The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is the implementing agency of the Federal Republic of Germany for technical and international cooperation. It offers flexible, sustainable and effective solutions in political, economic and social change processes. Most of the work of GIZ is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). GIZ also operates on behalf of other German ministries as well as public and private bodies in Germany and abroad. These include the European Commission, the United Nations, the World Bank and governments of other countries. In the Water and Energy portfolio of GIZ, the EU is an important commissioning partner.
The GIZ Project “Strengthening Institutions for Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation in Zambia (SIWaS)” is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The overall objective of the project is to support national institutions, commercial utilities and local authorities in implementing national targets for the improvement of urban water supply and sanitation services in a coordinated manner. The projects lead partner is the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation and the 5 outputs of the SIWaS project are as follows:
Output 1: Strengthening the organizational capacity of MWDS to coordinate and manage the water sector.
Output 2: Developing tools to regulate Commercial Utilities through the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO).
Output 3: Strengthening the organisational, technical, and financial capacities of partner Commercial Utilities (CU’s).
Output 4: Establishing foundations for better coordinated services in rural water supply and sanitation.
Output 5: Establishing foundations for improved management of industrial wastewater in Lusaka and for decentralised sanitation.
Access to water supply and sanitation services remains low in Zambia especially in rural and peri-urban areas which is detrimental to the economy, health and well-being of the population. These low access rates have remained almost stagnant over the past fifteen years, despite Zambia aiming for universal access to safe and affordable water and sanitation services by 2030. The Government is rolling out several investment programmes like NRWSSP, NUWSSP and the ZWIP to change the trend in investments of infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. On the side of service provision, Zambia has decentralized and professionalised services by setting up commercial utilities as private companies owned by the local authorities while ensuring appropriate regulation by NWASCO and oversight by the ministry. However, the commercialisation of the utility services over the last 20 years has not fully achieved its objectives of having fully cost recovery of the services in urban areas with user tariffs. The current governance framework and consistent under-performance in relation to sector benchmarks like NRW or staff efficiency requires urgent action to change the trajectory of the sector. Similarly, the services in rural areas require structural changes, capacity building and investments to considerably improve services. Therefore, the Government and its cooperating partners like the German Government, the EU and others, are providing renewed efforts with dedicated investments in infrastructure and technical assistance (ref. to GIZ SIWAS) to address the challenges.
In this context, GIZ is therefore seeking a suitable candidate to fill the following position:
Policy Advisor – (based in Lusaka)
REF: GIZ_SIWaS_PA
Main tasks and responsibilities:
The policy advisor carries out the following duties and responsibilities:
Provide policy and technical advice to the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation (MWDS) focused on enhancing the dialogue on the principles of the Water Sector Reforms (such as full cost recovery, autonomy of regulation/tariff setting)
Provide technical, organizational, and strategic advice to MWDS in close collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) to develop a concept and agreement for rural and urban Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) that clearly defines roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders which is then signed by the responsible parties.
Support MWDS with technical advice for the operationalisation and consolidation and regular updating of the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) in particular, the urban and rural water supply and sanitation module
Provide organisational development support for the implementation of 4 measures of the Change Management Strategy and promotion of gender transformative approaches at MWDS.
Contract management: prepare tenders/calls and manage consulting contracts and grant agreements with public and civil society partners.
Support preparation and facilitation of project related meetings and high-level events e.g. National Steering and Planning Meetings, Meetings with Cooperating Partners and sector stakeholders).
Keep the GIZ Project Manager and German Embassy development counsellors informed about activities and progress of the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation
Support the projects efforts in ensuring interlinkages between the policy advise to the Ministry and other project outputs.
Where appropriate and reasonable, the position holder is expected to perform tasks outside the scope of the job description, especially in cases where MWDS requires technical and organisational support in further areas not mentioned here.
Qualification and Requirements
University Degree (master’s or equivalent) in an area relevant to the project’s objectives such as Engineering, Economics, Social/Political science, or related fields.
Professional experience
At least 15 years practical working experience on water supply and sanitation service provision and in the region.
Good knowledge and understanding of the water sector reforms and their implications in the Zambian Water Sector
Proven knowledge and experience in the Water Supply and Sanitation sector with a focus on policy advisory support
Proven working experience with existing networks in water supply and sanitation, international development projects, NGOs, government institutions and/or local authorities.
Evidence of managing contracts, high level events, or processes independently.
Other knowledge, additional competences
Practical experience working in a politically sensitive context is an asset
Strong advisory skills and conceptual competences
Zambia national or person with a residence or work permit in Zambia
Fluent written and oral knowledge of English
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
Must be highly adaptable, flexible, proactive and able to work under pressure.
Experience with gender-sensitive, gender-transformative approaches and strong intercultural competences
Strong commitment to the projects mandate and team spirit
The successful candidate will be expected to start employment with GIZ, on a fixed term contract.
Submit your CV and Application on Company Website : Click Here
Closing Date : 20th September, 2023.
OFF tags: Policy Advisor, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) ,Administrative/Secretarial Jobs,Administrative/Secretarial Jobs In Zambia,jobs vacancies in zambia 09 2023
