Programme Management Advisor (Homebased Retainer)

Background Information – The Technical Services Unit

The Technical Services Unit (TSU) engages in multidisciplinary infrastructure design and design review, assessments and advisory work for related UNOPS projects.  The team currently comprises approximately 18 permanent and 60+ retainer (consultant) personnel including built environment professionals, environmental, social, monitoring and evaluation and niche technical experts. 

Current / recent projects are based in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Eastern Europe.  These projects comprise a range of types of infrastructure and environmental and social projects.

The TSU, based in Nairobi, is a business unit for the Multi-Country office and comes under the direction of the Director for East and Southern Africa office (ESAMCO).  It has recently been tasked with securing retainer (consultant) personnel to support the important work of the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF).

Role of the Programme Management Advisor, Public Sector

The role will support SHF’s thought leadership and provide strategic advice on policy, regulation, governance, rights, and accountability within the Sanitation and Menstrual Health sector, with a particular emphasis on the integration and adoption of Market-Based Approaches and the enabling environment needed to ensure market readiness. 

The Programme Management Advisor will support coordination, donor engagement, and policy feedback loops between national, and sub-national entities. They will work with other technical leads to promote the definition/creation of an enabling environment (Policy, institutional, Regulatory, Economic, etc.) to support the operationalization and key reforms related to the implementation of the investment case and financing.

The role will support the review and assessment of the policy-enabling environment as it relates to sustainable infrastructure development, and financing for water infrastructure assets as expressed in the Kenya National Water and Sanitation Investment and Financing Plan (NAWASIP 2022- 2030) and the delivery and maintenance of these assets.  

The incumbent may support other countries, and will be required to undertake regional travel  to undertake assignments as and when needed.

The Programme Management Advisor will work based on detailed work packages, scope, phases, and milestones that will be discussed and agreed upon with the Hiring Manager, Resource Mobilization team, and technical specialists in the sanitation economy and menstrual health and hygiene market:

• Review the water governance and policy-enabling environment In Kenya - working closely with lead Ministries, Government institutions and Key stakeholders, the Programme Management Advisor will review the water governance and policy-enabling environment for Water and Sanitation, including the aspect of sustainable infrastructure and maintenance as well as financing for water infrastructure assets, identify areas of improvement and prepare a methodology statement on required reforms to strengthen the enabling environment for water governance.

• Development of Policy briefs - working closely with lead Ministries, Government institutions, and Key stakeholders, the Programme Management Advisor will develop key Policy Briefs to operationalize investment plans at national and subnational levels, this will include;  (i) cost of inaction, (ii) Abridged Investment Case aligned with National Water and Sanitation Investment and Financing Plans (where available), (iii) recommended bespoke key reforms relevant at national and/or subnational levels.

• Develop County-specific enabling environment action plans  - Develop action plans/roadmaps laying out critical actions related to areas of governance, Government coordination and leadership, regulation, financing/budgeting, and policy and practice for a thriving enabling environment at the subnational level. 

• Provide technical expertise related to the analysis of the design, implementation, and effectiveness of institutional strengthening (including Government institutional strengthening).

• Review and recommend actions for integration of Resilient WASH infrastructure components, Health and Sanitation nexus, etc. in the draft investment cases/financing strategies at the national and county levels. Additionally, ensure integration of sanitation, wastewater, hygiene, Menstrual Health, and Hygiene (MHH)  issues within Subnational Development Plans

• Lead stakeholders convening - lead in the preparations, planning, and strategic conceptualization of all for a of investors, Government institutions, Development partners, private sector, etc.

The Programme Management Advisor may be required to support other countries, and undertake regional travel.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent proficiency) in law, political science, public administration, governance or any other related field is required.

• A Bachelor’s degree in any of the above-mentioned fields or related in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree.

• Minimum of 7 years of work experience experience in implementation, management, and evaluation of governance activities related to institutional strengthening, review, development and implementation of policy in the WASH sector and other related sectors is required.

• Experience working with various levels of government from national, county sub-county levels is required.

• Excellent and demonstrable report-writing skills are required.

• Experience in either the sanitation value chain or women’s health, notably reproductive health, including menstrual health concepts is desirable.

• Knowledge of local Small and Medium Enterprises environment and financial actors is desirable.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Retainer - Homebased
Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement, IICA3 (ICS-11)
Contract duration: 12 Months

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• This is a homebased position, where the incumbent may support other countries, and will be required to undertake regional travel to undertake assignments as and when needed.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

• It may be the responsibility of the selected candidate to make arrangements, to a standard deemed acceptable by UNOPS, for a secure internet connection, laptop and or equipment necessary for work(as defined by UNOPS).