International Expert to Conduct Mid-Term Review for the SDC National Water Resources Management Project (NWRM) in Tajikistan

Job Description

Helvetas Intercooperation is an international development organization anchored in Switzerland. With head offices in Switzerland, Germany and the USA, Helvetas Intercooperation is working in 34 countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. Our vision is a just world in which all men and women determine the course of their lives in dignity and security, using environmental resources in a sustainable manner. We bring about real change in the lives of over three million disadvantaged people every year worldwide. In Tajikistan we implement development projects in the area of Water and Sanitation, Irrigation, Agriculture & Nutrition, Economic development, Democracy & Peace, and Climate & Environment. Helvetas also provides emergency response after disasters.

The consortium of HELVETAS (HSI) and ACTED in partnership with Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan (SDC) is implementing a National Water Resources Management Project in Tajikistan (NWRM). The key idea of the project is to improve the livelihoods of rural population in the Tajik Syr Darya Basin Zone (TSDBZ) through integrated water resources management, at the same time assisting the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MEWR) in implementing the Water Sector Reform in Tajikistan. The project is implemented across all levels of the water sector in Tajikistan, starting with the nationwide formulation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles, followed by the integration of policy and legal frameworks at both the basin and sub-basin levels. Furthermore, the project supports the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure, and it establishes an enabling environment for local farmers to adopt water-saving technologies (WST) and acquire climate change adaptation skills.

We are looking for a: International Expert to Conduct Mid-Term Review for the SDC National Water Resources Management Project (NWRM) in Tajikistan

TYPE OF ASSIGNMENT: Short-term consultancy

DURATION OF CONTRACT: Up to 30 working days (maximum)

STARTING DATE: March 3, 2025

This consultancy position is up to thirty (30) working days, including the days spent for a mission in Tajikistan. It is recommended that the assignment is conducted through a team of an international leading expert and a local water resources management expert. However, the bidder retains full discretion in deciding the composition of a team. The detailed TOR may be obtained by writing to Helvetas Tajikistan at tender.taiikistan@helvetas.org and/or Projects.TJK@helvetas.org.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s or higher degree in water/natural resources management, environment management and policy, or any other related field
• At least ten years of professional experience in water sector/environment, at least in one of the Central Asian countries, preferably in Tajikistan
• Experience in river basin management planning, implementation and application of IWRM tools for water sector reforms, as well as the transboundary cooperation, would be an asset
• Experience in applying project evolution tools would be a good asset
• Excellent knowledge of English and good command of Russian is essential both for a leading international, as well a local (if any) expert; knowledge of Tajik would be an additional asset

HOW TO APPLY

We look forward to receiving a complete application package, including motivation letter with proposed daily fee, and CV with information on your relevant experience by February 7th, 2025. Applications shall be submitted to the following emails: tender.tajikistan@helvetas.org; Projects.TJK@helvetas.org. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

About the Organization

Helvetas, Swiss Association for International Cooperation, founded 1955 as Switzerland’s first private organization for development cooperation, is registered as a denominationally and politically independent, non profit oriented, specialised development association. Helvetas is primarily committed to working towards the elimination of the causes of poverty and marginalization in the South and the East. Its mission is to actively contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of economically, socially and politically disadvantaged people within the frame of the Human Rights, with a focus on self-initiative activities and self-help in rural areas. Together with some 44’000 members and their local groups, Helvetas is as well actively engaged in Switzerland with respect to solidarity in development, to promoting fair trade, and raising public awareness of the cultural wealth of development and transition countries. In its international programme, Helvetas concentrates its actions in four working areas: 1. Infrastructure in Rural Areas including initiatives regarding water and sanitation, access and mobilization, livelihood, rehabilitation and construction of basic infrastructure, 2. Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, also comprising projects in the fields of climate, disaster risk mitigation and sustainable livelihood management, 3. Education and Culture, including a number of successful initiatives in Vocational Education and Training (VET), support to and lobbying for reforms in the VET System, improvement of teaching and learning environments, modernization of curriculum, assessment and development of learning materials, human resource development, development of alternative financing approaches, awareness-building and income generation through artistic forms of expression, promotion of cultural exchange and diversity of cultural expressions. 4. Civil Society and the State, which integrates projects supporting good governance, decentralisation and civil peace building/conflict sensitivity. Helvetas’ development initiatives are guided by five approaches: striving for equality between men and women (gender), learning through dialogue between different cultures, protecting the environment, acting with economic and social responsibility and conflict prevention. Helvetas is not only oriented towards material needs, such as procuring food and improved living conditions, but also towards aims regarding social, cultural, and spiritual aspects. These include the overcoming of paralysing dependence, reduction of inequality between the sexes, ethnicity, castes, building up of self-confidence or the strengthening of responsibility towards other human beings and the environment. Helvetas acts on the basis of human rights and makes every effort that these are also respected by its partner organizations. Also important are the promotion of democratic, decentralised structures, opportunities for participation, and joint responsibility as citizens. For its international programmes, Helvetas’ mission is: - to cooperate on a partnership basis with and in favour of the poor and disadvantaged population groups in the poorer regions of development and transition countries - to share knowledge and experiences between Switzerland and partner countries as well as to further promote mutual exchange between partner countries - to strengthen local structures and sustainable development and to promote human rights - to develop suitable measures that prevent or mitigate violent conflicts Wherever indicated, Helvetas applies a multi-stakeholder approach involving partners of civil society, the state and the private sector in reaching development goals. On the basis of participatory approaches, Helvetas strengthens its partner organizations. Their institutional sustainability is a key concern which is addressed through capacity building of the partner organizations. Furthermore, to leverage the best utilisation of its knowledge, to strengthen internal learning and to share experience and lessons learnt with other development actors, Helvetas (in 2000) elevated Knowledge Sharing (KS) to a strategic level. Helvetas nowadays plays a leading role in KS for Development, striving for continuous learning through an intranet and face-to-face workshops. Helvetas supports facilitation of international Communities of Practice (CoP), e.g. the “Water-for-food”-network () or the “KM4Dev” (Knowledge Management for Development) (www.km4dev.org). Helvetas currently employs 77 staff (56 full-time posts) at the Head Office in Switzerland, and 45 expatriates (42 full-time posts) and 630 local staff in 20 developing and transition countries. In 2009, Helvetas had a turnover of around 64.3 Mio CHF; 54.2 Mio CHF for programme support abroad, 3.4 Mio CHF for information and advocacy activities in Switzerland, and 6.7 Mio CHF for administration and fundraising in Switzerland. Helvetas’ Board of Directors (15 members) determines the overall strategy based on the bylaws and executes financial control functions. The operational implementation is with the Secretary General and the Management Board (7; Heads of Departments and Secretary General) based on department and working area strategies and financial plans. The International Programmes Department (19 full-time posts) at the head office is divided into a geographic team (steering, coordination, controlling of the country programmes) and the thematic team (technical assistance and expertise, monitoring). In the partner countries, programme offices with programme directors (15) are responsible for the implementation of projects and country strategies. The finance department (4) at the head office operates the financial control system. The Programme direction and programme country projects are audited yearly by an external, independent auditing company (KPMG, Zurich). Helvetas is ZEWO certified, avails a risk analysis system and a well elaborated monitoring and evaluation system. Helvetas’ monitoring and evaluation system pursues three objectives: a) to provide information for strategic steering, b) to allow organisational learning and c) to assure accountability to its constituencies, donors and the ultimate beneficiaries. Helvetas conducts therefore a) periodic monitoring, b) internal and external evaluations, c) qualitative case studies and d) impact assessments in a set of selected projects. For the periodic monitoring Helvetas has developed an electronic Project Monitoring System (pms), which is linked to its Internal Control System. Helvetas introduced a decentralized management system in 1990, delegating a high degree of autonomy to the country programme directors. A project monitoring system enables the programme directors to delegate operational responsibility to national project managers and staff. The Helvetas programme offices are responsible for coordination and strategic issues. Helvetas has links with networks and partner organisations, e.g. being actively involved in the SDC governance network, the KOFF (Competence Centre for Peace Building) intervision group on conflict sensitivity and gender network at university of Bern. Strategic partnership agreements exist particularly with SCA, SKAT and KOFF.