Water and Land Management Expert at World Food Programme (WFP)

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Unit, the “Water and Land Management” expert will work under the supervision of the Team Lead for Resilient Livelihoods and work closely with the climate advisor and market access and value chains focal point, field offices and field-based agricultural engineers. The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Facilitate and ensure timely implementation of critical water infrastructure rehabilitation in response to drought in close collaboration with relevant WFP Nairobi and field-based teams
• Design strategy for early recovery activities focusing on integrated water solutions targeting pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the arid counties of Kenya – taking early warning and climate projections into account 
• Facilitate timely procurement processes coordinating between field offices (including agricultural engineers), procurement and other relevant teams in Nairobi
• Ensure sound environmental management practices/guidelines are in place, monitored and reported on
• Guide on strengthening community-based water governance and management practices across targeted counties
• Strengthen existing monitoring frameworks to report on processes, outputs, outcomes of the rehabilitation work in collaboration with M&E, and support documentation of success stories
• Represent WFP in water sector fora and act as liaison officer with the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Millennium Water Alliance and other relevant partners 
• Explore opportunities for the use of innovative technologies and solutions, including with the private sector
• Co-design UN Joint Programme on Water for Health, Food security and Resilient Livelihoods and develop other water and land management related proposals

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

• Water rehabilitation projects under current drought response finalized - meeting all donor requirements (including plans for continuous monitoring sustainability)
• Early recover strategy designed
• Integrated water for resilience project documented and success stories shared
• UN Joint Programme on Water for Health, Food Security and Resilient Livelhoods finalized and at least two other relevant proposals developed

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Advanced university degree in one or more of the following disciplines: water and land management, agricultural engineering, environmental management, or a related field.
• Experience: At least five (5) years of experience sustainable land and water management, either in private sector enterprises, in non-profit value chain related projects or research institution
• Languages: Fluency (oral and written) in English and Kiswahili necessary; proficiency in other languages spoken regionally in Kenya is an asset.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Strong expertise in sustainable water, land and environment management (experience working as or with agricultural engineers is of advantage)   
• Excellent project management skills, including programme design, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring and reporting skills
• Experience working agro-pastoral/pastoral communities and organizations, and designing and implementing development projects, preferably in Kenya arid and semi-arid lands
• Demonstrated ability to engage with public and private entities, planning and working together
• Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations across multi-functional teams as well as with a results-oriented private sector, research, think tanks and other key stakeholders
• Solid operational skills, including creative thinking, problem solving, negotiation skills, meeting tight deadlines and working under pressure
• Strong presentation skills and experience in public speaking of advantage.
• Ability to frequently travel within the country