County Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Officer

  • Contractor
  • Samburu, Kenya
  • TBD USD / Year
  • Mercy Corps profile




  • Job applications may no longer being accepted for this opportunity.


Mercy Corps

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Program / Department Summary

With funding from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Mercy Corps’ Nawiri Program is leading a consortium of Kenyan and international partners on a five- year journey to sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition in Turkana and Samburu Counties of Kenya. Through a phased approach that emphasizes evidence gap analysis, as well as partnership, learning, and co-creation, the program takes a robust county-centered design with government leadership, active engagement from communities, the private sector, and civil society. Mercy Corps’ consortium brings together the global leadership, research capacity, technical expertise, and implementation experience necessary to partner with local institutions to test, adapt, and scale evidence-based solutions. Together we will sustainably reduce persistent acute malnutrition for vulnerable populations in Turkana and Samburu counties.

General Position/department Summary

The County Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Officer will provide program implementation support to county and Nawiri’s efforts in creating a stable and nutrition enabling environment, through improving institution coordination, community level watershed planning and water resources management strategies. He/she will collaborate with county government, consortium partners, local CSOs and community to deliver effective, participatory activities and efficient processes to address water resources risks, including long-term water stresses that constrain social and economic development with a view of building ecosystems resilience. He/she will provide a collaborative planning with county, Water Resources Authority (WRA), communities and other stakeholders to develop and implement Multiple-Use Water Systems (MUS) and interventions to augment local sources of supply through intervention such as climate proof water harvesting technologies and managed aquifer recharge whilst strengthening existing community-based water tenure arrangements to ensure interventions are woven into the fabric of local institutional arrangements for managing water resources.

Essential Responsibilities

PROGRAM PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

· In a joint-planning and agreed upon targeted approach with Samburu County, communities and other stakeholders, identify suitable approaches and locations for implementation of integrated water resources management initiatives and approval of the same;

· Develop detail implementation plan aligned with USAID Nawiri’s overall Water Resources management strategy, works schedule and ensure tracking of the same for timely projects delivery;

· Collaborate with county and other stakeholders to enhance resilience of the green and blue water economy and overall water sector by ensuring access to and efficient use of water for agriculture, domestic, livestock, and other productive uses;

· Foster cross-sectoral policy approach in undertaking IWRM initiatives and the understanding that water resource is an integral component of the ecosystem, a natural resource, a social and economic good to enhance enabling environment for reduction in persistent acute malnutrition (PAM);

· Support Nawiri efforts in development and implementation of multiple-use/purpose water systems (MUS), ensuring collaboration and incorporation with other Nawiri sub-sectors – domestic water supply, agriculture, livestock, private sector and climate smart for inclusive implementation approaches;

COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

§ Work collaboratively with all key stakeholders to develop and maintain good relationships, explaining USAID Nawiri roles when in liaising with County and communities during all phases of the program implementation;

§ Work collaboratively with all USAID Nawiri overlapping and cross-cutting thematic areas such resilience, SSBC, Gender, Youth and Social Dynamics (GYSD), institution and systems strengthening, environmental safeguards, Learning, Research, WASH, monitoring and evaluation among others, to ensure coherence and integrated contribution to USAID Nawiri program purpose areas;

§ Ensure coordination and linkages between relevant county sector areas for multi-sectoral approach to natural resources management;

INFLUENCE AND REPRESENTATION

  • Assist Field Director to coordinate activities with consortium partners, sub grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs;
  • Support the facilitation of planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise plans and promote partner acceptance/buy-in;

  • Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as local government departments, NGO’s and local authorities, as appropriate and advised by the line manager;

  • Represent Nawiri in relevant events at county level in close coordination with Nawiri Field Director, County WASH Engineer, Water Systems Advisor and Nawiri management team;

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: USAID Nawiri’s Water Systems Advisor on technical oversight and with dotted line to Field Director on administrative and coordination oversight.

Works Directly With: Technical leads/advisors, Senior Environmental Safeguards Officer, learning and monitoring team, Field Director and team, consortium partners’ staff, M&E Coordinator, field level finance and operations teams.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

  • A BSc degree in water resources management, climate change, Integrated Natural Resources Management, Environmental Sciences, Forestry, Agro-Forestry or other related fields from recognized University or Institution;

· At least three years of progressively working in IWRM or disaster risk reduction management, climate change mitigation and adaption, environment and natural resources management with International NGOs or local government;

· Previous experience in working with WRA and WRUAs in water resources conservation measures and planning desirable;

· Extensive knowledge of community participatory approaches, disaster risk reduction, recharge, re-use and retention (3R) concept desirable;

· Broad knowledge of supporting an integrated and comprehensive approach to biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, or climate change in addressing nutritional challenges;

· Knowledge of the concepts, principles, techniques and practices of IWRM, environment and/or climate change;

· Broad knowledge and understanding of emerging sustainable and appropriate IWRM technologies;

  • Previous experience working on USAID grants is desirable;
  • Excellent and persuasive oral and written communication skills, including report writing;
  • Previous working experience in Arid and Semi-arid Land (ASAL) counties is desirable;
  • Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members;

Success Factors

S/he will combine exceptional proactive aptitude in terms of planning and coordination with different stakeholders, teams, county institutions while maintaining cordial and diplomatic relationships with different stakeholders at county, sub-county and community levels. The post requires a target oriented and problem solving aptitude with ability to multi-task, prioritizing activities and simultaneously having an attention to detail with a strategic broad vision.

How to apply

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications should be submitted on or before 6th April, 2022 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Local candidates in Samburu are highly encouraged to apply.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Mercy Corps does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.

For the detailed Position Description and application procedure, please visit the following link:

https://bit.ly/37Jz3x3

 


Job Alerts

Subscribe to get the latest  vacancies

[wpforms id=”3416″]


Job Notifications
Subscribe to receive notifications for the latest job vacancies.