REPORTS TO: AIP Programme Manager-Eastern Africa and Uganda for programmatic aspects of the GWPEA Secretariat
DURATION: April 2021 to 31 December 2022
CONTRACT TYPE: Fulltime consultancy contract
LANGUAGE REQUIRED: English
LOCATION: GWP Eastern Africa Secretariat, Entebbe, Uganda
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30 April 2021
DESCRIPTION
International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on behalf of the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa and Africa Coordination Unit (GWPSA-ACU), seeks applications from suitable candidates to undertake a full–time consultancy assignment for Project Officer position under GWP Eastern Africa. The Project Officer will support GWP Eastern Africa (GWPEA) to implement the projects portfolio under the Africa Water Investment Programme. The successful candidate will be based at GWP EA Regional Secretariat in Entebbe, Uganda.
The goal of the Africa Water Investment Programme is to transform and improve the investment outlook for water security and sustainable sanitation for a prosperous, peaceful, and equitable society. AIP aims to leverage $30 Billion in investments, by 2030, towards SDG 6 implementation. The overall objective is to enhance job creation through gender sensitive investments in water security, industrialization and climate resilient development.
AIP will promote job creation through gender sensitive investments in water security, industrialization and climate resilient development and support continental efforts towards universal access to safe water and safely managed sanitation.
AIP includes three interrelated strategic objectives aligned to the GWP strategy, ‘2020-2025 Mobilizing for a water secure world,’ Mobilize, Act and Learn, as follows:
- Mobilize high level political commitment and finance for investments in water security to support regional and national development, industrialization and job creation
- Catalyse climate resilient Action and gender transformative investments in water security
- Accelerate transaction management capacity, knowledge, Learning and project preparation
Overall, the project officer will contribute to the AIP programme that is implemented in the GWP Africa regions, including GWP-Eastern Africa.
GWP-Eastern Africa (GWPEA) is a regional arm of GWP in the Eastern African Region. It was established in May 2003 to support the sustainable development and management of water resources at all levels in the Eastern Africa Region. The region has Nine Country Water Partnerships (CWPs), including: Burundi, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda and Uganda. GWPEA brings together governmental, non-governmental, academic, private and civil society groups and all interested water related institutions and sectors in the Eastern Africa region, for purposes of supporting countries in the sustainable management of their water resources. To deliver its work in the region, GWPEA has a governance structure with three parts:
GWP Eastern Africa has been implementing various programs, projects and activities related to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and climate change adaptation for more than a decade. The region is expanding its program activities to contribute to the new and emerging global and regional challenges. Current projects include, but not limited to: Enhancing Drought Resilience for Smallholder farmers and Pastoralists in the IGAD region (DRESS EA) project- The DRESS-EA project aims at providing support to the IGAD region and the targeted countries (Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda) in their efforts to establish appropriate early warning systems and implement drought adaptation actions to enhance resilience of smallholder farmers and pastoralist to drought ; Enhancing Resilience of Communities to Climate Change through Catchment Based Integrated Management of Water and related Resources (EURECCCA) project were GWPEA is supporting the Ministry of Water and Environment in implementation of the knowledge and capacity component ; Africa Water Investment Program – Water Climate Development Program and Gender (AIP WACDEP-G), focusing on gender-transformative approach to address a specific gender gap at the systemic level.
GWPEA is also involved in development of the GCF readiness proposals in Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and other countries in the region; NDC Partnership Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) project in Somalia and Sudan; and the SDG 6 IWRM Support Program, and SDG 6.5.1 monitoring and reporting Program.
FUNCTIONS OF THE PROJECT OFFICER
The overall responsibility of the Project Officer is to support in implementation of the various projects through working with the Country Water Partnerships (CWPs) in the Eastern Africa Region, partners of GWP and other key stakeholders outside the partnerships. S/he will develop and maintain key strategic partnerships as well as support the related Knowledge Management and Network activities. S/he will also support the management and operations of the GWPEA programs/development of new programs and the fundraising efforts led by the Regional Coordinator, GWPO or the GWPEA RSC.
Specific functions of the project officer are:
- Support implementation and monitoring of the DRESS-EA and EURECCCA projects
- Support and engage with CWPs and partners in the Eastern Africa Region to implement their respective country-specific program activities under the DRESS-EA project
- Engage with GWP partners at the regional, national and sub-national level and other entities working on drought management, food and energy security to ensure that the DRESS-EA adds value and leverages its network of partners for an integrated approach to drought management.
- Support countries in the region in the implementation of demonstration projects of integrated drought management practices
- Develop and implement relevant and necessary capacity building plans with strategic partners in the region such as IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) etc.
- Coordinate knowledge management of outcomes related to the GWPEA projects- EURECCCA and DRESS-EA
- Support policy analytical and advocacy works, including facilitating policy dialogue on drought management at regional and national levels
- Coordinate involvement of relevant partners and the Regional Technical Committee (RTEC) in the implementation of activities
- Develop program work plans, progress reports, workshop reports and other relevant technical tools and key documents
- Support the Regional Program Team in the GWPEA in the development and management of other programs and projects.
- Support the AIP Programme Manager and GWPEA Regional Coordinator in resource mobilization for regional programs and in the development of new organizational strategies
- Undertake any other tasks as requested by the supervisor and Regional Coordinator
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, ABILITIES, AND QUALITIES
- Advanced degree (M.Sc.) or post graduate qualification in any or combination of the following fields: natural science, water management, economics, climate change, disaster risk management, agriculture, development studies, environmental and social sciences, or any equivalent educational background.
- At least five (five) years post qualification experience, including experience in managing programs/projects in areas of water, natural resources management, climate change impacts, disaster risk management working at regional level in the Horn/Eastern Africa
- An in-depth understanding of the Horn of Africa/Eastern Africa region, particularly in relation to water management and development, natural resources management, climate change impacts, disaster risk management, and socio-economic development issues;
- Experience in building partnership both for program/project implementation, for influencing policy and practice.
- Experience in policy analysis, as well as shaping the policy dialogue in the areas of water management and development, natural resources management, climate change impacts, disaster risk management, and socio-economic development issues.
- Experience in knowledge brokering providing a link between producers and users of water, climate and development information and affinity for learning, sharing and using knowledge
- Experience in facilitating the generation of new evidence-based and local context-specific knowledge to support implementation of the program. Experience in working with the media and other stakeholders is an advantage
- Experience in organizing and facilitating capacity building activities in areas of water, climate change, drought and other disaster risk management or related areas at different levels (local-national-regional). Experience in working with key capacity building institutions/networks in the region is an asset.
- Demonstrated fundraising, budgeting and program planning abilities as demonstrated by past performance, including experience of development and successful marketing of project proposals with donors, and subsequent delivery and reporting;
- Excellent written and oral English as the main working language is essential.
- Fully computer literate – skilled in using office applications – MS office (word, excel, power point) and email applications.
- Flexibility, creativity, and effectiveness in working collaboratively in a multi-cultural network environment
- Proactive approach to meeting deadlines and delivering results with limited supervision
- Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills
- Ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously
- Affinity for learning, sharing, and using knowledge
- A willingness to work outside of office hours and/or occasional weekends
- Be willing to travel frequently
NOTE
- Applications are accepted only in English and only through the online platform: https://gwpsanpc.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=41
- Candidates will be required to submit a CV and a one-page motivation letter which addresses the requirements stated above
- A writing sample (technical brief, project progress report, project concept note, or similar)
- Names, titles, and contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.
- Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
- Application deadline: 30 April 2021 – midnight GMT +2.
