Enhanced Water Security and Community Resilience in the Adjacent Cuvelai and Kunene Transboundary River Basins (CUVKUN) Project
Financing Agency: Global Environment Facility (GEF)
GEF Implementing Agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
UNDP Executing Agency: Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA)
Location: The Cuvelai and Kunene River Basins in Northern Namibia and Southern Angola
Duty Station: The Cuvelai Watercourse Commission (CUVECOM) Secretariat in Oshakati, Namibia
Duration: 36 Months, renewable
Date of Advert: 00 /00/ 2024
BACKGROUND
The Cuvelai Watercourse Commission (CUVECOM) was established on 16 September 2014 to manage the shared transboundary waters of the Cuvelai Watercourse. The secretariat is currently based in Oshakati, Namibia. Adjacent to the Cuvelai River Basin is the Kunene River Basin. Transboundary cooperation for the Kunene Watercourse is managed through a Permanent Joint Technical Commission (PJTC) established in 1990. Both the Cuvelai and Kunene Watercourses are shared between the Republic of Angola and the Republic of Namibia. The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1996 to support countries in implementing 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. The GWP Africa Coordination Unit is based at GWP Southern Africa in Pretoria, South Africa and coordinates GWP Africa programmes across Africa. GWPSA also hosts the GWP global theme on Climate resilience and is charged with providing global strategic leadership and coordination in implementing the GWP strategy on climate resilience.
ENHANCED WATER SECURITY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN THE ADJACENT CUVELAI AND KUNENE TRANSBOUNDARY RIVER BASINS (“CUVKUN PROJECT”)
The CUVKUN project aims to improve water resources management in the transboundary Kunene and Cuvelai basins shared by Angola and Namibia. There is increasing water scarcity and hydrological variability, exacerbated by climate change within the region. The need for the comprehensive monitoring of climate and water resources and the sharing of information has never been greater, as also the need to improve systems that can provide early warning of climate-related disasters. The UNDP-GEF Cuvelai and Kunene Project is supported by the UNDP as the GEF implementing Agency and GWPSA as the Executing Agency.
The project will undertake a suite of other activities designed to strengthen joint management and planning capacity and practices at the transboundary basin level. These activities will be implemented under six (6) project components:
Component 1: Strengthening the transboundary and conjunctive water resources management in the Cuvelai River Basin;
Component 2: Strengthening the transboundary water resources management with future development scenario analysis in the Kunene River Basin;
Component 3: Strengthening the governance of the Cuvelai and Kunene River Basins to foster joint management by the two countries in the most cost-effective manner;
Component 4: Strengthening institutional, technical and operational capacity in Angola to sustainably develop and manage the sub-region’s water tower located in Angola;
Component 5: Enhancing the community participation in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to build resilience in their livelihoods;
Component 6: Supporting outreach and Knowledge Management for replication, upscaling, and stakeholder engagement.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION OFFICER
GWPSA seeks to hire a Junior Monitoring & Evaluation Officer to serve as the CUVKUN Project M&E Focal Point and ensure the successful implementation of the project on a day-to-day basis, working closely with the Regional Coordinator. The M&E Officer will be employed on a full-time basis to provide support for the project’s monitoring and evaluation. They will work closely with the Project Coordination Unit (PCU), GWP M&E Expert and Project Coordinator responsible for the overall management of the project. Specific duties will include:
1. Monitoring
- 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.
- Coordinate with Implementing Partners (IPs) for the collection of quality data against agreed project indicators.
- Analyse project data and provide feedback to partners and programme teams on projects’ performance based on monitoring data findings.
- Support the tracking of project risks and the implementation of agreed mitigation measures, including monitoring and report on risk factors that could impact environmental and social outcomes of the project
- Support the implementation of frameworks to track the progress and impact of the project Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), including the Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Gender Action Plan, Indigenous People’s Plan Livelihood Action Plan, etc., monitoring performance indicators and ensuring accurate and timely data collection.
- Support stakeholder engagement to gather feedback and ensure their involvement in monitoring project and ESMP indicators, as well as to share monitoring results and gather input for continuous improvement.
- Assist in building capacity of IPs on Monitoring and Evaluations (IPM&E), including on monitoring indicators for environmental and social risk.
- Assist the PCU in coordinating fieldwork for assignments.
- Support interviews and discussions with project beneficiaries and stakeholders to gather insights into project implementation and the conditions of demonstration projects.
- Contribute to enhancing Project team’s understanding of the monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning systems in place.
2. Evaluation
- Assist the Regional Project Coordinator in coordinating and conducting project evaluations (mid-term and end-line).
- Analyse project data and provide feedback to partners and programme teams on projects’ performance based on monitoring data findings
- Ensure that all ESMP (and related plans) activities comply with UNDP and Member State’ environmental and social standards and regulations
- Assist the Regional Project Coordinator and M&E Expert in providing a management response to evaluation findings and recommendations.
3. Reporting
- Support the preparation of detailed reports on ESMP implementation, highlighting key findings and recommendations, as well as supporting the Regional Coordinator in communicating these and any adaptive management actions to stakeholders.
- Assist the Regional Project Coordinator, Technical Project Managers and M&E Expert in the coordination and reporting of project evaluations as required (e.g. mid-term and end-line)
- Update project reports in Standard format on a quarterly and annual basis.
- Assist in developing M&E performance reports.
- Support the coordination of formal progress reporting activities and processes relating to GWPSA such as the weekly, monthly and annual reporting
- Work effectively with the communications team and provide the necessary M&E information and reviews to support the development of communication products related to the transboundary portfolio of projects
4. Learning and Sharing
- Assist in designing and conducting impact evaluation or other learning case studies.
- Ensure that lessons and experiences from project activity implementation are identified, captured and synthesized.
- Ensure that knowledge is generated, appropriately managed, and disseminated using various channels in consultation with the Regional Project Coordinator.
- Support the M&E Expert in training and strengthening the capacity of project teams and stakeholders in the application of M&E tools.
5. Other Responsibilities
- Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
1. Education
- Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Development Studies, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Rural Development, Environmental Science, Water Resources Management, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
- A postgraduate qualification in M&E, Project Management, or at least 1 year of M&E technical assistance experience, combined with at least 3-5 years of relevant work experience in water resources management, environmental management, or a related field.
- Membership and registration to M&E professional association is an added advantage.
2. Experience
- Experience with M&E frameworks, tools, and methodologies (e.g., logical frameworks, results-based management) as well as the use of participatory, quantitative, and qualitative M&E methods
- Experience in using mobile-based applications for data collection.
- Demonstrable experience of monitoring project Environmental and Social Safeguards.
- Experience working on projects related to integrated water resources management (IWRM), environmental assessments, flood mapping, or early warning systems
- Experience working with stakeholders to promote sustainability and environmental awareness among diverse audiences;
- Experience with statistical packages is an added advantage.
3. Language Requirements
- Proficiency in English is required (oral and written), with proficiency in Portuguese an asset
4. Competencies
- Demonstrated expertise in transboundary water resources management, with a specific focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with managing shared water systems in the Cuvelai and Kunene Basins.
- Excellent analytical & problem-solving skills
- Experience in engaging with various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, to ensure project success.
- Ability to work effectively in different cultural settings, particularly in Angola, with an understanding of local context and challenges.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, often across multiple locations.
- Willingness to adapt to changing project needs, including travel to remote locations and working in challenging environments.
- A strong commitment to environmental sustainability and the principles of sustainable water resource management.
- High ethical standards and a commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity in all aspects of work.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Applicant must be willing and able to travel as needed.
APPLICATIONS
- Candidates should submit an application package through the online application system and not via email, including a cover letter (with salary history and requirements), and a minimum of three references: https://gwpsanpc.bamboohr.com/careers/114
- Only short-listed candidates will be contacted within 4 weeks after the application deadline.
- Questions can be directed to silvanus.uunona@gwpsaf.org & mark.naidoo@gwpsaf.org
- Deadline: March 2025 – 00:00 (midnight) Pretoria
