Governance/Urban Water Specialist at DAI Kenya - Development Alternatives, Inc.

Objectives of the Assignment

The Governance/Urban Water Specialist will support the development of the enabling environment for expanding water supply and sanitation services through capacity building of water institutions, county governments, and other local stakeholders and enhance their relations with all external stakeholders. He or she will engage with county governments to increase their ownership responsibility through policy and budgeting.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Introduce new approaches to support improvements in operational efficiency of WSPs including through network mapping, metering, customer identification, and development of Performance Improvement Plans to align with WASREB metrics.
• Work with county governments and utilities to develop disaster risk management (DRM) and water safety plans
• Enhance compliance of utilities with water quality key performance indicators
• Work with WASREB to build the capacity of the shareholders, boards of directors, and senior management of targeted water utilities
• Strengthen collaboration and coordination mechanisms for actors at the national and county levels. Familiarity with Government of Kenya structures and reporting systems will be desirable.
• Stimulate increased budgetary allocations by counties
• Undertake citizen engagement to enhance transparency and accountability
• Support county governments to develop/review and adopt relevant water laws, policies, and guidelines
• Support county governments to adopt the Water Governance Training Handbook for CECMs and county assemblies.
• Co-create with the regulator and targeted county governments an incentive-based regulation mechanism for water services.
• Other tasks as may be required by supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience

• 7+ years of experience working in water-related programs.
• Familiarity with county stakeholders in the water sector.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; Master’s degree in a related area preferred.
• Experience in working on urban water supply program implementation.
• Knowledge and experience working on Kenyan water supply issues including governance and inclusion.
• English language written and verbal fluency.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to summarize information in a clear and concise manner.
• Training skills to build the capacity of partner institutions such as subcontractor partners, government institutions, WSPs, etc.
• Ability to work independently to efficiently meet deadlines.
• Oral and written communication skills to effectively communicate with other staff, county government officials and the local communities.