About the Company:
DAI works on the frontlines of global development by transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We just celebrated our 50th anniversary as a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Brussels, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and development projects across 150 countries. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.
DAI is a water security, sanitation, and hygiene (WSSH) sector leader with a dedicated team in DAI headquarters, and current and recent flagship USAID programs in Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Philippines, Nepal, and the Africa Regional WALIS Program. We have additional, and significant, WASH activities under our governance programs in Guatemala, Iraq, and Mozambique, among others. We recognize that societies get the greatest health and economic benefits from water and sanitation when we leverage benefits within and across sectors (and across our projects) and when local stakeholders are at the center of the decision-making process and part of a collaborative implementation approach.
USAID Project Background:
The five-year (2023-2028) USAID Sustainable, Transformational, and Accessible Water Interventions (STAWI) Activity will work alongside county governments across nine counties to advance water security for social, economic, and environmental needs, helping to reverse historic neglect and enabling USAID and the Government of Kenya to achieve their ambitious objectives for inclusive economic growth while building resilience to the region’s unique shocks and stresses. At the end of five years, targeted county governments, water service providers (WSPs), and water users will have the information, incentives, and partnerships to identify and address barriers to a water-secure future among the most water-stressed and vulnerable communities in Kenya.
The activity is actively working toward four objectives:
· Objective 1: Improve governance of water resources and services
· Objective 2: Increase sustainability of water service delivery
· Objective 3: Improved management, efficiency, and equitable access to water used for productive purposes
· Objective 4: Improved collaboration and learning across stakeholders and strengthened capacity of county governments for learning and adaptation
Objectives of the assignment
The STAWI counties are characterized by very low coverage (approximately 10%) by urban utilities or WSPs. For the most part, the WSPs are low-performing, financially instable, and lacking in incentives for improved performance. The Urban Water Specialist will provide support to the WSPs, tailored to their starting point, with an emphasis on improved governance, customer service, greater operating efficiencies, and a better ability to attract funding whether increased customer revenue or loans. Interventions should seek to build the climate resilience of utility operations and expand the inclusion of women and youth in key functions.
- With WSP stakeholders, co-develop improvement plans aligned to WASREB’s performance metrics, its Corporate Governance Guidelines for the Water Services and Water Governance Training Handbook.
- In collaboration with the Water Services Advisor- and DCOP Governance, develop and implement capacity building in good governance for the counties and WSPs, including for Boards and senior management.
- Aligned to plans for improved service, work with WSPs to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and innovation, drawing from good practice from the region including from DiP WASH awardees.
- Identify ways to increase sector efficiency and performance including through the clustering of per-urban services providers with the WSPs and through capacity building to support improvement plans.
- Increase data-driven decision-making, with the support of partner Solstice, by helping the WSPs to increase the generation, collection, use, and reporting of critical data.
- Contribute to the identification of strategic infrastructure improvements in collaboration with the Water Technical Advisor and Infrastructure Manager with an emphasis on the decrease of non-revenue water and increased access.
- Promote and advance gender mainstreaming and the integration of youth in order to increase meaningful employment opportunities, and to enable more inclusive and responsive service delivery.
- As appropriate, support WSPs to identify financing opportunities and develop project details and loan applications.
· Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, urban planning, water, hygiene, public policy, or related field. Master’s degree in agriculture is preferred.
· Minimum eight (8) years of professional work experience in urban water supply and infrastructure development, utility management, urban planning, local government capacity development, WASH analysis, water quality testing and monitoring, or related work. Experience working in a humanitarian context is preferred.
· Demonstrated ability to provide technical assistance and support to WSP stakeholders.
· Understanding of the Northern and/or Southeastern context,where activities are being conducted is required (Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, Turkana, Wajir, Kitui, Makueni, and Taita Taveta)
· A record of working on assignments that have delivered high quality reports to USAID and or other donors preferred.
· Strong oral and written communication, analytical, interpersonal, attention to detail, organizational, and team management skills required.
· Strong written and oral English skills.
