Integrated Water Resources Management Specialist
February 20, 2015
Vacancy code: VA/2015/B5303/6877
Position title: Integrated Water Resources Management Specialist - English speaking
Department/office: AFO, KEOH, Kenya
Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya (with travel to some Project Member States), Kenya
Contract type: International ICA
Duration: Forty days in a four months period
Application period : 18-Feb-2015 to 01-Mar-2015
Background Information - UNOPS
UNOPS mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.
Within these three core areas of expertise, UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transaction services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.
Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices in development, humanitarian and peace-building contexts, always satisfying or surpassing partner expectations.
We employ more than 6,000 personnel and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.
Background Information - Kenya
UNOPS Kenya Operational Hub (KEOH)
The UNOPS Kenya Operational Hub (KEOH) plays a critical role in providing management services-for its life-saving peace-building, humanitarian and development operations; supporting projects on behalf of a range of partners and creating real results that matter for people in need. KEOH is implementing projects worth more than $40 million in eastern and southern Africa and is helping its partners achieve project goals in sustainable project management, sustainable procurement, sustainable infrastructure, human resource management and advisory services
The UNOPS Kenya Operational Hub (KEOH), located in Nairobi, spans across East Africa, covering Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Eritrea. The Office is comprised of personnel with the right mix of critical skills needed for effective services delivery.
KEOH implements projects in infrastructure, procurement, environment, health, grants management, financial management, human resources and advisory services. There are also several regional environmental projects that span across Africa and parts of Asia that are being managed by KEOH project manager.
Background Information – Project
Project Title: Implementing Integrated Water Resource and Wastewater Management in Atlantic and Indian Ocean SIDS
The geographic scope of this regional project covers the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, focusing on six Small Island Developing States (SIDS), with Cabo Verde and São Tomé y Princípe in the Atlantic Ocean, and Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. The Goal of the project is to contribute to sustainable development in the Indian and Atlantic Ocean SIDS through improvements in natural resource and environmental management. The Overall Objective is to accelerate progress on WSSD targets and IWRM and WUE plans and water supply and sanitation MDGs for the protection and utilisation of groundwater and surface water in the participating countries. This will be based on best practices and demonstrations of IWRM approaches.
The project is consistent with the GEF IV strategic objective for International Waters: ‘to play a catalytic role in addressing trans-boundary water concerns by assisting countries to utilize the full range of technical assistance, economic, financial, regulatory and institutional reforms that are needed’. It will do so through supporting and building on existing political commitments and through promoting sustainable water use and improved water management, making it easier to address the challenges of the future as climatic variability and change affects water resources further. More specifically, the project will deliver outcomes under GEF IV Strategic Programme III (SP-3) through working with communities to address their needs for safe drinking water and other socio-economic benefits of sustainable and safe water resources, including balancing environmental requirements with livelihood needs.
Objective of the Consultancy
The objective of the assignment is the provision of assistance to designated countries in preparing national indicator frameworks as well as in providing a policy approach for water conservation and management.
Functional Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the UNOPS KEOH Deputy Director (KDD) for managerial and administrative aspects, and with accountability via the KDD to the UNEP/GEF Task Manager for substantive matters the IWRM Specialist will be responsible for the implementation of a number of aspects of Components 2 and 3 (specified hereunder). The IWRM Specialist will liaise directly with the Chief Technical Advisor for day-to-day matters and reporting. S/he will liaise directly with the National Steering Committees and the Regional Steering Committee (RSC) and other relevant bodies and stakeholders where relevant. S/he will also liaise with representatives of UNDP/GEF and UNEP/GEF.
The IWRM Specialist will liaise, where necessary, with other project managers and coordinators of related and relevant IWRM projects and programmes, and other GEF funded projects.
The IWRM Specialist will conduct field work in a number of designated SIDS upon which situation analyses will be submitted to the Chief Technical Advisor in the Project Coordination Unit (PCU). The reports will be circulated to the relevant countries by the PCU. The countries will have a certain period of time to review the reports, during which period the IWRM Specialist will remain stand-by to react to comments and observations.
The final draft of the report will be subject of discussion during a workshop planned in May 2015, where the IWRM roadmaps for the designated countries will be finalized. The IWRM Specialist will make presentations on the national indicator frameworks and IWRM policy development processes. The regional workshop will lead to a regional indicator framework and a status report on national IWRM Policy approaches.
In particular the IWRM Specialist will, in close collaboration with the Chief Technical Advisor and other consultants:
- Conduct an analysis to determine the current situation/status of the application of IWRM/WUE in designated countries as a basis for establishment of National IWRM Indicator Frameworks
- Update national situation analyses of IWRM and WUE policy/legislative framework, including inter-ministerial committees working on water reform in designated participating countries (to feed into the regional PSC meeting where information can be validated)
- Describe national economic and institutional framework for IWRM approach
- Conduct national situation analyses of IWRM/WUE related policy/legislative reform processes in the respective partner countries
- Develop as part of the IWRM and WUE Indicators Framework the stress reduction, process, environmental, socio-economic, water use efficiency, catalytic, governance and cross-cutting indicators
- Discuss with relevant authorities, the establishment of baseline studies and the development of national monitoring and evaluation plans as a means to mainstreaming and replication of IWRM (using reports on Participatory IWRM Planning workshops)
- Advise on cost-effective monitoring programmes in designated countries
- Coordinate identification of national and regional IWRM priorities
- Integrate the (preliminary) results of the demonstration projects into national IWRM plans
- Harmonize the national indicator frameworks so as to establish a “regional” framework
- Support the validation of findings at national level and later at regional level
- Identify elements and provide support for a capacity building programme with regional and national dimensions
- Establish national IWRM roadmaps in close collaboration with project staff and Task Manager
- Liaise with Chief Technical Advisor for all consultancy related matters
- Execute additional tasks as assigned by the KEOH Deputy Director
Deliverables
Back-to-Office reports on visits to designated countries (one per country)
Templates on national situation providing relevant information (template will be provided) on: national indicator framework for each member state visited; status of IWRM/WUE policy and legislation for each member state visited; IWRM policy approach for reform of water sector for each visited country; training needs, tools and facilities for future capacity strengthening
Contribution to national and regional IWRM/WUE roadmaps
Competencies
Key Competencies
- Demonstrated flexible cross-cultural team experience as well as diplomatic and negotiation skills
- Demonstrated experience in developing (regional) indicators to monitor implementation of the (regional) integrated water programmes
- Demonstrated experience in comprehensive water sector reform, policy and institutional support, lobbying and enhanced involvement of the private sector and civil society in IWRM issues
- Familiarity with basic international environmental law related to water management required
- Demonstrable excellent verbal and written communications skills, both at a technical level and in the preparation of information for policy makers and wider civil society
- Excellent working knowledge of English. Familiarity and Portuguese and/or French would be an advantage
- Familiarity with the goals and procedures of international organizations, in particular of the GEF implementing agencies (UNDP, UNEP).
The essential requirements include:
- A proven ability to work as part of a dynamic inter-disciplinary and/or multi-cultural team;
- The ability to meet project deadlines, often under difficult circumstances;
- An ability to travel to and work within Island Communities.
- Demonstrated drive for continuous improvement and incorporation of lessons learned and best practices into business process routines
- Demonstration of professional behaviour and personal ethics, transparency and openness to encourage respect and similar behaviour from colleagues in the workplace
Education
A master’s degree in Water Resource Management, IWRM, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Planning, Environmental Engineering with IWRM focus or a directly related field required. Combination of first-level university degree with additional 2 years work experience may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree
Experience
The selected candidate will have:
- At least ten years of professional experience in Water Resource Management, IWRM, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Planning, Environmental Engineering with IWRM focus
- Demonstrated experience in IWRM
- In addition, experience working in SIDS is an advantage;
Languages
Fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of second UN working LANGUAGE DESIRABLE.
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: International ICA
Contract level: I-ICA 3
Contract duration: Forty days in a four months period
To Apply, please follow this link:
https://gprs.unops.org/pages/viewvacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=6877
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements-ICAs.aspx
