Reports to: Chief Executive Officer & Executive Secretary, GWPO
Team: Office of the CEO and Governance Affairs
Job Grade Range: P4 – P5
Application Deadline: 15 May 2026
EXTERNAL RECRUITMENT
BACKGROUND
The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is an international institution with a unique model comprising an intergovernmental organisation, the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO), and a global network of more than 2,800 partner organisations. GWP was founded in 1996 with the support of the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency with a mission to support countries in the sustainable development and management of water resources at all levels.
In 2002, the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) was established as an intergovernmental organisation with a mandate to serve as the global secretariat of GWP to support and work with the world-wide GWP Network in pursuit of its mission and vision of a water secure world.
For more than two decades, GWPO and the GWP Network have been at the forefront of promoting integrated water resources management and strengthening water governance globally. GWP comprises 13 Regional Water Partnerships and 77 Country Water Partnerships operating in more than 180 countries. Since 2014, GWP has directly and indirectly supported investments and strengthened water governance and policy frameworks in more than 90 countries.
In 2025, GWPO and its GWP Network launched a Global Transformation Agenda on Water Investments. Under the GWP Strategy 2026–2030, GWPO is undertaking a profound institutional transformation to accelerate the mobilization and deployment finance at scale, strengthen water governance, and management of water resources for sustainable, climate resilient, and equitable development.
This bold new chapter includes strengthened partnerships with G20 countries, MDBs, global climate finance institutions, the private sector, and regional financial and economic institutions, among others, to scale up impact. It also includes establishment of GWPO’s innovative Dual Headquarters anchored in the Global South while offering an opportunity to visionary States and governments around the world to join the organization-a historic opportunity to renew global water cooperation and be part of the world’s first Global South anchored Intergovernmental architecture on water investments.
CHIEF OF STAFF AND GOVERNANCE AFFAIRS
The Chief of Staff & Governance Affairs is a senior executive role at the centre of the GWPO-GWP Network institutional transformation, providing strategic leadership, executive coordination, and governance oversight across the organization and GWP Network.
The position serves as the principal strategic advisor to the GWPO Chief Executive Officer & GWP Executive Secretary and ensures alignment between institutional governance, executive decision-making, organizational performance, and implementation of the GWP Strategy 2026–2030.
The Chief of Staff & Governance Affairs leads governance affairs and institutional coordination across GWPO and the GWP Network, ensuring that governance reforms, organisational effectiveness, and accountability systems underpin the successful implementation of GWPO’s Transformation Agenda.
The position works in close collaboration with the Special Executive Assistant to the CEO, Office of Legal Counsel, Director – Programme Development & Delivery, Director – Finance & Administration, Director – Global Policy & Partnerships, and Regional Water Partnerships to ensure coherence between governance, strategy, and delivery.
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The purpose of the Chief of Staff & Governance Affairs is to ensure effective executive coordination, institutional governance, and strategic oversight across GWPO.
The role ensures:
- Effective functioning of governance bodies and institutional processes;
- Strategic alignment between governance decisions and operational execution;
- Track and prepare summary reports on GWPO-GWP Network Institutional accountability, performance oversight, and risk management, in close coordination with Directors for Programme Development & Delivery, Global Policy & Partnerships, Finance & Administration; as well as Office of Legal Counsel, M&E and Results
- Smooth coordination between the CEO’s Office, GWPO Management Team, and governance structures;
- Strong internal institutional culture aligned with the Transformation Agenda and “One GWP” approach.
STRATEGIC RESPONSIBILITIES
The Chief of Staff & Governance Affairs will:
- Serve as principal strategic advisor to the CEO & Executive Secretary on governance, institutional strategy, and organisational effectiveness;
- Lead coordination of governance reforms under the GWPO Transformation Agenda;
- Ensure effective functioning of current GWPO-GWP Network governance organs;
- lead the implementation of GWPO-GWP Network governance statutory and governance recommendations including preparation of GWP Network Meeting/General Assembly Rules of Procedure, operationalising establishment of the GWPO Board, General Assembly, Sponsoring Partners, and associated subcommittees;
- Strengthen institutional accountability systems and governance performance frameworks;
- Support executive decision-making through strategic analysis, briefing preparation and policy coordination;
- Ensure institutional coherence across decentralized hubs and headquarters under the dual headquarters model;
- Support high-level engagement with governments, multilateral institutions, and strategic partners from a governance and institutional perspective.
CORE FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Executive Office Management and Strategic Coordination
The Chief of Staff shall work closely with the Special Executive Assistant in coordination of the Office of the CEO; oversee strategic planning cycles; support prioritization and follow-up on key executive decisions; and ensure timely implementation of management directives across departments and hubs.
Governance Affairs and Institutional Oversight
Lead governance coordination for governing bodies; prepare governance calendars, agendas, and documentation; ensure GWPO-GWP Network governance compliance with statutes, rules, and decisions; and oversee governance reporting and follow-up actions.
Coordinate overall GWP governance compliance Accountability reporting
In close coordination with Directors for Programme Development & Delivery, portfolio management, M&E and results delivery, lead the coordination of GWPO-GWP Network governance compliance and performance tracking mechanisms, ensure that GWP governance strengthening and performance feeds into the overall M&E and performance system; ensure executive accountability frameworks are implemented; monitor strategic performance indicators; and support organisational learning and adaptive management.
Organisational Strategy Implementation
Support translation of the GWP Strategy into institutional priorities; coordinate GWPO cross-departmental implementation; and ensure governance decisions are operationalised effectively.
Risk Management and Compliance Coordination
Provide oversight and coordinate institutional risk management frameworks- working closely with Finance, Legal, and Audit functions; and ensure governance-level oversight of risk, compliance, ethics and integrity systems.
GWPO Cross-Organisational and GWP Regional Coordination
Promote coordination between GWPO global functions, GWP technical support hubs, and Regional Water Partnerships; prevent institutional fragmentation; and foster a unified One GWP organizational culture. Custodian of the GWP Network Meeting, General Assembly and support the meeting of the Sponsoring Partners Support institutional development of RWPs Governance and sharing knowledge across the GWP Network.
Lead GWPO, RWP Governance Policy Development and Accreditation Framework
Lead development and updating of governance-related policies, GWP Governance Rules of Procedure, implementation of accreditation framework to the GWP Network, internal rules, and institutional frameworks required for the transformation process.
High-Level Representation with GWP Regions and Stakeholder Engagement
Support the CEO in strategic governance dialogues with member states, represent GWPO in RWP Governance bodies, Regional Steering Committee, hosting governments, Sponsoring Partners, donors and institutional partners; provide institutional briefs and governance analysis. Convene the GWPO-GWP Network Meeting, Coordination meetings including preparation of agenda and documents for meetings with GWP Regions.
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
The Chief of Staff will:
- Provide leadership to the Office of the CEO and Governance Affairs team;
- Promote a professional, transparent and performance-driven institutional culture;
- Coordinate closely with all members of the GWPO Management Team;
- Strengthen leadership cohesion and executive alignment;
- Support staff development, organisational effectiveness, and change management;
- Ensure smooth information flow between governance bodies and management.
GWPO Management Team Support
As a member of the GWPO Management Team, the Chief of Staff will:
- Support implementation of GWP Steering Committee, governance decisions and institutional reforms;
- Coordinate management inputs for governance meetings;
- Ensure timely follow-up of governance actions;
- Support institutional communications between governance bodies and Secretariat;
- Ensure management practices reflect GWPO values and governance standards;
- Undertake other duties as requested by the CEO & Executive Secretary.
AUTHORITY AND DECISION MAKING
Within delegated authority, the Chief of Staff may approve governance workflows, internal coordination procedures and executive management processes. The CEO & Executive Secretary retains final statutory decision-making authority regarding institutional governance, strategic direction and organisational matters.
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS
- Effective functioning of GWPO and RWP governance bodies and governance cycles;
- Quality and timeliness of executive coordination and decision follow-up;
- Institutional alignment with the Transformation Agenda;
- Implementation of GWP accreditation Framework;
- Contribute to strengthened organisational accountability and performance monitoring;
- Leadership cohesion and organisational effectiveness;
- Governance stakeholder confidence and institutional credibility.
CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES
Core Values
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Respect for Diversity
Core Competencies
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Planning & Organizing
- Accountability Creativity
- Client, Partner Orientation
- Commitment to Continuous Learning
- Technological Awareness
Managerial Competencies
- Leadership
- Vision
- Empowering Others
- Building Trust
- Managing Performance
- Judgement, Agile Decision Making
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Advanced university degree , public administration, international relations, law, public policy, organisational leadership or related field with demonstrated GWPO-GWP Network governance experience;
- Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in senior governance, executive advisory, or institutional leadership roles within international organisations;
- Demonstrated experience in governance reform, executive coordination and organisational transformation;
- Strong understanding of intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder institutional environments;
- Excellent political judgement and stakeholder engagement skills;
- Fluency in English; knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an advantage;
- Technical soundness and appreciation of the developing world in the context of interacting aspects of people, water, land, environment, socio-economic and political, as well as investments and financing.
