Vacancy: Regional Governance and Investment Planning Advisor

Published on: 23/09/2024

IRC WASH Ethiopia provides advisory, consultancy, research, innovation and knowledge management services in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector. It is a subsidiary to IRC (www.ircwash.org), the international think-and-do tank headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands. We work with governments, NGOs, businesses and people around the world to find long-term solutions to the global crisis in WASH services.

We focus on triggering a shift in the WASH business from short-term interventions to sustainable WASH services delivery. Our work focuses on innovation and taking to scale the conditions for high quality WASH services that reach everyone.

With the consortium lead of Population Service International (PSI), IRC WASH is one of the consortium members to implement USAID market for sanitation (M4S) activities as of mid-2024. The activities are implemented in eight regions and at national level on governance, market system development and system strengthening. The regions are Oromia, Amhara, Somali, Tigray, Sidama, South Ethiopia, Southwest Ethiopia and Central Ethiopia. Hence, IRC WASH is seeking to recruit two regional WASH Governance and Investment Planning Advisors who are interested and passionate to improve and sustain WASH services in Ethiopia; one for Tigray and one for Somali.

Essential requirements for this position are:

• A relevant technical and facilitation qualification, including MSc or MA degree in public health, social sciences, engineering or natural sciences
• An interest in WASH services, and at least 10 (ten) years of experience in a relevant development sector in Ethiopia; experience or background in the WASH systems approach is an asset
• A strong commitment to partnerships, capacity building and working with government at different levels
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills
• Good documentation skills and an interest in research and evidence generation
• Fluency in English, Amharic, Af Somali, and Tigrigna or others as needed in the respective target region/s, and satisfactory writing skills in English

Further skills candidates may possess:

• Experience in capacity building, planning, coordination of multi actors
• Experience in working in the respective regions
• Strong local networks in the WASH sector and beyond

This is a mid-level position suiting someone who seeks to build a career as a WASH professional, and who can also work independently with limited supervision. It is a full-time contract position, initially for a period of one year, with opportunities for extension based on performance. The Regional Governance and Investment Planning Advisors are expected to start the position in November 2024.

IRC offers a competitive remuneration package, and opportunities for professional and career development within an international network. We encourage female candidates and persons with impairments to apply.

General description of the expected responsibilities

The Regional Governance and Investment Planning Advisors support implementation of Market for Sanitation activities in the respective regions with the following key activities:

In close collaboration with consortium members, the advisors provide technical support to regional collaborative impact platforms (CIPs) on sanitation and hygiene governance, market-based area-wide inclusive sanitation and hygiene (MBAWISH) investment planning, and engage in other capacity building activities to key stakeholders in eight regional states. In addition, the regional advisors support research activities in agreement with CIPs and the consortium members, prepare reports based on agreed frameworks, coordinate with consortium partners on gender equality and social inclusion, and support and participate in different regional and national events.

The position is based in Mekele for Tigray, Jigjiga for Somali.

Key responsibilities: Technical support/capacity building on investment planning and governance to target regions, zones and woredas, meeting and partnership facilitation; and reporting.

Please apply to Fretsega Girma (ethiopia@ircwash.org) by October 4, 2024, submitting a maximum two-page CV, and a cover letter that clearly explains your motivation to join IRC WASH. The applicant must clearly specify the region for which they are applying, as applying for multiple regions is not permitted.