Technical Assistant – Young Professional 406 views0 applications

JOB TITLE: Technical Assistant – Africa Water Investment Support Programme for Water, Climate, Development and Gender (WACDEP-G),

REPORTS TO: Regional Executive Secretary, Global Water Partnership Central Africa (GWP-CAf)

GRADE: E/Assistant

LOCATION: Yaoundé – Republic of Cameroon

START DATE: August 1^st, 2020

DURATION: 1-year contract

BACKGROUND

The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is a multi-stakeholder action network dedicated to working with countries towards the equitable, sustainable, and efficient management of water resources. With a diverse partnership of more than 3,000 organisations in over 180 countries, GWP is made up of 65+ Country Water Partnerships (CWPs) and 13 Regional Water Partnerships (RWPs), which convenes, and broker coordinated action by government and non-government actors.

Global Water Partnership Central Africa (GWP-CAf) (https://www.gwp.org/en/GWP-Central-Africa/) was established in 2008. Its network consists of 250+ partners. To date, it has contributed to the creation of five CWPs, in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principle and Chad. GWP-CAf is supported by a regional secretariat based in Yaounde, Cameroon.

GWP-CAf works in close collaboration with the other Regional Water Partnerships in Africa, under the leadership of GWP Africa Coordination Unit, based in Pretoria, South Africa. GWP Africa Coordination Unit leads and facilitates GWP engagement at the continental level in Africa.

GWP in Africa is currently embarking in the implementation of the broad-reaching African Water Investment Programme (AIP), in collaboration with the Africa Development Bank, Africa Water Facility, the Africa Union and the African Ministers Council on Water. This is a path-breaking program that will link the ongoing commitments to invest in water infrastructure and institutions to build climate resilient development with the opportunity to transform gender inequalities in decision making, in access to services and in access to economic opportunities. The Africa Water Investment Support Programme: Water, Climate, Development and Gender Equality (AIP-WACDEP-G) builds on AMCOW’s and GWP’s experiences gained over eight years of activities in 16 African countries that successfully linked water challenges and climate agendas for long-term sustainable change (2011-2019).

The program aims to influence country-specific processes for identifying, designing and implementing water infrastructure investments in 18 African countries and 5 river basins. The ultimate goal is to achieve progress in gender equality by shaping investments in climate-resilient water security for 3.6 million people over 6 years, involving projects and programs amounting to about $1 billion investments from government and private sources. It is structured around three main components:

• Gender-transformative change for implementation of climate-resilient water investments
• Mobilise partnerships and build motivation, capabilities and opportunities for transforming structurally embedded unequal power relations
• Agile learning from implementation of local pilots

WACDEP-G implementation kicked off on April 2020. Regional implementation in Central Africa is driven by GWP-CAf.

To effectively and efficiently implement WACDEP-G and support its contribution to the broader AIP agenda, GWP-CAf is recruiting a young professional to provide technical and program management support to the regional secretariat in Yaounde, Cameroon. The Young Professional will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Executive Secretary, and in close collaboration with the incoming Programme Manager for WACDEP-G. Duties will include international travel and representation.

SCOPE OF THIS POSITION

The Young Professional will have a technical assistance role in support of WACDEP-G implementation, which will relate in particular to the following aspects:

Support to WACDEP-G programme inception (15%):

o Technical and administrative support to the organization of a country national workshop to review the analyses carried out (gender analysis and capacity needs assessment) and to draft the programme interventions with stakeholders

o Technical support to the development of a detailed work plan, budget and capacity building plan for WACDEP-G implementation in a country of the region

Contribution to WACDEP-G programme implementation (75%):

o Technical and administrative contribution to implementation of the project components, with a particular focus on:

• Identification of regional organizations that implement innovative financing instruments that hold the promise for gender transformation in water, and support engagement with them
• Development of a regional leadership training programme for young women and men in science and engineering in collaboration with the Water and Climate Network of Central African Youth Organisations
• Contribute to regional initiatives led by GWP-CAf for supporting partner institutions to access climate finance, including contribution to preparation of related proposals (collection of background information, liaison with contributors, drafting parts of the documents, review of the proposals) and technical and administrative support to organization of workshops and meetings with key actors
• Collaboration with partners in Cameroon to implement a field project on Gender

Contribution to monitoring, reporting and communication activities related to WACDEP-G (10%), including:

• Collection and editing of the information requested for the monitoring of implementation
• Contribution to the drafting of GWP CAf activity reports and reporting to GWPO
• Contribution to the preparation of technical notes, presentations, reviewed articles through synthesizing learning from the programme
• Proposals for web articles

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Young professional motivated by development and by the environment, with knowledge and interest in the management of natural resources and/ or climate adaptation and/or gender and development.

Technical

• Must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in natural resources management and/or development
• Knowledge of climate adaptation, or gender equity, or water resources management will be an advantage
• Excellent analytical and writing skills and very good organisational and task management skills, demonstrated team work skills and ability to work independently
• At least 2 years’ experience, and experience in supporting the development and/or implementation of international development programmes, or working with International Development Cooperation Agencies, will be an advantage
• Language: Fluency in French required. Ability to understand professional documentation in English also required; Good oral and writing skills in English

Non-technical

• Professionalism: Service-oriented work style, with strong interpersonal skills, able to work effectively and harmoniously at all levels. Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity. Demonstrates corporate interest, self-development and initiative-taking. Ability to work in a multi-cultural and international environment based on mutual respect and tolerance. Ability to exercise good judgement, discretion and tact in handling sensitive issues.
• Planning and Organizing: appropriate attention to details and ability to prioritize work among multiple competing demands, and under tight deadlines. Ability to manage multiple workflows at the same time and to deliver towards deadlines. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment where adaptability is essential.
• E-literacy: Excellent e-skills, including the ability to use modern office technology and related software. Practical knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software is required. Ability to do internet research, compile information and find solutions online to information gaps is essential.
• Teamwork: Support colleagues, contribute to team culture, and share responsibility for decision-making and results. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility. Ability to “lead from behind” and work without direct authority to deliver timely and high-quality products.
• Personal: A good sense of humour. Love for nature, its beauty and its resources. Willingness to ‘get the job’ done with a positive attitude to take on a wide range of tasks.