WaterAid is an international non-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people break free from poverty and disease, unlock their potential and change their lives for good through improved access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid started its operation in Nigeria in 1995. Since then it has successfully executed several intervention programmes as outlined by its objectives and has made impact in the lives of the very poor. WaterAid with the country office in Abuja currently works in Bauchi, Enugu and Plateau States with funding from various donors and partners.
We are
recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: State
Programme Lead
Location: Bauchi
Employment Type: Full-time
Job
Purpose
- To successfully
coordinate the implementation of WaterAid’s country strategic initiatives
at the State level by ensuring that all country thematic activities are
properly included in realistic and achievable annual State Programme Plans
and delivered through appropriate projects.
- This role will be
accountable for conceptualizing programmes/projects, planning the
effective delivery of programmatic outcomes that align with these plans in
line with WaterAid programmatic principles and approaches, building
and nurturing effective collaborations and partnerships with stakeholders
(including implementing partners) for the delivery of WaterAid programmes
/projects and an improved WASH outcome in the designated WaterAid state
programme.
Accountabilities
Programme design and management:
- Initiate project
ideas, develop proposals, implement, and manage grant project activities
(including budgets) for State Programmes in line with WaterAid’s strategic
direction; monitor and evaluate the progress of programmes /project under
the purview in line with WaterAid’s PMER standards and guidelines.
- Take leadership
for all state-level reporting to WaterAid and grant funders on programme
activities in the state; Ensure information on ongoing programmes in the
state are kept up to date on the Project centre platform.
- Work with
multiple stakeholders across the Local Government Areas in the state to
influence the implementation of a district-wide approach to WASH services
- Design plans for
WaterAid’s activities in the state with inputs from partners (local and
state government, as well as civil society partners) in such a manner that
achieves WaterAid’s programmatic goals and objectives in the state.
- Identify,
develop, and maintain constructive and cooperative working relationships
with partners, state officials and sector stakeholders; act as a worthy
and credible WaterAid representative in the State.
- Proactively
engage in sector support initiatives and participate in sector
coordination meetings at state level.
- Mobilise,
encourage, motivate, support and empower key state stakeholders to take
ownership of WASH issues within their jurisdiction.
- Identify relevant
state sector institutions and assess their capacity to deliver services in
an accountable, transparent and inclusive manner that will feed into the
development of the WASH sector at the state level.
- Actively oversee
work in project communities and by partners, including those in remote,
rural villages; support establishment, capacity building and growth of
community management structures and conduct ongoing monitoring of project
activities.
- Identify
community-based structures and networks and support their evolution to
active community voices.
- Work
collaboratively with Country Programme and WaterAid West Africa regional
colleagues to develop and implement sector support/strengthening plans
that reflect the context of the state.
- Promote and
ensure the mainstreaming of WaterAid programme principles, including
equity & inclusion, in all WaterAid’s programme in the State
- Exercise
accountability for management of the financial budget and resources at the
state office; ensure timely and accurate budgets and financial reports are
generated and submitted to WaterAid Nigeria Country office to facilitate
reimbursements of expenses incurred on overhead and programmatic
activities.
- Proactively
contribute to knowledge management by capturing lessons learned from the
States and disseminating these to Country Office staff using the
information to lead state-level thinking and action towards WaterAid
vision of everyone, everywhere by 2030.
- Ensure an
integrated, coherent, and cross-aligned implementation of different
WaterAid programmatic activities in the state.
- Support the
Co-ordinator Service Delivery & Partnerships and partners (where
applicable) in the selection, contracting and monitoring of external
consultants.
- Develop case
studies and success stories to demonstrate the impact of WaterAid’s work,
enhance the visibility of WANG programmes and use them as fundraising
materials.
Programme
development and fundraising:
- Ensure robust
analysis of the perceived and actual needs of state context, communities
and partners is reflected in design and implementation of WaterAid
programme/projects in the state.
- Work
collaboratively with PM & Evaluation teams to establish and maintain
effective programme/project monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems
and processes for both internal and external use.
- Use knowledge of
state context to initiate project concepts/ proposals that respond to WASH
issues in the state; Work in active collaboration with fundraising team to
market grant programmes/project funding opportunities for state
programme/projects to potential funders.
- Participate in
grant proposal development/proposal writing to pursue fundraising
opportunities targeting the state programme.
Partnership
management:
- Scoping new
partner institutions/organisation in the state with potential for building
effective collaboration to achieve WaterAid goals; work in collaboration
with relevant teams to conduct relevant pre-agreement assessments and due
diligence checks
- Create and
cultivate an open, engaging and empowering relationship that supports
partners to progressively exercise greater initiative, fully participate
and over time, take ownership of programme/projects decisions for
sustainability; respond to requests from partners, working with colleagues
to provide support to partners in achieving the State Programmes plans.
- Advise partners
on setting performance standards, working with colleagues to monitor the
performance of partners.
- In line with
WaterAid processes, effectively manage partnership relationships from
start-up to exit stage
- Conduct routine
reviews of WaterAid partnerships, putting in place recommendations that
arise from such reviews.
- Support the
design and implementation of annual capacity building plans for partners.
Promote a positive working environment that empowers partners to deliver high quality programmes.
Leadership
and management:
- Lead the
development of activity-based budgets for state program activities across
thematic areas; Accountable for managing budgets aligning the budget with
activities and monitoring to ensure budget performance of multiple
partners is according to plan; ensuring good quality financial reports of
programmes & from partners in the state are submitted on time.
Resolving any inaccuracies promptly. Work collaboratively with FIT to
ensure timely disbursement of funds required by partners.
- Directly
supervise state programmes team to deliver high performance; Provide
guidance and direction to a multi-functional team, including setting
performance objectives and monitoring performance of the members of the
state team.
- Coach &
mentor team members to enable effective delivery of targets
and prioritise achievement of the learning & development
priorities of the team.
Person
Specification
Essential criteria:
- Master’s Degree
in the Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Development,
Public Health or other relevant field.
- At least 5 years’
experience working in a role with direct focus on development, poverty
reduction and WASH
- Proven ability to
influence key state stakeholders and create change. Including an
understanding of advocacy tools and approaches
- Strong
interpersonal skills, ability to build and maintain good working
relationships with a variety of colleagues and stakeholders.
- Experience
managing similar-sized grant-funded programmes/projects funded by
international donors in a developing country context.
- Experience
working with partners implementing a grant-funded project.
- Strong
programme/project management skills, including the ability to ability to
initiate, plan, manage and monitor programmes & projects; technical
ability to develop programme plans/design log frames etc
- Experience of
managing multiple project stakeholders including community-level
stakeholders; donors; government officials etc
- Experience of
project documentation for use in influencing; writing case studies and
success stories
- Familiarity with
and experience using participatory tools, methods and approaches in
project management
- Excellent oral
and written communication skills, including strong presentation
skills
- Strong analytical
skills
- Strong written
communication skills, including experience in writing project narrative
reports
- Good planning
& organisational skills. Able to manage own time, as well as plan and
prioritise own and others wor
- Above-average
competence in the use of IT tools. Proficiency in the use of Microsoft
suite of computer applications, Excel, PowerPoint etc.
- Experience in
budget and financial management
- Experience of
leading, managing and motivating others and driving change
- Commitment to
WaterAid’s values and a working style that reflects these.
Personal
Skills:
- Graduate degree
in Development Studies/Management or other related field
- Experience in
effective management & monitoring of partners in the WASH sector
- Experience in
community mobilisation and project management
- Experience of
managing or supervising a multi-functional team
- Strong
facilitation skills
- Knowledge of
adult learning approaches
- Knowledge of
behaviour change models and approaches
Application
Closing Date
21st February, 2024.
Method
of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online