- Issued by: OSCE Programme Office in Astana
- Requisition ID: KAZ000077
- Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA) / Consultant
- Grade: No grade
- Job Type: Consultant
- Number of posts: 1
- Location: KAZ – OSCE Programme Office in Astana, Astana
- Issue Date: Sep 2, 2024
- Closing Date: Sep 15, 2024
- Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First-level university degree or equivalent)
- Job Field: Economic & Environmental Affairs
Background:
This position is open for non-citizens/permanent residents of Kazakhstan only.
Kazakhstan is confronted with a widespread water deficit, aggravated by several pressing issues such as the deteriorating technical condition of water management systems, substantial water loss within networks, and inadequate water accounting practices. These challenges are rooted in inefficient water management methods and a growing scarcity of skilled human resources within the sector.
A significant milestone in addressing these challenges is the recent enactment of the new Water Code, which envisions a substantial expansion of responsibilities for the River Basin Councils (RBC). In response to this expansion, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has increased the staffing of basin inspectorates, which is a key part of RBC by 2.5 times and is actively in the process of organizing these expanded basin inspectorates.
Given these advancements, the imperative to enhance the internal capacities of basin inspectorates becomes a pivotal intervention to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary for the effective execution of their expanded roles. The initial phase of this strengthening initiative involves a detailed assessment of managerial, administrative, and decision-making functions in the integrated utilization of water resources. The significance of this assessment is accentuated by the critical need to establish an effective collaborative platform for the efficient utilization of water resources among all stakeholders in the basin.
Objective of Assignment:
The Office will require the services of a international expert to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of a selected river basin council, identifying key challenges, and identify key challenges hindering effective basin council management, and current situation in Kostanay region.
Duration of Assignment:
1 month
Tasks and Responsibilities:
Under the overall supervision of the Senior Economic and Environmental Officer, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:
1. In co-ordination with national experts develop a comprehensive work plan and timeline for conducting the assessment and five-step program.
2. Prepare the assessment outline and consult the team of national experts on the structure of the final report and assessment approach. Ensure the assessment adheres to international best practices and standards.
3. Prepare a section on comprehensive comparative analysis of RBCs in Kazakhstan, CIS countries, and abroad. Finalize the section on key challenges hindering effective basin council management;
4. Provide technical guidance and support to the national experts during the assessment, including quality control of thematic reports and analyses of the immediate, underlying, and root causes. Guidance in conducting a Causal Chain Analysis Workshop.
5. Assist in reviewing and refining the results of the analytical research and recommendations, considering international good practices in the RBC management, water management/governance, and natural resource assessment of specialists in the water sector and discussing it with three national experts; Development of preliminary report.
6. Co-ordinate the finalization of a well-structured and clear final assessment, and preparation of the power point presentation, and present the findings. Adjust assessment, where required, based on discussions during Training.
Necessary Qualifications:
• Bachelor degree in water resources management, environmental science, public administration, data analysis, research methods, and/or related fields.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in conducting assessments and/or water management structures and governance, basin planning, RBCs.
• Proven track record in coordinating and finalizing comprehensive assessments.
• Extensive knowledge of global best practices in water governance.
• Strong leadership and coordination skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication abilities.
• Proficiency in English; knowledge of Russian and/or Kazakh is an asset.
• Digital literacy and basic use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Zoom, and the Internet.
Remuneration Package:
Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant’s/expert’s qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates. Payment will be transferred to the bank account of the consultant.
If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.
The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.
Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.
The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.
Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.
Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.
