision for governance as a vital component of project implementation. 
• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands. 
• Proven ability to manage projects with satellite or remote offices and team members. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to travel and work in various targeted Activity locations. 
• Proficiency in English is required. 
• Work experience in Mali required.

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