Sanitation Business Advisor

Job Description

Background

Under its urban sanitation & hygiene for health and development (USHHD) approach, SNV is implementing City Wise Inclusive Sanitation Engagem ent Programme to support Local Authorities (Khulna City Corporation, Kushtia Paurashava, Jhenaidah Paurashava, Jashore Paurashava, and Benapole, Gazipur City Corporation to be incorporated soon). The objective is to work towards city-wide sanitation services, integrating safely managed on-site services with emerging off-site investments. The programme also aims to contribute to advance of the sector as a whole, through strategic engagement with Government Agencies (sector Ministry, relevant Departments and their service delivery channels at sub-national level) and partnering with other experienced civil society and private sector organisations working in the sector.

Programme

SNV aims to facilitate a decisive shift in sector thinking, culture and practice through close alignment with respected sector agencies and working collectively with government and local partners to address underlying systemic sector issues that limit sector development.

SNV’s urban sanitation approach consists of 6 components:

1. Behaviour change communication and awareness;
2. Safe and affordable consumer services;
3. WASH governance, regulations and enforcement;
4. Smart finance and investment;
5. Improved treatment, disposal and re-use; and
6. Knowledge management and learning

Sanitation in the urban context has a number of socio-technical challenges leading to pathogens ending up in the living environment. For a long time, sewer was seen as the main -and often only- option to address management of human waste (faeces and urine) in urban settings. Yet, construction of sewer and related treatment is highly capital intensive, so in absence of that funding, many cities simply continued their status quo. Recently, interest for non-sewered and low-cost sewer solutions has increased. There is a growing recognition that, in most settings, city-wide sanitation services will need to involve a mix of options. Developing and integrating these solutions operationally, financially and/or technically in appropriate ways is now a priority.

SNV programmes work together with local authorities towards inclusive and sustainable city-wide sanitation services that address the entire chain human waste, from access to safe disposal or re-use, including these different options. Developing viable service and business models is an essential part of this.

The sanitation business advisor is expected to work across all components of the programme with focus on component 2: Safe and affordable consumer services; and component 5: Improved treatment, disposal and re-use. Within consumer services, SNV has been working on upgrading of on-site facilities, service models for emptying and transport, public toilet facilities, slum sanitation and service options for vulnerable households. As part of the treatment component, the sanitation business advisor will contribute to the management models for treatment and re-use, as well as the integration of these management models with oversight and governance arrangements. Across all SNV’s work, gender and social inclusion is a priority. For example, the sanitation business advisor is expected to integrate occupational health and safety of workers, inclusive services for all, gender equality in his/her work.

In addition to the role described above, the sanitation business advisor is expected to contribute to the following aspects.

• The programme focuses on building the capacity of local line agencies and other appropriate actors in urban sanitation. Therefore, the sanitation business advisor needs to work collaboratively and constructively with the different partners.
• The programme is a demonstration programme for Bangladesh, and as such the emphasis is not only on implementation, but also on documentation and evidence. The sanitation business advisor is therefore expected to have a methodical and systematic approach to identifying solutions, implementing and monitoring these.

For more information on our operations in Bangladesh visit our website: www.snv.org

Overview of the position

To further develop and implement the Sanitation Services and Business development component of the programme in close collaboration with the activities of other components and also contribute to the work of colleagues, by providing sound advice for activities in the other components. The below are the specific tasks:

Advisory services

• Support and strengthen capacity of stakeholder clients in developing and implementing the safe and affordable consumer services.
• Support colleagues in the other components to integrate financial and business aspects into their work, such as in formative research, city planning and investment, pro-poor support strategies.
• Design and conduct – in collaboration with others- studies, such as supply side and provider studies (of providers of emptying services), sanitation value chain analysis, market analysis
• Work with private sector and local government to introduce and find strategies to increase compliance with standards including on health and safety.

Quality assurance & Knowledge Development

• Align with knowledge deliverables and quality standards,
• Ensure implementation of SNV’s monitoring for results framework,
• Identify and explore replication of good practices,
• Conduct comparative studies and facilitate horizontal learning to improve practice and guidelines,
• Coach, guide and backstop programme teams in implementation,
• Promote knowledge exchange and networking with other SNV regions and externally.

Co-ordination & Programme Management

• Ensure performance of programme, corresponding to plans and targets,
• Facilitate and coordinate interaction with other sector stakeholders,
• Contribute to the SNV WASH knowledge activities.
• Establish and maintain linkage with national and international knowledge centres.
• Take part in national and regional events as appropriate,
• Support content development for external communications.
• Contribute to managing and implementing partnerships.

• Master of Business Administration or related background.
• At least 6 years of experience of which 2-3 years’ experience in urban water supply and sanitation or Waste Management
• Strong interest in business solutions for development, BoP models and PPPs
• Proven track record of relating technical, financial and social solutions, preferably in sanitation.
• Creative, practical and systematic professional
• Evidence of producing knowledge products (publications and other).
• Flexibility to handle varied and demanding tasks and ability to balance priorities, thrive under pressure and juggle a multitude of details in a fast-paced environment
• Significant experience in developing and managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives directly delivering change.
• Ability to work independently, as well as member of a team, and to be flexible to accommodate the needs of stakeholders.
• Ability to lead the assignment and the team with remote supervision.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English

Contract Type: International

Contract Duration: 2 years

Expected Start Date: January 2019

Information Duty Station: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Working at SNV
SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of WASH experts. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org

How to Apply
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and letter of motivation.

About the Organization

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation, working in Agriculture, Energy, and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene. Founded in the Netherlands in 1965, we have built a long-term, local presence in more than 30 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Our global team of local and international advisors works with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organisations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.