Senior Policy Officer, Water Resources Management

Function: Regional Engagement and Partnerships Development
Reports to: Director of Programmes.
Grade: P4 (out of a P1 – P5 professional grading structure)
Posted: 2 August 2023
Closes: 31 August 2023

Background
AMCOW is an intergovernmental, non-budgetary institution working under the Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment of the African Union (AU). Our mission is to provide political leadership, policy direction and advocacy in the provision, use and management of water resources for sustainable social and economic development and maintenance of African ecosystems.
For more information, refer to: http://www.amcow-online.org/.
The position of Senior Policy Officer, Water Resources Management is one of the key management functions under the Director of Programmes at the AMCOW Secretariat located in Abuja, Nigeria. The scope of responsibilities of the role is described below.

Responsibilities:
The Senior Policy Officer, Water Resources Management, will be responsible for programming and coordinating implementation of the Secretariat activities to assure sustainable management of Africa’s water resources.
The primary scope of responsibilities consists of the following:

1)     Policy, regulatory and institutional arrangements: Lead AMCOW initiatives to strengthen water governance systems and management structures in Africa. Related interventions promote and facilitate investment-orientated transboundary management and governance of Africa’s water resources. Particular focus is placed on delivering on the commitments of Africa’s political leadership to:
a)     increase domestic allocations to the water, sanitation and hygiene sector, and attract investments for water resources development, utilisation and management. A key AMCOW strategy is to strengthen the business case for water investments in Africa to enhance human and institutional capacities, build infrastructure and improve information systems to support water management;
b)     innovate mechanisms to manage demand and improve efficiency in the production, supply and utilisation of water in agriculture;
c)     contribute to enhancing sanitation governance and services delivery mechanisms vis-à-vis:
i)       improving environmental integrity through wastewater and water quality management;
ii)      promoting circular systems for urban water cycles and productive sanitation; and,
iii)    resilient WASH Programming.
d)     mobilise groundwater networks and actors towards a common, harmonised, and evidence-based approach to sustainable groundwater use and management in furtherance of the Africa Water Vision 2025; the SDGs and AU Agenda 2063;
e)     strengthen the institutional linkages and operational arrangements between AMCOW and AMCOW’s technical, implementing and funding partners within the Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus framework; and
f)      strengthen mechanisms for tracking sector financing – at AMCOW level – and strengthen mechanisms for coordinating, leveraging and improving efficiency of utilising Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds to the sector.

2)     Stakeholder Engagement: Contribute to strengthening of decision-making processes through technically facilitating the interaction, at all levels, of governmental and non-governmental actors, including the private sector. The incumbent will lead the Secretariat’s efforts to translate AMCOW’s Water Resources Management Priority Action Programme into partnerships for action to:
a)     promote economic accounting for water as a discipline to, among others, improve the financing and investment outlook for water resources management in Africa;
b)     motivate action to improve national-level capacities for collecting complete and reliable hydro-meteorological and piezometric data in all of Africa’s 64 shared river basins;
c)     apply nexus perspective solutions to assure water, food and energy security in Africa;
d)     improve agricultural water management, including facilitating the use of waste as a resource in agriculture at the national level;
e)     catalyse implementation of the prioritised transboundary water projects in the second priority action plan of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA);
f)      promote and facilitate multifunctional “green” basin development centred on natural and built infrastructure to provide a continuum of water storage solutions;
g)     support Member States and River and Lake Basin Organisations (R/LBOs) to conduct water resources assessments, assessing the availability of groundwater resources and the impact of climate change on freshwater availability;
h)     support Member States to monitor and manage groundwater use;
i)       promote the development of legal, policy and institutional frameworks for wastewater management and safe discharge of effluent into transboundary water courses and aquifers;
j)       increase access to and control of resources, assets, capabilities, agency and opportunities for climate-vulnerable and marginalised groups; and,
k)     mobilise institutional partnerships for strengthening water security.

3)     Resources Mobilisation: Work in close collaboration with the Senior Policy Officer – Governance and Partnerships to raise funding and coordinate initiatives in support of AMCOW activities. The activities are articulated in the Secretariat workplans; engagement plans with partners, and PIDA-PAP transboundary water projects. The incumbent’s responsibilities include:
a)     instituting mechanisms to implement projects identified for their shared benefits, notably, the ability to attract investments:
b)     leveraging funding streams from partners for the implementation of the AMCOW Work Programme;
c)     leading in the conception and formulation of WRM engagement plans and coordinating their implementation with RECs, R/LBOs, technical and implementing partners; as well as other sector players;
d)     contributing to the meetings and engagements of the Water and Sanitation Sector Development Partners Coordination Framework (DPCF).
Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
1)     Enhance AMCOW’s presence and visibility at the country and regional levels, aiming to promote effective policy-making tools and useful intelligence on sustainable water resources management on the continent.
2)     Promote regional synergies and country-level efforts on water resources management and institutionalise WRM coordinating mechanisms within the Secretariat.

More specifically, the Senior Policy Officer, Water Resources Management is responsible for managing the following key activities:
1)     Ensure consistent and proper use and visibility of AMCOW’s brand by improving WRM activities, effectiveness and outreach in order to enhance awareness and understanding of WRM issues amongst stakeholders through country, regional and wider public events like Africa Water Week and AfricaSan Conferences;
2) Collaborate with the Knowledge Management and Communications Officer to prepare press releases and interview messages, as well as coordinate, proofread and assure content delivery of AMCOW’s newsletters and other types of learning materials and policy documents.

Essential Requirements:
1)     Minimum 12 years of work experience, preferably in the water sector, of which at least six (6) years of experience should be in integrated water resources management (IWRM), water security analysis, planning and advocacy.
2)     Direct experience or experience working with partners supporting WRM-related policy initiatives and work programmes of the AUC, the AMCOW Secretariat, AUDA-NEPAD, the RECs and RLBOs.
3)     Proven commitment to excellence and quality of measured results, programme development and operationalisation in an inter-governmental setting.
4)     A successful track-record of
a)     effective facilitation of technical processes and coordination of high-profile multi-stakeholder processes;
b)     setting priorities and developing implementation arrangements in politically sensitive and technically demanding operational environments; and,
c)     technical responsibility for the quality and content of decision-supporting reports at the political level.
5)     Excellent diplomacy and relationship-building skills with an ability to prioritise, negotiate, and work with a variety of cross-cultural and high-profile technical, implementing and development partners, as well as Member States.
Multi-tasking skills, able to wear many hats in a fast-paced, challenging and rewarding environment.

Education, Professional Qualifications and Certification:
A Master’s Degree or PhD in a field relevant to water and related natural resources management; Engineering; and water supply, sanitation, and hygiene services provision.

Language Requirements:
Fluent and superior mastery of English and/or French through education and experience in a work context. Portuguese and/or Arabic languages would be an asset.

Skills:
1)     Strong proactive business development skills.
2)     Superior communication and presentation skills.
3)     Highly refined diplomacy and persuasive skills.
4)     Very good learning and knowledge-sharing skills.
5) Strong team building and motivating skills.

Computer Literacy:
1)     Expert-level use of the Office suite of applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
2)     Familiarity with project management tools.
3) Good knowledge and preferably work experience with Cloud-based technologies.

Age Requirement:
Candidate shall not be more than 55 years as of 01 August 2023.

Values:
1)     High professional ethics beyond legal compliance.
2)     Commitment to the public good.
3)     Commitment to quality and excellence, knowledge sharing and maintaining public trust.
4)     Accountability to AMCOW Secretariat, the AU member States and AMCOW Partners and Stakeholders.
5) Transparency, honesty and integrity, including cross-cultural openness and flexibility.

Citizenship Requirements:
National of any of the AU Member States.
Any interested candidates should send a CV and Cover letter to: info@amcow-online.org
Click the link below to download Job Description: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9s3tohegw449ms4mp0qjs/JD_Senior_Policy_Officer_Water_Resources_Management_Final.docx?rlkey=8joeyyg8ms3s9clz5t20i75ex&dl=0