Fair Water Futures Project Manager , Tanzania

Fair Water Futures is a flagship project by Water Witness International ( www.waterwitness.org) and represents a new approach to delivering poverty reduction, sustainable growth and climate resilience through improved water resource management. With support from DFID and a Global Poverty Action Fund (GPAF) Innovation Grant, the project will work to secure the long term water resource needs of vulnerable communities in East Africa and test new approaches to development assistance.

Working in partnership with the Tanzanian government and civil society organisations through Tanzania’s Water and Sanitation Network (TAWASANET), the African Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) and the Freshwater Action Network (FAN), this action research will support implementation of the Water Resource Management Act of 2009. The Act aims to ensure that water resources are well managed, that needs of all users are balanced, and the degradation and depletion of lakes, streams, rivers and groundwater prevented so that people, businesses and ecosystems across Tanzania have access to the good quality and reliable supply of water they need in order to thrive. With support from international development partners, the government’s Water Sector Development Programme has made good progress towards implementation. The Fair Water Futures project will work closely with the Ministry of Water and Basin Water Offices to build on these foundations over the next 3 years (2013 to 2016) to ensure that this progressive law is applied effectively and equitably, to bring sustainable benefits for all Tanzanians, particularly the poor, women and children and urban slum dwellers.

Given the reliance of poor communities in Tanzania on water resources for livelihoods, food security, health and economic development, and the threats posed by increasing competition and climate change, the work is an urgent national priority. The application of social accountability monitoring to drive water security and climate change resilience is globally innovative. Thus the project is high profile and potentially transformative - locally, regionally and globally. Between 2013 and 2016 the project will:

- Demonstrate the social and economic value of water resource management (WRM) through social audit and water security assessments in three of Tanzania’s most important river basins. 

- Develop popular versions of water law and policy, and media packages to help citizens understand their rights, their responsibilities and obligations relating to water. 

- Help communities, small farmers and businesses understand the value of water use permits, pollution control, Water User Associations, user fees and the role of Basin Water Offices. 

- Assist the poorest communities in Tanzania to obtain legal entitlements and statutory protection of the water resources they need to escape poverty. 

- Conduct a public expenditure tracking survey (PETS) to identify barriers and opportunities for pro-poor delivery in WRM. 

- Advocate constructively for WRM which benefits the poor and supports sustainable economic growth. 

- Evaluate, learn and share lessons internationally for how social accountability can activate better WRM and resilience to climate change. 

The work is complex and demands a collaborative, participatory and interdisciplinary approach under the operational leadership of an experienced and talented Project Manager. Based at a national headquarters with regular travel to remote sites, the Project Manager will work with communities, partner NGOs and government authorities in the Pangani, Rufiji and Wami-Ruvu basins.

JOB PURPOSE

Responsible for the successful leadership, management and implementation of the Fair Water Futures Project including day-to-day decision making, technical oversight, financial and technical reporting, coordination of project partners, line management of support staff, and liaison with stakeholders and beneficiaries.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

The Project Manager (PM) with guidance from the Project Director and Project Reference Group (key Tanzanian stakeholders and project partners) will have operational responsibility for leading, implementing and managing the Fair Water Futures project. The PM will ensure that the £250K DFID/GPAF funded project meets milestones and delivers outcomes of greater water security for poor communities in Tanzania. They will have primary responsibility for successful planning and delivery of scheduled project tasks within budget and on time, to include:

• Inception phase: Establishment of multi-stakeholder Project Reference Group; core team recruitment and training; participatory planning of work plans; M&E baselines; project webpages. 

• Water security situation analysis: desk study to inform field analysis in poorest districts in each basin; lead field work and participatory appraisal which will set out context, current performance of institutions and identify priorities for poverty reduction, economic growth and resilience. 

• Recruit and train a balanced (gender and livelihood type) group of basin cohorts and water security champions from amongst stakeholder communities to collaborate with the project. 

• Activate water rights, obligations and entitlements via basin cohorts through clear articulation of the benefits, process mapping and support, development of resource materials, guidance and training of trainers. 

• Track institutional responses, and provide draw down support and advice to project stakeholders. 

• Plan and facilitate the participatory review of barriers and opportunities to water security, institutional performance and develop an evidence base and materials for advocacy. 

• Plan and oversee delivery of advocacy strategy (including use of TV and radio) and project Monitoring & Evaluation. 

• Synthesise and report lessons and communicate key findings and transferable approaches to local, regional and international audiences. 

The PM will line manage project support staff comprising 3 part time core team members seconded from partner organisations, and a Finance Officer and Driver. They will have responsibility for coordinating and communicating with, and managing inputs from a large and dispersed set of project stakeholders ranging from community members to international technical experts and donors. They will be responsible for logistical planning, office management and administration of the project budget.

There is a strong requirement for the PM to engage with and build relationships with officials within government and to be able to communicate often complex technical or policy issues to diverse audiences through written reports and oral presentations.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

- Lead and manage the Fair Water Futures Project, core team and partners in accordance with the GPAF Grant Agreement and assume overall operational responsibility for delivery of the project. 

- Guide an appropriate technical approach to the project tasks to ensure that action research generates valid evidence and supports change. 

- Ensure the project is managed efficiently and that financial and progress reporting and M&E systems are developed and implemented to ensure timely and effective reporting to sponsors. 

- Coordinate and lead a large and diverse group of project stakeholders ensuring timely and appropriate communications, and constructive relationships based on trust and shared objectives. 

- Act as the main point of contact for the Fair Water Futures Project in Tanzania, speaking on Water Witness behalf to broadcast project successes and generate future support and funding. 

- Assume responsibility for project assets (vehicle and hydrometric equipment) and budget spend. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The successful candidate should be able to show evidence of the following specific attributes:

Essential

• A relevant degree in an appropriate discipline. 

• At least 5 years of practical experience working on social development, environment or water related issues in a developing country (preferably East Africa). 

• Technical and policy literacy in water resource and/or environmental management. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills - leadership, diplomacy and tact are essential. 

• Demonstrable experience of delivering positive change through working with poor communities in developing countries. 

• Strong facilitation, participatory analysis and planning, and meeting management skills. 

• An ability to make good decisions independently and under pressure. 

• Strong organisational skills and an ability to meet deadlines and manage high workloads. 

• First rate communication and reporting skills – in written and verbal English. 

• A flexible, ‘go getting’ and pro-active approach to work, and commitment to team work. 

• Willing to be based in Tanzania and work in difficult conditions in remote areas, and outside usual office hours on a regular basis. 

• Ability to develop and maintain reporting and project management systems including Healthy and Safety. 

• Full driving licence. 

Desirable

• Fluency in Swahili. 

• A proven track record in managing staff, budgets and complex multi-stakeholder projects. 

• Experience of working in Tanzania, and/or on research and advocacy initiatives. 

• Knowledge of the Water Resources Management Act 2009. 

• A further degree in a related subject. 

• Experience of managing grant funded projects. 

• An appreciation of and affinity with WWIs objectives. 

All WWI employees are expected to demonstrate the following key behaviours:

- A commitment to achieving results through proactively exploring what should be done to promote equity, sustainable development and to improve the lives of poor people. 

- High levels and unstinting respect and courtesy for all genders, cultures, faiths, social backgrounds and for sufferers of HIV/AIDS, and a commitment to protecting children and vulnerable people. 

- Integrity, honesty and compliance with our ethics policy. 

- Impeccable levels of professionalism, technical rigour, reliability and attention to detail. 

- Constructive, positive and optimistic engagement to turn problems to solutions, challenges to opportunities, and to help people and partners achieve mutual goals. 

We particularly invite women to apply for this position.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WWI is keen to attract the best candidate for this key position and can offer a regionally competitive salary (range available on request). The role would suit an African or International development professional, researcher or post-graduate with relevant experience looking to accelerate their career development through leading this exciting, challenging and globally innovative work.

The successful applicant will be based in Dar es Salaam or Morogoro, on an initial 3 month contract to be extended on successful completion of this probationary phase.

Expected start date no later than 29th April 2013.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Interested and suitably qualified candidates should send the following attachments in an email with ‘FWF APPLICATION’ as the subject heading to  nickhepworth@waterwitness.org before 10 am GMT on the closing date of Friday 1st March 2013:

1. A covering letter explaining why they are interested in undertaking this work and how they meet the person specification using clear examples from their previous experience. 

2. A current CV with email addresses and telephone numbers of two referees. 

3. A written response in the form of a short essay to the question: What are the linkages between water resource management and poverty? The response should be no longer than 4 sides of A4, should be the applicant’s original work, referenced using the Harvard system and should demonstrate technical understanding, and ability to organise and communicate complex issues clearly and concisely. 

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed the week commencing 11th March in London or Tanzania. With regrets, unsuccessful applications not shortlisted will not be contacted.