Executive Secretary

Job Description

Organization:

African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW)

Title:

Executive Secretary

Job Function:

The Executive Secretary will be based at the Secretariat of AMCOW in Abuja, Nigeria. The successful candidate, working with a broad range of stakeholders, is expected to be a political mobilizer, an inspirational leader and a manager and must possess the drive, integrity, credibility and strategic mindset to be successful in a complex and dynamic environment. The candidate will be expected to enhance AMCOW’s position as the African Water and Sanitation sector leader, convener and agenda setting organization.

Classification:

Grade: D1 or D2

Date:26^th April, 2021

About AMCOW

AMCOW is an inter-governmental, Pan-African, non-budgetary institution. AMCOW is a Delivery Mechanism on Water and Sanitation for the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) of the African Union (AU).

AMCOW’s mission is to promote cooperation, security, social and economic development, and poverty alleviation among member states through the effective management of the continent’s water resources and the provision of water supply and sanitation services and mandated to provide political leadership in the implementation of the African Water Vision 2025 and water components of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. For more information, refer to: https://www.amcow-online.org/.

Duties and Responsibilities:

AMCOW is the highest water and sanitation policy-making body in the continent. The Executive Secretary shall serve as the Secretary to this body and shall be required to liaise with all Ministers of Water and Sanitation in the continent in addition to liaising with other critical stakeholders in the discharge of his/her duties.

The Executive Secretary, in his/her role at the top management position reporting to the Governing Council, will seek to ensure the effective linkage between AMCOW’s strategic directions and its operations.

In that regard, specific areas of accountability are listed as follows, and detailed below:

· Strategic direction and external relations

· Programmatic Implementation and Operational Leadership:

· Institutional capacity strengthening

· Supporting Governing Council for enhanced governance

1. Strategic Direction and External Relations:

• Work closely with the Governing Council, provide leadership in developing the Mission and strategic direction for the organisation.
• Articulate and secure buy-in of AMCOW’s vision, mission, and strategic directions across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead the development of innovative approaches to leveraging the AMCOW brand within the African stakeholder landscape to generate resources.
• Engender credibility and legitimacy as the chief spokesperson for the organisation on all issues.
• Provide leadership in developing long term strategies and shorter term strategic operational plans that are aligned with continental and global agendas for the water and sanitation sector.

2. Programmatic Implementation and Operational Leadership:

• Lead the implementation of the organisation’s strategy: effective translation of the organisation’s strategic priorities into annual work programs that are appropriately aligned with the resource envelope and developing strategies for any needed adjustments.
• As chief executive, direct and provide guidance on the organisation’s day to day operations.
• Oversee implementation of AMCOW’s risk management strategy, ensuring that institutional, programmatic, and operational risks, including business continuity risk, are identified, managed, and mitigated.
• Set the organisation’s ethical tone and institutional commitment to zero tolerance for corruption, financial mismanagement, and other forms of misconduct.
• Lead and demonstrate the organisation’s commitment to inclusiveness and tolerance in its vision, program implementation, and institutional operations.
• Promote and actively facilitate a conducive working environment for staff and AMCOW stakeholders.
• Lead the development and implementation of the organisation’s resource mobilization and financial sustainability strategies.

3. Institutional Capacity Strengthening:

• Ensure that the organisation’s capacities are adequately designed, resourced, and effectively performing to deliver both corporate and program outcomes.
• Ensure that the organisation has efficient systems for implementing and monitoring its project portfolio.
• Promote the mainstreaming of gender in both programs and operations.
• Ensure that the Organisation has the right talent in terms of competence and other attributes both for current and emerging needs, strive to retain them through development and implementing staff motivating policies.
• Champion an organisational culture that is aligned with AMCOW’s Values and strategic direction.

4. Support the Governing Council for Enhanced Governance:

• Ensure appropriate management support to the Governing Council for effective discharge of its oversight responsibilities.
• Provide leadership in the implementation of Governing Council decisions.
• Regularly appraise the Governing Council of the Organisation’s risk management efforts, including strategic and operational risks.

Direct report

The Executive Secretary reports to the AMCOW President who chairs the Executive Committee (EXCO) and the General Assembly (GA)

Qualifications and Experience:

· The candidate will possess an advanced degree (PhD or Masters) in one or more of the following areas: Natural resources management, Environmental Sciences, Public Administration, Water Resources Engineering/Management, Law, Development, Economics, Social Sciences and/ or equivalent discipline.

· Not less than 10 years of appropriate experience at top management level specializing in design and development of policies and strategies; and management preferably of an international organisation.

· Substantial experience with international, regional, and national policy processes related to water resources management, sanitation, and environment.

· Demonstrated in-depth understanding of issues around African water and sanitation.

· Demonstrated experience working on topical development issues across Africa, and an active network of partnerships and collaboration with the African water and sanitation sectors.

· Strong track record in resource mobilization for development, and excellent understanding of the typology of the Resource Mobilization landscape (development partners, philanthropy, the private sector, and the various stakeholders in Africa).

AMCOW’s policy on equal opportunity includes the following: We recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other protected status.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit their resume by email to the address below with a motivation letter stating why they are suitable for the position along with certified copies of degrees, diplomas, and certificates not later than 26^th May 2021. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

The Chair

Appointment, Promotion and Recruitment Committee (APRC)

African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW)

No. 11, T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro District

Abuja, Nigeria.

Email: info@amcow-online.org

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

· High-level advocacy and strong negotiation skills.

· Excellent political and diplomatic skills and judgement.

· Superior communications skills to persuade, inspire, and mobilize all stakeholders around AMCOW’s vision and mission.

· Demonstrated leadership in identifying organizational challenges and the ability to act as a change agent to address them.

· The candidate must have substantive, relevant, and direct hands-on experience working in Africa.

Language Requirements:

· Fluent and superior mastery of English is essential and French desirable both through education and work experience in a business context.

· Portuguese and/or Arabic languages would be an asset.

Age Requirement:

Candidate shall not be more than 55 years.

Tenure of Appointment:

The appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of four (4) years of which the first 6 months will be considered as probationary period. The contract is renewable once subject to satisfactory performance.

Remuneration:

A competitive package by continental standards and in line with AMCOW staff conditions of service.

Citizenship Requirements

Only citizens of the African Union Member States are eligible to apply.

About the Organization

AMCOW is an inter-governmental, Pan-African, non-budgetary institution. AMCOW is a Delivery Mechanism on Water and Sanitation for the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) of the African Union (AU).

AMCOW’s mission is to promote cooperation, security, social and economic development, and poverty alleviation among member states through the effective management of the continent’s water resources and the provision of water supply and sanitation services and mandated to provide political leadership in the implementation of the African Water Vision 2025 and water components of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. For more information, refer to: https://www.amcow-online.org/.