Chief Sanitation Officer – AWF

Job Title: Chief Sanitation Officer

Division: African Water Facility (AWF)

About the Role:

The African Development Bank is seeking a highly qualified and experienced professional to fill the position of Chief Sanitation Officer in the African Water Facility (AWF). The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the development of the AUSII/ AWF portfolio, with a focus on urban sanitation, both sewered and non-sewered sanitation.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the thematic project identification and preparation including assessment of concept notes, preparation for/guidance during orientation events and preparation of full proposals.

Organize and undertake project preparation missions as necessary to finalize the preparation of the Project Appraisal Reports and support the review process to approval by the relevant authorities.

Involve AWF and Bank staff or recruit consultants for specific tasks that are not covered by the chief sanitation specialist.

Ensure that grant agreements are signed promptly after approval as well as timely achievement of grant effectiveness. Also ensure timely delivery of other relevant project reports.

Provide on-going assistance to Recipients in understanding and applying AWF's operational procedures relating to grant administration as well as the rules and procedures for the procurement of goods, works and services.

Create understanding and commitment of the Recipient on the urban sanitation challenges and possible solutions to overcome these challenges.

Provide ongoing assistance to implement the AUSII financing instruments including concessional and blended finance, and guarantee functions.

Able to incorporate and reflect cross cutting issues as gender equality and climate resilience adequately into the AUSII/ AWF portfolio.

Work with AfDB's Financial Department in processing disbursement requests by providing up-to-date information on spending categories, established list of goods, works and services, contracts, entry into force of grant/ financing agreements, authorized signatories, extension of closing dates, managing grant savings and any revisions and modifications thereof.

Oversee and undertake desk and field supervision to ensure that projects are well implemented, are accomplishing the intended objectives and recommend any necessary corrective measures.

Conduct regular meetings with team members to assess status of projects and also to make necessary changes and improvements, where necessary, to achieve the expected results.

Ensure efficient achievement of all the project milestones including project evaluation, regular audits, knowledge synthesis and timely monitoring and reporting on project progress and completion, problems experienced and solutions to all stakeholders.

Lead and Support arrangements for project evaluation.

Lead and provide technical guidance to structuring grant projects, provide inputs to AUSII financing interventions, provide guidance to conceptualise sanitation policy, governance and institutional studies.

Provide assistance to develop partnership and cooperations with other sanitation actors in Africa with specific focus for co-financing and downstream investments.

Lead providing regular updates on the portfolio progress to the AWF management and ensure all inputs to the digital transformation of the AWF.

Develop Knowledge Products.

Contribute to knowledge management including: (i) providing hands-on support to Recipients in implementing projects to achieve the overall goals; (ii) establishing and maintaining an E-network for sharing knowledge and providing back-stopping support; (iii) linking projects to the sanitation experts in Africa and ensuring effective support; (iv) looking out for key approaches, findings and lessons and ensuring prompt sharing among the Recipients; (v) encouraging and supporting dissemination of findings at national level for possible replication; (vi) preparing project synthesis reports and sharing them identified audiences; (vii) ensuring effective recruitment of consultants to undertake various Knowledge Management (KM) activities; (viii) managing the annual peer-to-peer review events; etc.

Ensure coordination with sanitation partners in Africa (and elsewhere), and represent AWF in donor meetings, regional and international meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops on sanitation development issues.

Establish and maintain active communication between the different stakeholders and work with them to ensure that they are adequately informed on portfolio progress.

AWF Administration/Liaison.

Contribute to the AWF Annual Report, and the Annual Work plan and budget as required.

Respond to requests for information from the AWF Co-ordinator and the AWF team at HQ in a timely manner.

Participate in the co-ordination and organisation of AUSII/ AWF activities and participate in specific AUSII/ AWF events as required.

Support the AUSII/ AWF resource mobilization activities.

Undertake assignments as may be required by the AWF Co-ordinator from time to time.

Selection Criteria:

Hold at least a master's degree in either of civil engineering, Sanitary Engineering, Waste Water Engineering, Sanitation and Hygiene, or related discipline. Combination of a master's degree in economics, and/or finance with a degree in a relevant technical field will also be considered.

A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience related to project management, sanitation policy and strategy development, preparation and management of non-sewered sanitation and reuse projects preferably in urban and peri-urban settings and City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation approach.

Knowledge and some experience on sanitation financing instruments including concessional and blended finance, and guarantee products will be an added advantage for the position.

Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multi-cultural environment and to build effective working relations with colleagues.

Ability to lead a core sanitation team with supervision as well as part of a multicultural team and ability to work independently.

Ability to influence and participate effectively in actions to drive change.

Ability to be flexible, open-minded with integrity.

A team player who likes to operate in a team and sees the achievements as a team effort.

Client and results-oriented individual demonstrating 'a can-do attitude'.

Good understanding of sanitation issues, trends and opportunities in Africa.

Ability to identify and articulate policy and technological issues and to provide sound advice.

Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex issues and communicate them effectively orally and in written briefs.

Experience in delivering high-quality operational products and services (research advice, sectoral studies and review; projects).

Good communication skills and ability to build effective working relationships in a diverse multicultural environment.

Experience with International Development Financing Institutions in developing countries including a satisfactory knowledge of their operational policies and procedures.

Experience working with private sector, and/or investment financiers will be an added advantage.

Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable.

Excellent spoken and written English or French, with a working knowledge of the other language.

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