Reports to: GWPSA Senior Technical Advisor & AIP Technical Director
Location: GWPSA Secretariat in Pretoria
Duration: 3 years with the possibility of extension
Contract type: Independent Contractor
Application deadline: 14 September 2024
BACKGROUND
The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1996 to support countries in their efforts to implement more equitable and sustainable management of their water resources. The network spans 13 regions with 2,400 institutional Partners in 158 countries. The global secretariat is in Stockholm, Sweden. GWP Southern Africa (GWPSA) is one of the 13 regional networks that make up GWP and offers practical support for sustainably managing water resources to 16 countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. GWPSA manages activities and convenes stakeholders in the Southern African region and at a pan-African level to address issues that have an impact on water security. GWPSA hosts the coordination function for all five Global Water Partnership regions in Africa. In addition, GWP Southern Africa hosts the secretariat for the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) that was adopted by the African Union Heads of States Summit in February 2021.
PROGRAMME OFFICER: TRANSBOUNDARY WATER MANAGEMENT
The Programme Officer: Transboundary Water Management will ensure the successful implementation of transboundary water projects on a day-to-day basis and support project development and resource mobilisation efforts. This role involves project level technical and administrative support to a range of regional and pan-African transboundary water projects and initiatives under the AIP Transboundary portfolio, cross-country knowledge exchange facilitation and communication. Specific duties will include:
A. Programme management and coordination
- Support in the preparation of work-plans, progress reports and budgets for transboundary water projects and ensure synergies with AIP Transboundary portfolio
- Support in managing the implementation of transboundary water project workplans and activities and ensure that projects are implemented in accordance with approved project documents and managed in accordance with the signed grant agreements
- Coordinate with Project Partners and experts/consultants that may be hired for the implementation of project activities, ensuring sound contract management and adherence to agreed workplans.
- Support in the necessary documentation for the procurement of services and goods, working in coordination with the Project Managers and GWPSA Finance and Procurement team
- Coordination of project and stakeholder engagements/meetings (project meetings, Steering Committee meetings, stakeholder workshops etc). Lead the preparation of relevant documentation (including agenda, concept notes, list of participants, reports) and meeting minutes
- Support the coordination of formal progress reporting activities and processes relating to GWPSA such as the weekly, monthly and annual reporting
- Plan and undertake regular communication with other members of the regional and national team and provide relevant updates periodically
- Facilitate coordination between key stakeholders and partners and provide support as required by the Transboundary Project Leads
- Work effectively with the communications team and provide the necessary information and reviews to support the development of communication products related to the transboundary portfolio of projects.
B. Technical Coordination
- Provide support through the oversight, guidance and coordination of consultants recruited to implement activities and develop deliverables
- Support in the technical review of project deliverables to ensure quality project outputs and knowledge materials
- Assist in the collection/research of background information, documentation or data, necessary for the implementation of project activities and preparation of relevant reports or studies, in coordination with external experts and/or Project Partners
- Support the recruitment/mobilization of qualified consultants and organizations needed to provide specific consultancy services or goods; in this regard support the development of Terms of Reference for consultants and service providers defining the technical responsibilities and deliverables expected
- Provide support to the development and implementation of pilot demonstration projects for transboundary and regional water projects
- Provide technical and coordination support to the development and implementation of Stakeholder Engagement Plans and Gender Action Plans for transboundary projects
- Ensure synergies and linkages with other relevant GWP projects relating to SDGs, climate resilience and transboundary water management
- Supporting the identification, capture and reporting of key lessons learned and experiences from project activity implementation.
C. Programme Development
- Assist in the identification and development of new projects and initiatives related to the mandate of the transboundary water management programme and broader AIP and GWPSA programme
- Support the coordination of GWPSA programme development related activities including programme team meetings, engagements with key partners and other subject matter experts
- Support GWPSA programme development and resource mobilization efforts and the preparation of funding proposals for GWPSA and AIP Transboundary portfolio
- Contribute to pipeline development of the AIP High Level Panel Investment Action Plan and further development to financial close and bankability
- Support the coordination, liaison and operational support to GWPSA Country Water Partnerships.
D. Monitoring and Evaluation
- Support the monitoring of progress against approved project workplans and budgets, including the identification of plan deviations and the formulation of possible/proposed options to make course corrections when needed to achieve results
- Tracking activity implementation rate of transboundary water projects
- Coordinate with relevant implementing partners for the collecting of quality data against agreed project indicators
- Support in the analysis of project data to provide feedback to partners and programme teams on projects’ performance based on monitoring data findings
- Assist the Project Managers and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Experts in the coordination and reporting of project evaluations as required (e.g. mid-term and end-line project evaluations)
- Support the M&E Experts in strengthening the capacity of project teams, implementing partners and stakeholders in the application of M&E tools
- Support the tracking of project risks and the implementation of agreed mitigation measures.
- Perform any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The Programme Officer is required to meet the following criteria:
- Post-graduate degree (Masters or equivalent) in environmental management, water resources management, international relations or related
- A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in transboundary water management within the Southern African region and pan Africa
- Experience working with diverse stakeholders to promote sustainability and environmental awareness
- Demonstrated experience in project management
- Excellent communication skills (oral and written)
- Demonstrated ability to work with limited supervision to prioritize tasking and manage workflow in a high-pressure environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a strong team player with proven communication and diplomacy with the ability to work effectively with multicultural and multidisciplinary teams with sensitivity and respect for diversity
- Experience with GEF funded projects will be an asset
- Willing to travel frequently within the Southern African and Africa region.
RELATIONSHIPS
- Reports and accountable to the GWPSA Senior Technical Advisor and AIP Technical Director
- Works closely with the GWP Africa Coordination Unit Team in delivering and responding to country and regional issues on Transboundary Water Management and maintains good working relationships with other team members in the Africa Coordination Unit
- Maintains good working relationships with CWPs, GWP Regions and GWPO staff
- Works closely with the GWPSA and GWPO Communications team to ensure that technical outputs from the programme are packaged accordingly and shared widely.
APPLICATIONS
- Applications are accepted only in English and only through the online Bamboo platform.
- Interested applicants should submit a one-page motivation letter highlighting suitability for the advertised position, a detailed curriculum vitae, and the contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.
- Applications are accepted in English only and through the online application system and not via email: https://gwpsanpc.bamboohr.com/careers/84
- Questions can be directed to mark.naidoo@gwpsaf.org
- Applications must be submitted by 00:00 (Pretoria time) on 14 September 2024.
