Technical Specialist - Local Resilient Projects

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Technical Specialist – Local Resilience Projects

BackgroundOn 6 September 2023, African Heads of State and Government committed to supporting the implementation of the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), as part of the Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change.  Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change that is particularly expected to impact water through increases in droughts and floods, water scarcity and through water-borne diseases. Despite this pronounced vulnerability, many African countries have limited capacity to access climate finance for strategic investments in water. Accessing climate finance for resilient water in Africa is critical to achieving the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032), which recognizes the need for enhancing climate resilient water systems under Axis 2: Adopting Pathways Towards Transformative Climate Resilient Development.

Supporting implementation of the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy is the continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), which was adopted during the 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Summit of Heads of State and Government on 7 February 2021, as part of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Priority Action Plan 2. The AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022-2032) recognizes the AIP as a flagship initiative for transforming water systems.

Delivery of water investments across Africa is significantly below target to meet the continent’s growing social and economic needs. It is estimated that at least an additional US$30 billion per year by 2030 needs to be invested to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on water and sanitation. Currently, only US$10-US$19 billion is invested each year.

The AIP aims to close the water investment gap by mobilising at least an additional US$30 billion annually by 2030 and creating five million jobs towards the African Water Vision 2025 and SDG water-related targets in 2030. The AIP comprises five pillars that aim to contribute towards narrowing the investment gap in water across Africa, namely:

1. International High-level Panel on Water Investments for Africa. The International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa was established in 2022, comprising current and former Heads of State and global leaders. During 2023, the Panel developed and launched a report, Africa’s Rising Investment Tide, and an Africa Water Investment Action Plan with actionable pathways for countries to mobilise at least an additional US$30bn annually by 2030 for implementing the AIP.
2. AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard to enhance mutual accountability, transparency and efficiency of water finance and investments – The AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard supports countries to track progress, set benchmarks, identify bottlenecks, and take action to meet Africa’s water investment needs. The Scorecard was adopted by AUDA-NEPAD as part of PIDA in February 2022. The Scorecard was developed and piloted in 10 countries in 2023, ahead of its roll out across AU Member States.
3. Regional and national water investment programmes to close the water investment gap – The AIP supports AU Member States to develop national water investment programmes. Many African countries are extremely vulnerable to climate variability and climate change; and are further faced with weak institutional capacities, water infrastructure, and information systems to support water management. National water investment programmes address these gaps and are informed by insights from the AIP-PIDA Water Investment Scorecard.
4. AIP International Blended Investment Facility to leverage public-private finance – The AIP will assess the need for an International Blended Investment Facility to support countries to leverage ODA (Official Development Assistance) and grant finance to de-risk priority water investments using a variety of innovative financial instruments and sources. These include sovereign wealth funds, guarantees, commercial finance, institutional investors and private equity investors, foundations, value-based impact investment, and climate finance.
5. Gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in water investment through the AIP Gender Transformative Water Climate Development Program (AIP WACDEP-G) – The AIP WACDEP-G develops tools to assist governments in addressing systemic inequalities in decision-making, planning, and implementation of investments, by fostering a transformative approach in agencies, structures, and social relations. The AIP WACDEP-G was piloted in five African countries during 2020-2024 and is expected to be expanded to many other countries in Africa.

Global Water Partnership Southern Africa is implementation a number of projects as an Executing Agency. As part of the projects, several pilot projects will be implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness of specific interventions and technologies. The AIP Transboundary PIDA Water Investments programme is to promote job creation through accelerated planning, preparation, financing and implementation of regional and transboundary water investments. Several GEF funded projects fall within the transboundary water management portfolio funded through the International Water

The objective of this assignment is to recruit a Technical Specialist to coordinate the implementation of the pilot projects, ensuring timely, effective, and efficient delivery of project outputs, while ensuring compliance with Environmental and Social Safeguards and promoting gender equality and social inclusion.

1. Overall Project Coordination: Manage the day-to-day implementation of the pilot projects, ensuring that all activities are carried out in accordance with the project’s objectives, timelines, and budget.
2. Pilot Project Implementation: Coordinate the implementation of the pilot projects, including:
   1. Site selection and preparation
   2. Project preparation and design
   3. Procurement and installation of equipment
   4. Training and capacity building for local stakeholders
   5. Monitoring and evaluation of pilot project performance
3. Procurement for pilot projects
   1. Oversee the procurement process for goods, works, and services, ensuring compliance with procurement regulations.
   2. Developing Procurement Plans: Develop procurement plans for goods, works, and services, in accordance with donor procurement regulations.
   3. Conducting Procurement Processes: Oversee the procurement process, including advertising, evaluating bids, and awarding contracts.
   4. Grant management: setup and management grant mechanisms with responsible parties as required
   5. Managing Contracts: Manage contracts with suppliers, contractors, and consultants, ensuring compliance with contractual terms and conditions.
   6. Budget Management: Manage the project budget, ensuring that all expenses are incurred in accordance with the project’s budget and financial procedures.
4. Implementing Partner Management: Oversee and provide capacity building support to implementing partners, including:
   1. Developing Partnership Agreements: Develop partnership agreements and memoranda of understanding with implementing partners.
   2. Providing Technical Assistance_: Provide technical assistance and training to implementing partners, as needed.
   3. Monitoring Partner Performance: Monitor partner performance and provide feedback, as needed.
5. Reporting and Monitoring
   1. Prepare and submit regular progress reports to the Project Steering Committees highlighting achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
   2. Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with the pilot project implementation.
6. Sustainability and Exit Strategy Planning: Develop and implement a sustainability and exit strategy plan, ensuring that project benefits are sustained beyond the project’s lifespan.
7. Knowledge Management and Learning: Develop and implement a knowledge management and learning plan, ensuring that project knowledge and lessons learned are documented, shared, and applied. Establish a Knowledge Management System_: Develop a system for storing, retrieving, and sharing project knowledge and lessons learned.
8. Gender and Social Inclusion: Ensure that the project promotes gender equality and social inclusion, including:
   1. Ensure Gender and Social Inclusion Analysis: ensure gender and social inclusion gaps and opportunities in the project area ae identified.
   2. Support development of Gender and Social Inclusion Action Plans: action plans to address gender and social inclusion gaps and opportunities, including specific targets and indicators for project sites
   3. Implement Gender and Social Inclusion Activities: Implement activities to promote gender equality and social inclusion, including training, capacity building, and community engagement.
   4. Monitor and Report on Gender and Social Inclusion Performance: Monitor and report on gender and social inclusion performance, including progress towards targets and indicators.
9. The Technical Specialist will ensure that the pilot projects comply with the following Environmental and Social Safeguards including:
   1. Conduct environmental impact assessments for each pilot project, identifying potential environmental risks and impacts.
   2. Conduct social impact assessments for each pilot project, identifying potential social risks and impacts.
   3. Develop and implement an ESMP for each pilot project, outlining measures to mitigate environmental and social impacts.
   4. Support monitoring of environmental and social safeguards
   5. Support the setting up of a grievance mechanism to receive and address complaints from stakeholders.
10. The Technical Specialist will facilitate stakeholder engagement:
    1. Engage with local stakeholders, including communities, indigenous peoples, and workers, to ensure their participation and support for the pilot projects.
    2. Liaise with local stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and private sector entities, to ensure their participation and support for the pilot projects.

Qualifications and Experience

The Technical Specialist should have:

1. Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., environmental science, project management, engineering).
2. At least 7 years of experience in project management, preferably in the environmental sector.
3. Project design experience and preparation of bid documents
4. Proven track record of successfully managing projects with multiple stakeholders and complex technical components.
5. Experience in procurement and contract management of projects
6. Experience in procurement and contract management, preferably in the context of GEF, GCF and AF funded projects.
7. Experience in managing implementing partners_ and providing capacity building support.
8. Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
9. The Technical Specialist ‘s performance will be evaluated based on:
   1. Timeliness and quality of deliverables
   2. Effectiveness in coordinating pilot project implementation
   3. Ability to manage stakeholder relationships and communicate project progress.
   4. Demonstrated ability to manage project risks and challenges.
   5. Compliance with Environmental and Social Safeguards.

Submission of Applications

• Applicants meeting all the above requirements are invited to express their interest through submission of the following:
  • A one-page motivation letter addressing the requirements as stated above; The motivation must clearly state in the subject line: ‘Technical Specialist – Local Resilience Projects)
  • A Curriculum Vitae;
  • Three professional references who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.
  • Applications should be submitted through to the Bamboo HR online system Applications should be submitted not later than 31^st January 2025.
  • Requests for further information or clarification/questions can be directed to the following email address: naidoo@gwpsaf.org