Technical Advisor for Water Utility Management WatSSUP job at Future Options Consulting Ltd

Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

The WatSSUP project is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The EU/ BMZ joint measure under the GIZ Water Supply and Sanitation for refugee settlements and host communities in Northern Uganda (WatSSUP) project is part of the EU Action “Water Supply and Self-Reliance for Refugees (WASER)” co-financed by the European Union (EU). The main outcome of this component is to ensure national efforts by key state and non-state actors in Uganda to adopt knowledge-based, integrated policies on transition, service integration, and self-reliance are supported at national and sub-national levels. The component compliments the livelihood component and infrastructure component of the WASER Action (lead by AVSI/World Vision and KfW respectively).

The project is part of the BMZ special initiative “Displaced Persons and Host Countries". Key political partner is the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), together with implementing partners of its decentralized agencies, including water utilities such as Northern Umbrella of Water and Sanitation (NUWS) and National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC). The geographical implementation area is in the refugee hosting districts Yumbe, Madi Okollo and Terego with a focus on thirteen refugee-hosting sub counties and the three refugee settlements (Imvepi, Rhino and Bidibidi). Additionally, limited activities are implemented in Kiryandongo District and settlement. The WatSSUP Offices are in Arua, Lira and Kampala.

Within the context of CRRF-implementation (Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework), the objective of the WatSSUP project is to support the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Water and Environment, in establishing utility led service delivery for water supply and sanitation in selected refugee settlements and host communities in line with the Water and Environment Sector Refugee Response Plan (WESRRP) and international refugee strategies. The aim of the project is to ensure sustainable water and sanitation services in selected refugee settlements and host communities through supporting the transition from humanitarian-led water supply to government-owned utilities (Utility Model).

GIZ WatSSUP is recruiting a Technical Advisor to support the implementation of its programme.

Responsibilities or duties

A. Key Responsibilities

The Technical Advisor will ensure;

• Coordinate Output 2 of the project at regional level in Lira.
• Advisory services and capacity building to the NUWS and if required other regional units of the MWE.
• Advisory services to NWSC to ensure capacity building in transition of water and sanitation services in refugee settlements.
• Support to the development of the implementation plan of the National transition strategy at district level.
• Facilitation and input to consulting processes by external companies.
• Regular field trips to the water supply system rehabilitation sites and other project related sites, and documentation of visits and progress.
• Development of presentations and Terms of References (TOR) for various assignments as required.
• Responsible for knowledge management and data management for all Output 2-related documents and information.

B. Specific Tasks

Utility advisory

• Advise the regional and local units of the MWE (especially Northern Umbrella for Water and Sanitation (NUWS), and Upper Nile Water Management Zone (UNWMZ).
• Advises the NUWS on the transfer of water supply systems from humanitarian actors/UNHCR to the umbrella authority (Utility Model).
• Advises NWSC on transition of water supply systems
• Supports the implementation and update of a Transition Road Map and National Transition Strategy for the handover of systems from humanitarian/development partners to the NUWS and NWSC.
• Advise and support in the implementation of a survey to analyse the level of service delivery by NUWS to beneficiaries in the Refugee Settlements.
• Facilitation of key consulting processes and assigned short-term consultants from GIZ on processes in relation to Output 2.
• Conduct regular steering meetings with the NWSC, NUWS and UN-WMZ and document them accordingly.
• Effective coordination and collaboration with the other members of the consortium and colleagues within other Output areas in Kiryandongo, Yumbe, Madi Okollo, Terego and Kampala as well as other Development Partners (e.g., KfW) in Lira.
• Develops Terms of References for assignments and conducts evaluations for tender processes in relation to Output 2 and as requested by the Head of Programme.
• Develop presentations and documentation about the project and its implementation.
• Responsible for knowledge management and data management for all output 2 -related documents and information.

Other Duties/Additional Tasks

• Develops and documents the lessons learnt from the project activities and makes suggestions for publications on IDA and/or social media.
• Regular knowledge management and documentation of information, results, and reports on MS Teams.
• Good coordination with project administrative/finance/communication support teams.
• Cooperation with other projects) in the refugee and water sector as well as in the region and GIZ-wide (globally).
• Perform other duties and tasks at the request of management.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Knowledge, skills and competences

• Strong organisational and analytical skills, combined with high self-motivation, team spirit, and the ability to work effectively in multicultural and interdisciplinary teams.
• Equally competent working in the field and in the office on engineering-related tasks, with a demonstrated willingness to learn and adapt.
• Excellent understanding of capacity development, with a proven track record of advising governments and other agencies in international development contexts.
• Ability to perform effectively under pressure and to operate in complex environments with diverse stakeholders, requiring minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication, presentation, reporting, and IT skills, with full professional proficiency in English; knowledge of German is an asset.
• Excellent knowledge of the WASH sector and solid understanding of the development and humanitarian landscape in Uganda, including the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF).

Experience needed

Details of experience

• 5 years of relevant professional experience working with the national and regional levels of the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) and with district local governments.
• Proven experience in process facilitation and capacity development, supporting institutional and stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in the design, implementation, and management of solar-powered water supply systems.
• Substantive experience in the refugee response and humanitarian–development nexus, with a strong understanding of international refugee policies and their implications; experience in humanitarian or development contexts outside Uganda is considered an asset.

• Coordinate Output 2 of the project at regional level in Lira.
• Advisory services and capacity building to the NUWS and if required other regional units of the MWE.
• Advisory services to NWSC to ensure capacity building in transition of water and sanitation services in refugee settlements.
• Support to the development of the implementation plan of the National transition strategy at district level.
• Facilitation and input to consulting processes by external companies.
• Regular field trips to the water supply system rehabilitation sites and other project related sites, and documentation of visits and progress.
• Development of presentations and Terms of References (TOR) for various assignments as required.
• Responsible for knowledge management and data management for all Output 2-related documents and information.
• Advise the regional and local units of the MWE (especially Northern Umbrella for Water and Sanitation (NUWS), and Upper Nile Water Management Zone (UNWMZ).
• Advises the NUWS on the transfer of water supply systems from humanitarian actors/UNHCR to the umbrella authority (Utility Model).
• Advises NWSC on transition of water supply systems
• Supports the implementation and update of a Transition Road Map and National Transition Strategy for the handover of systems from humanitarian/development partners to the NUWS and NWSC.
• Advise and support in the implementation of a survey to analyse the level of service delivery by NUWS to beneficiaries in the Refugee Settlements.
• Facilitation of key consulting processes and assigned short-term consultants from GIZ on processes in relation to Output 2.
• Conduct regular steering meetings with the NWSC, NUWS and UN-WMZ and document them accordingly.
• Effective coordination and collaboration with the other members of the consortium and colleagues within other Output areas in Kiryandongo, Yumbe, Madi Okollo, Terego and Kampala as well as other Development Partners (e.g., KfW) in Lira.
• Develops Terms of References for assignments and conducts evaluations for tender processes in relation to Output 2 and as requested by the Head of Programme.
• Develop presentations and documentation about the project and its implementation.
• Responsible for knowledge management and data management for all output 2 -related documents and information.
• Develops and documents the lessons learnt from the project activities and makes suggestions for publications on IDA and/or social media.
• Regular knowledge management and documentation of information, results, and reports on MS Teams.
• Good coordination with project administrative/finance/communication support teams.
• Cooperation with other projects) in the refugee and water sector as well as in the region and GIZ-wide (globally).
• Perform other duties and tasks at the request of management.

• Strong organisational and analytical skills
• High self-motivation
• Team spirit
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and interdisciplinary teams
• Competent working in the field and in the office on engineering-related tasks
• Demonstrated willingness to learn and adapt
• Excellent understanding of capacity development
• Proven track record of advising governments and other agencies in international development contexts
• Ability to perform effectively under pressure
• Ability to operate in complex environments with diverse stakeholders
• Minimal supervision required
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Excellent reporting skills
• Excellent IT skills
• Full professional proficiency in English
• Knowledge of German is an asset
• Excellent knowledge of the WASH sector
• Solid understanding of the development and humanitarian landscape in Uganda
• Understanding of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF)
• Proven experience in process facilitation
• Proven experience in capacity development
• Experience supporting institutional and stakeholder engagement
• Demonstrated experience in the design, implementation, and management of solar-powered water supply systems
• Substantive experience in the refugee response and humanitarian–development nexus
• Strong understanding of international refugee policies and their implications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or water related fields.