The Millennium Water Alliance (MWA) www.mwawater.org is a permanent global alliance of leading humanitarian, research, and business organizations that convenes a trusted network and serves as a hub for collective impact, accelerates learning, and influences priorities and funding to scale sustained WASH services and resilience globally. MWA and its members collectively serve over 50 million people in over 100 countries and are leading advocates for greater water and sanitation commitments by governments and the private sector.
Purpose
MWA seeks an experienced Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP) for the anticipated USAID Sustainable, Transformational and Accessible WASH Interventions (STAWI) under the Addendum to Diversifying Partnerships in WASH (DiP-WASH) Program in Kenya.
STAWI’s objectives are to Improve governance of water resources and services; Increase the sustainability of water service delivery; Improve management, efficiency, and equitable access to water used for productive purposes; and Improve collaboration and learning across stakeholders under the leadership and coordination.
Job Summary
MWA is the prime implementing agency in a consortium of local partners working in nine arid and semi-arid counties in Kenya. The DCoP will report to the Chief of Party. He/she will support the Chief of Party in the administrative and programmatic oversight of STAWI. The DCoP will also provide technical oversight of the program’s activities aimed at improving the governance of water resources and services and increasing the sustainability of water service delivery. The DCoP will work in a dynamic team at the MWA Program Hub and at the implementing partner level. The incumbent will also ensure integration with other activities within STAWI and collaboration with government and donor funded activities related to water resources and service delivery.
The DCoP will provide technical oversight in the planning, decision making and implementation of the following functions:
- Offer management support to nine County Managers.
- Offer administrative support/cover as may be instructed by the Chief of Party.
- Offer technical backstopping on all activities related to water resources and sustained water service delivery including working with rural water service providers and fostering collaborations with other related government and donor funded efforts within the nine target counties.
- Lead collaboration with Water Resource Authority sub regional offices, civil society, RAPID+ and the STAWI Contractor for a harmonized approach to water resource management.
- Offer technical support during capacity strengthening of WRUAs and the development of SCMPs.
- Champion the advocacy efforts by women, youth and civil society groups on improved water resources management and service delivery.
- Lead the piloting of rural water service delivery models and the operationalization of rural water service providers in the target counties.
- Support the compilation and review of partner’s periodic reports, tracking of indicators and achievement of targets related to water resources and service delivery.
- Actively contribute to program documentation, learning and knowledge management.
- Promote and support development of a program culture that reflects collegiality and peer support, accountability and high performance, innovativeness, and continuous quality improvement to achieve desired results.
- With input from STAWI implementing partners and in conjunction with USAID and key stakeholders, participate in determining annual priorities, develop work plans.
- Contribute to the success of regular program meetings including technical working group meetings as well as program management meetings for improved collaboration and share lessons and common practice.
- At least 10 years’ experience in implementing WASH programs in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in East Africa.
- Previous experience as a Key Personnel such as a Technical Lead, DCOP or CoP in a USAID funded program is desired.
- Master’s degree in a relevant field such as water, environment, hydrology, biosystems and climate change.
- Experience in managing a multi-disciplinary team is essential.
- Demonstrated experience in water governance, resources, and service delivery in an ASAL context; an understanding of the water sector reforms in Kenya is mandatory.
- Experience working through local partners and offering technical backstopping is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in successful program management and understanding of the project management cycle.
- Proven ability to provide effective and primary representation with high profile donors and government stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience in donor report writing.
- Experience in using MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and virtual meeting software.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
- Excellent relationship management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.
