Job Details

Job purpose

·       The WASH and Climate Change Advisor/ Lead role supports country and regional teams in providing overall technical advice, guidance, development and design of high-quality WASH and climate resilience programme/project interventions. S/he also develops key partnerships for the delivery of WASH and Climate resilience programming across countries and region.

·       The WASH and Climate Change Advisor/ Lead serves as subject matter expert to the Country Programmes, the Regional Leadership Team (RLT); Regional Management Team (RMT), and Government institutions/officials on strategies, policies, approaches, best practices and knowledge on WASH and Climate Resilience. As subject matter expert, s/he supports programme development planning, implementation, management, resource mobilization, capacity building, and knowledge management to achieve equitable and sustainable improvements in WASH and Climate resilience practices in the region, in line with WaterAid’s Global Strategy 2023-2032, Country Programme Strategies 2023-2028 and Quality standards.

·       This role focuses on developing an interface between climate resilience programming and policy, in the context of National Determined Contributions (NDC) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) implementation and building resilience to climate change. This will be achieved through providing technical support to countries in mainstreaming their National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes and to mobilize resources for WASH through climate financing mechanisms.

·       The role plays a significant role in promoting comprehensive climate action and adaptation of WASH services to the adverse effects of climate change on vital aspects such as water security, WASH infrastructure, health and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events by providing capacity building for country programme staff, government officials, climate service providers and facilitating access to climate finance and emergency preparedness.

·       The role requires an individual with significant knowledge of climate resilience programming, and technical knowledge that would propel the CPs and Southern Africa region into delivering high-quality WASH and climate change programmes/projects with significant impact.

Team description

The Southern Africa Region comprises 4 established Country Programmes in Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar and Malawi. The Southern Africa Regional Office (SARO) is based in Pretoria where most members of the Regional Team (RT) are located with some staff located across the region.

The Regional Team is accountable for providing strategic leadership and support to Country Programme Teams to successfully deliver their country strategies. It is also responsible for directly managing new projects in South Africa and for developing WaterAid’s footprint in the region.

Accountabilities

• Provide programme direction and technical advisory services on strategic positioning and planning including guidance for WASH and Climate resilience programming in the context of the Global Strategy 2022-2032, country Strategies 2023-2028 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

• Accelerate innovation in the WASH & climate thematic focus by promoting critical thinking, exploring new opportunities, introducing technological and programme innovations and by scaling up proven concepts, approaches, and good practices in-country and the region
• Support Country teams on the strategic development and implementation of low-carbon and climate-resilient programme/project initiatives, strategies, and plans. Support the adoption of tailored and efficient WASH and Climate Resilience community-based projects and operational models in country programmes and across the region.
• Lead training and capacity-building programmes for countries and regional teams on WASH climate change programming and climate finance through scaling up mechanisms that improve the external mobilization of and access to climate finance for adaptation and WASH programming in-country. Create new opportunities for and support country & regional resource mobilization, increase donors’ interest in quality WASH and Climate Resilient programmes and confidence in WaterAid’s ability to deliver them.
• Lead, plan, and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of staff and stakeholders to promote sustainable results on WASH programmes and climate resilience
• Support the development of robust WASH – Climate Change proposals (climate financing), ensuring alignment with WaterAid Global strategy (specifically WaterAid’s Strategic Aim 3 – Climate resilient WASH services); CPs’ strategies 2023-2028 and WaterAid’s Programme Guidance for Climate Resilient WASH.
• Facilitate/provide technical support on climate change research, PEA on climate change and climate change vulnerability assessments to generate evidence on the impacts of climate change on WASH to inform policy, programme development, planning, and WASH & Climate campaigns.
• Support country programmes to integrate and prioritise WASH Climate Resilient measures in key national policies, strategies, and planning frameworks such as NAPs and NDCs.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and ensure integration, coherence, and harmonization of WASH with other WaterAid Aims, for the achievement of the WASH and Climate Change output results.
• Support and advise WaterAid Country Offices and their partners on developing response programmes for climate emergency and preparedness, to build community resilience and reduce the impact of climate change on WASH services.
• Support the adoption of tailored and efficient WASH and Climate Resilience community-based projects and operational models in our country programmes and across the region.
• Participate in regional and country programme planning, preparation, and reviews to provide advice on formulation, design, management, enhancement, and communication of WaterAid country office WASH programmes including setting priorities and formulating the WASH and Climate Change outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets, and means-of-verification.
• Support country programmes in carrying out initial climate vulnerability & risks assessments to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management; identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development WASH programmes and timely interventions to achieve sustainable results.
• Ensure clear and pragmatic guidance in collaboration with relevant country programme teams, Regional and UK teams on Climate Resilience programming is available and followed (where required based on WaterAid programme quality standards and interpretation of global guidance/tools) to support WaterAid staff at all levels focusing on reduced carbon footprint and increased environmental sustainability of WaterAid country programme operations including WASH infrastructure.
• Work with Advocacy and Policy teams at the regional and country programme level to increase access to climate and other finance mechanisms for adaptive and climate resilient WASH infrastructure and services through green and climate project pipeline development and promotion
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships, the knowledge base and thought leadership in WASH and Climate resilient programming through networking and advocacy with regional and national government counterparts, UN agencies, academic/research institutions, donors, internationally recognized institutions, other NGOs, and private sector to strengthen cooperation and/or pursue opportunities to promote WASH and climate objectives and broad results on WASH programmes.
• Strengthen WaterAid’s network amongst all relevant stakeholders on Climate Resilience and Green Climate Funding through joined initiatives around data analysis (including Climate context Analysis, vulnerability/risks assessment for programming to inform national and regional advocacy/policy influencing.
• Participate or represent WaterAid in key processes, discussions and planning platforms on WASH and Climate Resilience related issues such as WASH integration with other sectors, water resource management, COP meetings to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are clearly articulated, fully considered, and integrated in the national, regional, and global processes.
• Be aware of, understand and comply with the WaterAid Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy and all WaterAid regional office policies and procedures
• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Line manager and the Regional Director

Essential skills

• A minimum of a master’s degree in the environment or climate-related studies, such as environmental studies/water resource management, climate science, or another relevant technical field.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in climate change, sustainable development, capacity building and WASH-related programmes for developing countries is required.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in working to strengthen elements of WASH systems and understanding of WASH interaction with other systems such as climate change and programme/project development and management in any INGOs or organization.
• Proven experience and Knowledge of programme design, development, and implementation of WASH and climate resilience programmes
• Strong experience in at least one of WaterAid’s key thematic areas and approaches on Water security, climate change, Water resource management, Urban WASH, Sanitation & Hygiene, WASH & Health, sector strengthening (sustainable services).
• Proven experience of leading programmes that deliver transformational change through the integration of evidence-based data generation and learning to inform advocacy and policy influencing as it relates to WASH and climate change.
• Track record of inter-disciplinary work and a profound interest in understanding and addressing international, regional, national, and sub-national challenges posed by climate change towards WASH services.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills with the ability to summarize and synthesize big volumes of information and/or data for policy and project recommendations/actions
• Strong track record and experience in project acquisition, overall management, and coordination of large-scale projects
• Strong/advanced knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint, with openness towards learning new software and other working tools

Desirable Skills

• Proven track record on climate adaptation in Africa including policy, climate finance and/or international negotiations in the UNFCCC and COP platforms
• Excellent understanding and experience in National Adaptation Planning (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) revision and implementation
• Good understanding of climate finance processes, modalities, and sources
• Proven experience of Stakeholder engagement that include government, private sector, and donors with high level of influencing skills. Confidence in working with senior level stakeholders both internally and externally using tact and diplomacy
• High organization skills, being detail-oriented and a motivated self-starter and a team player able to interact and cooperate with a diverse array of people, including remotely in a highly international team
• Willingness to travel regionally and internationally on as-and-when-needed
• Experience of working effectively within a culturally diverse and matrix organisation

13th cheque

Medical Aid

Provident Fund

Global Life Insurance

Leave (Annual, sick, Maternity, Paternity and Family Responsibility)