Tanzania Representative Consultant 299 views4 applications

Water.org is a U.S.-based non-profit organization that has empowered over 13 million people worldwide with access to safe water and sanitation through affordable financing. Water.org partners and/or collaborates with local financial institutions (FIs), governments, and other local and international stakeholders to facilitate an enabling environment for private financing and lending for water supply and sanitation (WSS) to provide affordable financing options to those living at the Base of the Pyramid (BOP). Water.org accomplishes this through three distinct but interrelated workstreams: 1. Direct Program Implementation; 2. Enabling Partnerships and Collaboration; 3. Systems-Level Change.

In Tanzania Water.org currently works with three financial institutions implementing WaterCredit program and collaborating with WARIDI (USAID initiative) to support financing of Microenterprise in water and sanitation sector and Community owned water organizations.

Assignment Summary

The Water.org Tanzania Representative Consultant will be responsible for representing and conducting Water.org programs in Tanzania: 1) monitor and implement Water.org’s current direct implementation programs, 2) initiate enabling partnerships and collaboration programs, 3) act as a WSS advisor for Water.org programs, 4) represent Water.org in meetings with stakeholders and at national events, 5) advise Water.org in matters of strategy and program development. Water.org is currently in negotiation with one commercial bank and other stakeholders to provide technical assistance in developing WSS products and portfolios. Technical assistance activities supported by Water.org may include a combination of: market research, WSS financial product design, financial product piloting, staff training, systems development, financial product marketing, monitoring and troubleshooting.

The position will report to the Senior Portfolio Manager and Tanzania country lead (based in San Francisco). This person may also work with the Africa Senior Regional Manager as needed.

The assignment will require frequent interaction with counterparts in financial institutions and WSS suppliers such as municipal governments, district governments and other WSS suppliers. Travel within Tanzania as well as regional travel will be required to accomplish the responsibilities of this assignment.

Key Responsibilities

Manage and monitor Water.org programs and engagements implemented with local partner organizations (financial institutions, government/non-government stakeholders and NGOs)

· Oversee implementation of programs/engagements, including delivery of funding and technical assistance. Manage relationships with partners in collaboration with US team.

· Ensure optimal operational and financial performance of on-going programs through a combination of support, monitoring, and technical assistance to address implementation challenges

· Maintain databases and track partners’ WaterCredit loan performance and financial expenditure on a regular basis

· In collaboration with international staff, ensure execution of in-country program, reporting and monitoring visits of partner organizations.

· Provide WSS technical assistance to Water.org’s programs, including acting as a WSS knowledge resource for partners engaged in the following activities: market demand study, product development, marketing materials, piloting, monitoring and product scale-up

· Represent Water.org at national and local WSS and microfinance events and in meetings with sector stakeholders and donor visits

Support development of new programs and initiatives

· Assist in identification and certification of new partner organizations, including financial and non-financial institutions

· Solicit and evaluate new program proposals from partner organizations

· Support the design and launch new programs in conjunction with regional office staff and local partners, including designing program goals, budgets, activities, and deliverables

· Contribute to development of new partnership models and innovative approaches to building partner capacity

Assist in exploring new partnerships and channels as needed

· Support new partnerships and channel-specific market assessments executed in conjunction with third parties

· Provide input into development of new strategies and approaches for new partnerships/collaborations.

· Engage and cooperate with sector stakeholders such as local and national government, Opportunity International, World Bank, SNV, WSUP, local FIs, product manufacturers, universities, and other local WSS NGOs and FIs

Other key activities

· Serve as a knowledge base for Water.org, and represent Water.org at public events and in written publications to advance Water.org’s mission

· Collaborate with the Development, Finance, Marketing, and Monitoring evaluation team on projects as required.

Required Qualifications and Experience

· Demonstrated record of outstanding academic achievement. Graduate degree in related field required; relevant master’s degree preferred.

· Increasing levels of experience in related activities. At least seven years of relevant experience with microfinance/financial institutions, water and sanitation organizations, and/or related organizations.

· Professional experience with impact investing, small business training, financial consulting and/or value chain development is preferred.

· Demonstrated proficiency with project management approaches, especially with institutional donors and private funders, including strong background in institutional capacity building and technical assistance models.

· Demonstrated understanding of and familiarity with development finance approaches, including (but not limited to) SME lending and/or microfinance, financial services, cooperative development, lending methodologies and sector trends.

· Demonstrated understanding of and familiarity with urban and rural water supply, sanitation and hygiene approaches and sector trends.

· Excellent verbal and written communications, management, leadership, teamwork, networking, budgeting, and problem-solving skills.

· Experience with databases, advanced Excel skills, and basic literacy in other MS Office packages.

· Critical thinking, creativity, good judgment, initiative, attention to detail, and professionalism.

· Experience reporting to and working with institutional donors in the international development arena, particularly with respect to water/sanitation and microfinance.

· Strong desire to contribute to increased access to water and sanitation.

· Ability to communicate fluently in English

· Innovative mind-set oriented toward constructive problem-solving and collaboration with stakeholders from various sectors

· Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, resourcefulness, and ability to multi-task and adjust to changing priorities.

· Ability to travel within Tanzania, Sub-Saharan Africa, and abroad as required

Payment Schedule

The assignment will be remunerated on a time plus expenses basis on delivery and acceptance of outputs by the Water.org. Salary will be based on education and experience and will coincide with similar nonprofit organizations in international development.

Timing/Assignment Duration

The consultancy assignment will be 12 months and is expected to start as soon as a qualified consultant is identified and engaged. Upon satisfactory performance and continued funding this assignment can be extended.