Project Finance Advisor

In addition, the Project Finance Advisor may be required to contribute expert input, as part of a conceptualization team, to development of the Framework for management of urban utilities in Sudan

The Project Finance Advisor will support capacity building on the project through

• Collaborating with the team to strengthen the capacity building approach and tools, including developing and adapting tools.

• Support, through mentorship and targeted ad-hoc training, the development of capacity in the UNOPS field team to implement their capacity building and planning roles in the project to ensure that mini reform projects are implemented, and results are achieved.

• Support the conceptualization of the “introduction to risk management” training and workshops.

The project envisages strengthening the financial management capacity of UWAs in five specific areas

• Updating the customer database, including updating software aspects and adding a mapping component

• Strengthening invoicing, collections and revenue collection tracking

• Improving budget structure and comprehensiveness and linking budgeting to delivery, as well as training on budgeting

• Training on, and development of, a tariff model

• Mapping unaccounted for and non-revenue water.

The project also envisages introducing cost benchmarking and management concepts and tools, as well as introducing asset management, depreciation, replacement and valuation concepts, but it is unlikely that any reform will be achieved in this area during the project period.

Further, the UWAs wish to improve their accounting by introducing double-entry book-keeping systems and computerization of accounting systems.

A local financial expert and a database expert will be appointed to support the financial improvement locally and to implement the financial improvement project on the ground. The Project Finance Advisor - Retainer under this assignment will design the process for strengthening the financial capacity, develop the technical instruments and training materials and manage the local experts. Workshops and training sessions will be led by the project manager with the support of the local experts.

1.3    Capacity building for monitoring and reporting

The project is in the process of identifying KPIs for use by the UWAs, building on 10 KPIs previously used and on the reform project objectives identified during the problem analysis phase. The local M&E expert and the project manager will undertake the local advocacy and training on the monitoring and reporting capacity building. The local M&E expert will be responsible for developing the report templates, indicator definitions and methodologies, and for running training workshops on these.

The Project Finance Advisor under this assignment will provide advisory and mentoring support on indicators, collaborating with the local M&E expert and the project manager to develop a menu of indicators, definitions and measurement methods for the ten key performance areas for utilities.

Contribute expert input, as part of a conceptualization team, to development of the Framework for management of urban utilities in Sudan. This will involve participating in a brainstorming and project design discussion, and commenting on the conceptual research, analysis and conceptual framework, with specific contribution on indicators and financial strategies for utilities. It will also involve providing input on the knowledge management and dissemination project, which covers the KM centre, website and Communities of Practice.

Deliverables:

The Project Finance Advisor will deliver:

• a short monthly report on progress on agreed activities

• other outputs, including project plans, training materials, workshop methodologies, as agreed from time to time.

• Report on RSWC finance and commercial functions, their reform and training needs along with proposed actions.

• RSWC Financial Management and Procurement Manual

• Standard financial reporting templates

• Cost recovery plan

• Advanced university degree in water-related engineering, institutional development, financial management, business management or other fields.

• A first university degree (A Bachelor in one of the above mentioned fields) combined with 2 additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master degree.

• Seven years (or more depending on academic credentials) relevant professional experience in public sector institutional capacity development, management systems, public sector financial management, capacity building, water utility management or other areas related to this assignment is required.

• Experience in capacity building of individuals and/or institutions is an asset.

• Experience in report preparation is required.

• Knowledge and/or experience of the water and general development environment of Sudan would be an advantage.

• Experience in implementation of projects in post-conflict environments would be an asset.

• Training or experience in social science areas would be an asset.

• Experience in team management would be an advantage.

• Full working knowledge of the English language is required. Knowledge of Arabic language will be an asset.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (I-ICA)
Contract level: I-ICA 3
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

* If the selected candidate is a national of Sudan, s/he will be offered the local equivalent of the contract.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Sudan

The FCDO Urban Water for Sudan (UW4S) programme is working to improve the health and nutrition, as well as to reduce the economic burden, for traditional residents as well as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in five state capitals in Sudan, including Port Sudan. 

The UW4S project seeks to improve the equity of water supply and complementary sanitation and hygiene behaviour change in a sustainable manner.  It focuses on holistic planning, provides basic infrastructure and helps state authorities build their ability to sustainably manage, operate and maintain their water services, with improved engagement with citizens. 

Under the first phase of the FCDO project, information of the Port Sudan water supply situation was gathered and analysed as inputs to the Strategic Investment Plan (SIP). The study resulted in the SIP and planning documents for 14 work packages under three stages; emergency rehabilitation and TA, priority rehabilitation and long term interventions.

Urban water for Port Sudan project

The project is based on the priorities identified in the SIP, specifically, SIP work packages 1 to 4 (emergency works and Phase 2 technical assistance). This project covers components of the Stage 1 Emergency works and part of the Stage 2 Priority works capacity building and technical assistance package. The project’s scope of work is aligned with the available DFID budget and takes account of work being funded from other sources or implemented by others such as the AfDB.

The FCDO UW4S programme- Port Sudan component objective is to support sustainable water provision in Part Sudan through strengthening the capacity of the Red Sea Water Corporation.