The Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE) has finalized its National Integrated Water Resources Management Program (NIWRMP) to address water resources management challenges in the country. The over-arching goal of the NIWRMP is to ensure efficient, equitable and sustainable water resources management in Ethiopia through supporting nationally harmonized and enhanced water resource development and management interventions.

The Program is expected to bring key stakeholders in the sector, mobilize resources to finance basin plans and address the key integrated water resource management priorities as well as strengthen the basin institutions in the country.

The MoWE will co-finance and lead the management of the program in partnership and in coordination with key federal ministries, basin institutions, and development partners.

In order to manage the NIWRMP, a Program Coordination Unit (PCU) is under establishment within the MoWE by the Water and Land Resource Center (WLRC) of Addis Ababa University. Therefore, the Water and Land Resource Center (WLRC) would like to recruit senior high-caliber and a multi-disciplinary delivery team for the following positions:

Purpose: 

The primary purposes of the Coordinator are: i) to manage and provide leadership to the PCU team; ii) to facilitate the revision of the NIWRMP, including its governance system, manuals and guidelines; iii) to facilitate the approval of the NIWRMP by the Basin High Council (BHC); and iv) to support MoWE and other federal and basin institutions to initiate the effective, efficient, and sustainable implementation of the NIWRMP.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

a.     Planning

·    Lead the revision of the NIWRMP document and ensure its alignment with the recently revised water policy, and other national plans and priorities.

·    Guided by the MoWE management, facilitate the approval of the NIWRMP by the BHC.

·    Ensure the successful and on-time preparation and delivery of annual and bi-annual program plans and budgets.

·    Coordinate the identification of basin-level IWRM priorities.

·    Oversee the development and prioritization of basin-level interventions, coordinate pre-feasibility studies/appraisal of projects to be financed by NIWRMP and make sure their objectives and results are aligned with the program.

·    Provide technical and strategic leadership support to the key federal and basin institutions involved in the program.

·    Coordinate the capacity needs assessment of key federal and basin institutions involved in the implementation of the NIWRMP and ensure the development of comprehensive IWRM training and capacity building plans.

b.     Coordination

·    Conduct Water Resources Management stakeholders mapping.

·    Ensure enhanced coordination, harmonization, and alignment among different WRM interventions.

·    Bring key Development Partners (DPs) and sector ministries together and ensure their active engagement in the NIWRMP.

·    Liaise with key federal and basin institutions, DPs, CSOs, and the private sector regarding NIWRMP, as needed and appropriate.

·    Take primary responsibility for the organization of regular program review meetings with key federal institutions, basin institutions, DPs, CSOs, and the private sector.

·    Set up a technical team composed of key institutions.

·    Spearhead the building of relationships and partnerships amongst NIWRMP stakeholders.

c.     Program management system set up

·    Lead the development, endorsement, and utilization of the Program Operational Manual (POM), Program Implementation Framework (PIF), and other program management tools.

·    Prepare guidelines for NIWRMP supported projects appraisal, monitoring, and evaluation.  

d.     Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting

·    Put in place effective program information management system for sustainable learning, knowledge management, communications and decision making.

·    Monitor and evaluate the projects financed by NIWRMP.

·    Organize annual joint technical review missions for key program stakeholders with the aim of reviewing the program and promoting learning.

·    Ensure the documentation and dissemination of key lessons from NIWRMP.

·    Produce quarterly reports in line with Strategic Results Framework and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the NIWRMP. 

·    Ensure the effective and efficient use of NIWRMP’s financial resources and the transparent management and reporting of all program resources.

·    Actively engage and support the annual Multi-Stakeholders Forum and ensure that the lessons learned from NIWRMP are widely shared in the sector. 

e.     Team management

·    Provide strategic leadership to the PCU team, promoting a management culture that is supportive, empowering, and collaborative.

·    Support the recruitment of key program and support staff for the PCU.

·    Build, lead, and manage a high-performing PCU team by creating an environment that enables staff to maximize their potential and facilitates high performance.

·    Facilitate harmonization and integration of the PCU staff with directorates of the Water Resources Management Sector of the MoWE.

f.       Communication, partnership building and resource mobilization

·    Ensure effective communication among Government, DPs, CSOs, and the private sector concerning NIWRMP.

·    Identify appropriate funding opportunities to resource the implementation of the NIWRMP.

·    Provide the necessary information and technical support to development partners and government institutions' programming and resource mobilization efforts.

g.     Other responsibilities

·    Perform additional tasks as assigned by MoWE management and WLRC related to the NIWRMP.

Job Requirements

Qualifications:

a.     Education

A Ph.D. or Master´s degree in Water Resources Management, Environmental Management, Environmental Economics, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Engineering or any other related field. 

b.     Required experience and competencies

·    At least 10 years’ relevant experience, at least 5 of them at senior program management level in the water sector.

·    Demonstrated experience in managing the development and implementation of large-scale IWRM Programs/projects in multiple locations, including the set-up of Program/project coordination units.

·    Experience in development of IWRM plans and support to IWRM program implementation.

·    Strong abilities in adapting IWRM principles to applied situations.

·    Deep knowledge of the Ethiopian Water Sector and the main water resources management issues.

·    Track record of developing strategic and operational partnerships with key government, DPs, CSOs and the private sector.

·    Proven record of raising funds from government and/or international agencies (bilateral/multilateral), managing large budgets with diverse international donor base.

·    Proven international exposure in IWRM and project management will be an advantage.

·    Demonstrated experience in managing multi-donor and government financed programs/projects and contracts.

·    Highly self-motivated, and self-directed with critical thinking skills.

·    Excellent organizational and analytical skills.

·    Result-orientation.

·    Ability to work under pressure with several tasks and various deadlines.

·    Excellent interpersonal skills, diplomatic client-orientation, and ability to work in a team.

·    Track record of leading and managing a multi-disciplinary team of professionals.

·    Demonstrated strong Amharic and English written and oral communication skills. Additional national or international language skill is a plus. 

Duration of contract: 

The duration of the assignment is one year contract with possible extension.

Duty station and reporting:

The Coordinator will be based at the MoWE and will coordinate the PCU and support the operationalization of the NIWRMP. He/She will report to the Water Resources Management Sector State Minister and the Director General of the Water and Land Resource Center (WLRC).

How to Apply

Submit your Application, including a letter of interest and Curriculum Vitae via email: info@wlrc-eth.org).

Note: Kindly indicate the post title in the subject line of your email.