Technical Specialist / Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Advisor - G2G Ops Senegal

Job Description

Opportunity

Abt Associates is recruiting qualified candidates for positions in an upcoming USAID-funded opportunity in Senegal, Government to Government (G2G) Ops, which aims to provide technical assistance to USAID/Senegal and the Government of Senegal (GOS) on G2G-related tasks to improve the functionality and effectiveness of G2G components, particularly in the areas of Health, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and Education, through the provision of high quality analytic, management, capacity building and logistic support services to the Health Office, Education Office, Economic Growth Office, Ministry of Health and Social Action, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Water and Sanitation.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Chief of Party, the WASH Advisor leads the technical management and development related to WASH and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation. This position will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of technical activities, capacity building, and government to government aid with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation. In carrying out these responsibilities the WASH Advisor will work in partnership with USAID and local-government agencies and officials, and other partners and project staff.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Supports the Government to Government (G2G) Funding Mechanism and serves as a link between the chief medical doctors in the regions and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation’s central level services.
• Supports development of meaningful and practical Milestones while taking into account the Ministry of Water and Sanitation’s performance measurement framework.
• Helps analyze progress made in the implementation of the annual technical plans and data use for communication and advocacy with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation.
• Ensures alignment between the USAID G2G WASH program and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation priorities.
• Organizes and leads capacity building meetings and workshops with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and other GOS counterparts.
• Supports assessment of progress made, analysis of unattained targets and indicators and implementation of corrective measures for the achievement of the expected results;
• Coordinates with other technical leads on cross-sectoral and multi-sectoral activities and deliverables
• Helps identify Short-term Technical Assistance (STTA) needs for G2G beneficiaries.
• In coordination with the Public Finance expert, works with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation’s finance and administrative staff to plan and monitor WASH budgets.
• Develops assessments and reports as required; contributes to progress updates and project programmatic reports.
• Leads the work plan development for WASH related activities and project reporting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in environmental, water or public health sciences or policy; specialization in water, sanitation and hygiene preferred.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience working with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and/or in conducting/managing water, sanitation and hygiene projects in a government setting.
• Technical experience in WASH policy at both the national and sub-national level.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity development with Ministry of Water and Sanitation staff.
• Demonstrated knowledge of international best practices in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
• Strong financial management skills.
• Excellent negotiation/advocacy skills within varying cultural and professional contexts, in particular regarding donors and government officials.
• Advanced planning, assessment and analytical skills.
• Required fluency in French and excellent oral and writing skills in English.
• Experience working with USAID is strongly preferred.

Minimum Qualifications

• (6+) years of experience and a master degree OR the equivalent combination of education and experience

About the Organization

Abt Associates is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1965, Abt Associates was built on the concept that sound information and empirical analysis are the best foundations for effective decision making. The firm blends the subject matter expertise of our staff with technical capabilities in applied research, program implementation, and data collection to shape policy, strengthen systems, measure performance, and deliver other solutions to our public and private sector clients. Examples of Abt Associates’ work include nationally recognized research, evaluation, and technical assistance to improve the efficiency of healthcare systems, the effectiveness of government housing programs, the production of food, and the measurement of public opinion. Abt’s staff of more than 2000 includes national and international experts who are known for their understanding of communities and governments worldwide, innovative research techniques, and insightful—and often groundbreaking—analyses and recommendations. Approximately 51 percent of our staff has graduate degrees; one in six has a doctorate. Our staff’s educational and professional disciplines include economics, engineering, environmental analysis, epidemiology, food security, health, housing, international development, psychology, social science, statistics, and survey methodology. Abt’s research staff is experienced with prominent statistical software packages, including SPSS, SAS, and STATA, along with qualitative software such as NVIVO and Atlas. In 2011, Abt Associates was ranked among the top 20 global research firms and one of the top 40 development innovators. Abt has offices in Atlanta, Ga.; Rockville, Md.; Cambridge, Mass.; Chicago, Ill.; Durham, N.C.; and New York City and program offices in nearly 40 countries in Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa. www.abtassociates.com