WASH & Climate Change Coordinator - HOINT

GOAL

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Purpose of the role

The post holder will provide overall strategic leadership, guidance, and coordination of integrated Environment, Climate Change and WASH programming in terms of technical support in system strengthening and capacity development; design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation; accountability, learning and innovation; and resource acquisition, engagement & networking. All these are aimed at achieving well designed, integrated, and sustainable climate change response initiatives and sustainable WASH systems for building climate resilient systems and communities.

In order to successfully do so, the post holder must be able to effectively communicate GOAL Global Climate Change Policy, Programme and approach and demonstrate the linkages between and among the different programmes on resilience and climate change; and ensure adaptation and mitigation measures are planned and executed as unique selling points of the GOAL SL programme in CC programming and innovations. The post holder is responsible to provide technical support in Climate Change mitigation and tailored services in the origination, development, and financing of carbon interventions, such as introducing cleaner and more efficient cooking technologies and Nature-based adaptation solutions to climate change through coordination across Sierra Leone. The postholder will pay particular attention to system strengthening, private sector engagement, localisation, and partnership, mainstreaming of climate change through all programmes, design, operationalization and promoting CC innovation Hub, and catalysing and mediating between the different institutions and communities.

GOAL mainstreams gender, child protection, HIV and environment across all programs and operations. GOAL is engaged in direct implementation of hardware and software activities as well as supporting a mix of national and international partners including community-based organizations which require significant capacity building of operational and technical capacity.

Major Responsibilities

Technical Support and system strengthening

Provide effective technical support to project teams on roll out of Partnership and other recognized and approved models on WASH, Environment & Climate Change (e.g. Participatory Forest management approaches, Climate Smart Agriculture, climate smart urban sanitation, Conservation Agriculture with Trees, Nature-Based adaptation solutions to climate change, clean cooking practices - Renewable Energy sources and energy Saving Cook-stoves for Carbon Credits projects, Climate Resilient WASH programming, PPP, Private sector engagement, etc);
Provide technical support to systems strengthening at various projects of Climate Change and WASH portfolio like Operation and Maintenance for WASH infrastructures; Operations and systems for Faecal Sledge Management; Deepening privatisation of mechanized emptying services through Service Level Agreement and supporting the restructuring/strengthening the governance of urban sanitation with FCC taking the lead; etc
Support the strengthening of the technical capacity and overall governance of the FSM unit and Environmental sanitation department to ensure the senior leadership of the FCC (Department of Environment and Sanitation) takes more roles and ownership of the management of urban sanitation systems including FSTPs and leased vacuum trucks (SLA) with enhanced and better engagement;
Support the strengthening of the O&M system of the Rural Water Infrastructures including networking and representation at National level;
Participate in joint technical coordination, planning and review meetings for all WASH, Environment & Climate Change actions;
Identify capacity gaps in WASH, Environment & Climate Change to inform the GSL and key partners staff capacity development strategy;
Ensure skills and capacity development for staff and partners in WASH, Environment & Climate Change strategies, models and approaches;
Coordinate regular learning forum to profile, communicate and ensure adoption of promising practices;
Lead the development of National Strategy, Technical Approaches and Programmes regarding WaSH and Climate Change- including other GOAL SL portfolios;
Ensure Linkage and lead coordination with Health Coordinator, WASH Coordinators/Managers, Blue Economy and FSL Coordinator for continued backstopping to enable quality programming in WASH and Climate change within GOAL SL programmes;
Identify, collaborate and develop business models with the local partners including mainly the private sector for their involvement in the climate change and circular economy in urban waste management and sanitation marketing and closely work with the Partnership HUB for GOAL Global which is based in our Uganda office;
Work towards the development of a private sector strategy for GOAL SL (in collaboration with The financial inclusion advisor, the PD and relevant staff) and ensure it aligns with our localisation policy as well as is fit for purpose for operationalising PPP (CGOAL mediates amongst the communities, private sector and public institutions);
In coordination with the CD and PD, develop and operationalise a strategy to strengthen our product and service marketing (deepening the problem solving and acceptability of our products and services including HomeBioGas, Compost, Briquette, SatoPans, etc));
WASH, Environment & Climate Change Implementation Guidelines are available at the project and country level;
Lead Climate change innovations, mitigation, and adaptation actions, promote GOAL SL as centre of excellence in Climate change Innovations in SL and GOAL Global;
Provide Guidance.

Accountability, Learning and Innovation

Support programs/projects to ensure that high quality Technical Program/Project Designs are in place;
Ensure interpretation and utilization of assessment, baselines, evaluations and verification on quality of designs;
Ensure development of standardized monitoring tools are in use with appropriate feedback;
Analyze and interpret Climate Change assessment findings and utilize the findings to generate evidence-based recommendations for subsequent Programme designs across all GOAL SL programmes;
Gather and analyse data at National level for reporting on WASH, Environment & Climate Change;
Support in ensuring quality (re)-design for WASH, Environment & Climate Change projects, proposals and concepts as per MEAL guidelines and other standards;
Upscale and support GSL’s current work and integration on Environment & Climate Change within and among GSL areas of operation;
Facilitate Programs to develop high quality integrated Environment & Climate Change projects through conceptualization, innovation, development and planning;
Expose GSL staff on issues of green economy, carbon trading, and possible ways that communities can benefit from the two; and
Ensure that lessons learnt are shared across programmes and are fed into GSL’s policy and practice;
Coordinate pilot innovative CC actions and scale up while creating demand for the products and deepening acceptability of products like Sato Pans, energy efficient stoves/ fuel saving stoves; carbon finance actions-stoves, clean water structures, etc.

Programme and Business Development

Lead in development and utilization of MOUs/working agreements with Environment & Climate Change strategic, funding and program/project implementation partners such as UNEP, GCF, and other accredited organizations;
Participate in Go-No Go Processes, write ups, meeting with prospective donors and submission of concepts/proposals;
Technically support PDQM and PD team to develop proposals/concepts to prospective donors for WASH , Environment & Climate Change Projects;
Respond effectively to calls and queries by donors on Urban Resilience, WASH, Environment & Climate Change Concepts/Proposals in coordination with PD and PDQM; and
Work closely with the PDQM Department in the production of materials for donors and for marketing purposes.

Coordination, Partnership, and Advocacy

Establish and maintain strategic contacts with the UN, Government, INGOs, Universities, Research Institutions, Donors, and Embassies;
Catalyse/mediate between and amongst the varying local to national institutions in pursuit of GOAL Climate change, resilient WASH agenda including capacity support;
Work with relevant institutions like Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, EPA, MoWS, MoPED, Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of Fisheries and, etc to develop key national baselines and parameters useful for programme design, accessing funds, etc.;
Work with government institutions and facilitating changes in the enabling environment and mitigation and removal of barriers for promoting stakeholders’ engagement; etc.
Ensure GSL representation in key strategic WASH, Environment & Climate Change working groups and forums to strengthen key partnerships & networks;
Ensure mainstreaming of advocacy in Environment & Climate Change projects and working with climate change advocacy organisations like Trocaire; and ensure key International Days are celebrated.

Qualifications: Education/Knowledge/Technical Skills and Experience

A very strong and solid experience in liquid and solid waste management in urban settings;
Minimum of a Master’s degree in Environmental sciences, climate change, waste management, urban planning, Climatology, Forestry, Agriculture or related discipline;
Minimum seven years of relevant work experience in a similar or related position;
Literate in Microsoft Office and data analysis programs such as SPSS, EPI Info; etc.;
Knowledge and awareness of current end emerging climate change related narratives and discourses;
Experience and interest in Agro-forestry, waste to energy and clean cooking practices and technologies, Carbon markets/projects and related issues;
Willing to learn more on issues related to climate change and carbon markets;
Ability to work and communicate in cross-cultural environment;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Environmental organizations, business community, civil society and government officials;
Self-motivated and ability to make decisions;
Ability to work independently and proven records in climate smart innovations.