Consultant – Regional Capacity Gaps and Needs Assessment, Water Sector

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Senegal.

📋 Description

• Evaluate capacity gaps and requirements within the water sector in West Africa at the regional level, along with a detailed analysis in a pilot country.

• Identify existing institutional, organizational, and human capacities throughout West Africa.

• Perform a comprehensive capacity-needs analysis in a chosen pilot country, including consultations with national and local stakeholders.

• Develop specific and prioritized recommendations for capacity-development interventions at both regional and pilot-country levels.

• Suggest a replicable methodological framework for conducting capacity assessments.

• Review regional strategies, policies, investment plans, and previous assessments of the water sector.

• Consult with ECOWAS, UEMOA, river basin authorities, professional networks, and technical and financial partners.

• Identify capacity gaps at both regional and country levels, along with their root causes.

• Map key institutions and ongoing or past capacity-development initiatives.

• Evaluate existing capacity-development initiatives, tools, and support mechanisms.

• Choose a pilot country based on objective criteria.

• Assess national capacity gaps within the selected pilot country.

• Engage sector ministries, service operators, local authorities, training institutions, the private sector, and civil society using a participatory and gender-sensitive approach.

• Analyze training and professionalization pathways to ensure alignment with sector needs.

• Create a capacity-development plan for the pilot country, detailing actions, timelines, responsible parties, and resource requirements.

• Deliver an inception report, a regional mapping and assessment report, a pilot-country diagnostic report, and a final report containing recommendations along with the pilot-country capacity-development plan.

⛳️ Requirements

• An advanced degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Water Resources Management, Water Engineering, Hydrology, Water and Sanitation, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.

• Over 10 years of experience in the water sector, ideally with significant experience in Africa.

• Proven expertise in water governance, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), water security, climate resilience, and the institutional framework of the water sector.

• Demonstrated experience collaborating with government institutions, regional organizations, development partners, and other relevant stakeholders in the water sector.

• Documented experience in developing capacity development strategies, frameworks, action plans, and/or targeted capacity-building interventions based on identified needs.

• Exceptional analytical, communication, and report-writing abilities.

• Strong comprehension of the West African water sector context.

• Experience with UNESCO projects or other international organizations is a plus.

• Fluency in English or French is required, with proficiency in the other language being highly desirable.

• Must be available for consistent communication with the UNESCO Dakar regional Office.

• Compliance with UNESCO’s values and ethical standards is essential.

🏝️ Benefits

• Consultant contract for a duration of 4 months.

• Payment schedule linked to deliverables: 10% upon completion of Deliverable 1, 40% upon Deliverable 2, 30% upon Deliverable 3, and 20% upon Deliverable 4.

• Regular communication with the UNESCO Dakar regional Office.

• Strong encouragement for applications from individuals belonging to minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities.

• Commitment to maintaining the highest level of confidentiality for all applications.