Marsabit County Coordinator at DAI Kenya - Development Alternatives, Inc.

Project Background

The five-year (2023-2028) USAID Sustainable, Transformational, and Accessible Water Interventions (STAWI) Activity will work alongside county governments across nine counties to advance water security for social, economic, and environmental needs, helping to reverse historic neglect and enabling USAID and the Government of Kenya to achieve their ambitious objectives for inclusive economic growth while building resilience to the region’s unique shocks and stresses. At the end of five years, targeted county governments, water service providers (WSPs), and water users will have the information, incentives, and partnerships to identify and address barriers to a water-secure future among the most water-stressed and vulnerable communities in Kenya.

The activity is actively working toward four objectives:

• Objective 1: Improve governance of water resources and services
• Objective 2: Increase sustainability of water service delivery
• Objective 3: Improved management, efficiency, and equitable access to water used for productive purposes
• Objective 4: Improved collaboration and learning across stakeholders and strengthened the capacity of county governments for learning and adaptation

Objectives of the assignment:

• Coordinate activities tailored to Marsabit county. Serve as STAWI presence at the county and sub-county level, working with County Water Offices, WASCOs, water enterprises, communities, and other stakeholders. Support water governance efforts at the county level. Coordinate and oversee county-specific activities implemented by STTA, consortium members, and grantees.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required, degree in water; environmental management; engineering; development studies; public policy; business or related field preferred.
• 5 years of experience supporting donor-funded activities in one or more of the following technical areas: water, sanitation, agriculture, sustainable livelihoods, community development, local governance, civil society, or emergency/humanitarian assistance programs.
• Highly organized with an ability to multitask and prioritize tasks. Excellent organizational skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Strong facilitation skills with government, civil society, private sector, and community partners.
• Experience working in Marsabit county is required.
• Previous experience working on a USAID project preferred but not required.
• Strong communication skills - both written and oral – in English and Kiswahili

Tasks & responsibilities may entail:

Water Governance

• Facilitate and coordinate STAWI activities in the county ensuring the necessary project components integration.
• Coordinate with the departments of water, agriculture, livestock as well as water service providers at the county level to facilitate activities towards water governance, resilient water services and water for productive use.
• Support target county governments to entrench water resources management and water services plans and investments in their County Integrated Development Plans (CIDP) and support implementation of the same.
• Identify opportunities for strengthening policy and legislation at the county level that promote water resources management, water governance and water services.
• Support implementation of county water policies, county water Acts and other legal and institutional frameworks for resilient and sustainable water services while working
• Support citizen engagement activities to stimulate participation of men, women, youth, and marginalized groups to ensure that their needs are reflected in the design, planning and management water projects and services while promoting mutual accountability between the duty bearers and right holders.
• Support and coordinate implementation of water resources management and water governance activities at the county level.
• Support partnerships and financial leveraging activities for improving water resources management and increasing water services at the county level.

Water Services Delivery Improvement and Sustainability

• Facilitate Identification, adaptation, and implementation of Service Delivery Models (SDMs) for sustainable and resilient water services including capacity building and technical assistance at the county level.
• Support business planning, revenue improvement strategies, customer service, NRW and water quality management activities for the regulated water services providers.
• Support Identification of ways to increase sector efficiency and performance including the clustering of per-urban services providers with the WSPs and through capacity building to support improvement plans.
• Facilitate county and service providers co-investment in extension of water services to underserved communities.
• Support in the identification of strategic rural water infrastructure for increased access to water for drinking and productive uses.
• Work with WSPs to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and innovation.
• Facilitate promotion and advancement of gender mainstreaming and the integration of youth in order to increase meaningful employment opportunities, and to enable more inclusive and responsive service delivery.
• Support WSPs to identify financing opportunities and develop project details and loan applications

Water for Production and Resilient Livelihoods

• Working closely with the Resilient Agriculture Officer and relevant county government departments, support implementation and monitoring of water for production activities at the county level.
• Support irrigation, governance, and water resource management related to productive uses.
• Support implementation and monitoring of various service delivery models to account for productive uses of water activities including PPPs in the assigned county.
• Support and monitor the implementation of GEYSI strategies, ensuring that women and youth are empowered and participate in various activities for resilience and livelihoods at the county level.
• Ensure timely reporting on productive water use interventions.

Collaboration, Learning, Adaptation and Reporting

• Participate in the regular USAID implementation partner meetings at the county level.
• Lead in collaboration in implementation of activities with county government and other development partners at the county and sub county levels
• Support the formation and strengthening of County WASH Forums in the assigned county.
• Coordinate implementation of program collaborating, learning, and adaptation (CLA) activities in the county
• Provide relevant county level data and information to support monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)
• Consolidate and provide regular program reporting including quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reporting.
• Provide support to documentation and the capture of impact and significant program implementation stories.
• Support the dissemination of information and various learning materials to promote learning and knowledge sharing.