Senior Technical Advisor, Water, Environment and Climate Change Nexus - Kenya (Technical Specialist - Environmental) READVERTISEMENT - Retainer Homebased

The Senior Technical Advisor for Water, Environment, and Climate Change Nexus at UNOPS will provide technical and administrative support to the Principal Secretary in Kenya. Responsibilities include enhancing climate action efficiency, developing technical guidance on climate issues, mobilizing resources, and advising on water and sanitation policies. This is a home-based position located in Nairobi, Kenya, with a contract of twelve months and potential for extension.
Dutystation: Nairobi, Kenya

Functional responsibilities

The incumbent will provide additional support for technical advisory and administrative services in the office of the Principal Secretary, Department of Environment and Climate Change in order to maintain climate action, environment and water and sanitation programs and projects efficiency and to ensure that services are provided in an effective and efficient manner. Additionally, the role will contribute towards enhancement of the Ministry’s coordination mandate to mobilize resources at the Principal

Secretary’s level to achieve Kenya’s climate change action with a focus on Environment, Climate Change, Water and Sanitation. The position will be based in the office of the Principal Secretary, State Department of Environment and Climate Change.

The Senior Technical Advisor will report to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and/or Regional Manager. The incumbent will work closely with the Principal Secretary (PS) and the NDC Partnership Focal Point in MoECCF and the NDC Partnership Support Unit. He/she will need to bring his/her own laptop to the ministry’s duty station. This is a national vacancy/position home based in Nairobi, Kenya for twelve (12) months with possibility of extension depending on performance and on availability of funds.

Functional Responsibility

1. Technical Support
• To maintain climate action Environment, Climate Change, Water and Sanitation programs and projects efficiency and to ensure that services such as liaison with other offices on technical issues, preparation of necessary technical documents are provided in an effective and efficient manner in the office of the Principal Secretary, State Department of Environment and Climate Change
• Develop technical guidance notes on priority topics in the ministry such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, water and sanitation and other cross-cutting themes such as circular economy, sustainable consumption and production to inform strategic positioning of the country through technical advisory to the PS and policy development/review.
• Advise the PS national and global work on water pollution, basic sanitation, loss and damage, carbon credits, climate risks and impacts, vulnerability, resilience.
• Enhance the Ministry’s coordination mandate to mobilize resources at the Principal Secretary’s level to achieve Kenya’s climate change action priorities through liaison with the NDC Partnership in-country facilitator to coordinate development partners.
• Research and provide technical input on global and national policies to inform national and sub-national policy and technical advisory on cutting edge and relevant innovation on water and sanitation and the broader environmental sector topics.
• Research and provide technical input on the nexus between climate change, water and sanitation to increase resilience and reduce impact of climate hazards in water sources and sanitation systems.
• Lead drafting of technical reports of the Principal Secretary’s strategic engagements including field visits and meeting of minutes and following up on key action points of the visits/meetings
• Support external communication by contributing to drafting of public/media information on projects and programs
• Maintain records and databases of ongoing and incoming projects and consistently update the progress in coordination with technical staff.
• Lead the development of high-level event/meeting briefs, drafting high level speeches and talking points for the Principal Secretary

2. Knowledge Management, Communication and Reporting
• Continually foster a positive working relationship between the Office of the Principal Secretary and its partners and stakeholders by exchanging pertinent updates and information and implementing engagement outcomes in coordination with other departments.
• Coordinating with officers and specialists to prepare responses to inquiries from stakeholders on technical matters directed to the Office of the Principal Secretary.
• Prepare and edit reports, data, and information for various projects under the Department and oversee technical documentation

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education
• Bachelor’s degree preferably in water & Sanitation Engineering, Environmental & Biosystems Engineering, Development Studies, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Law or any other related field from a recognized institution.
• Advanced degree (master’s level or above) is desired and can substitute the 2 years of experience.

Experience

Required
• With a Master’s Degree, 5 years of experience in environmental and/or water policies, environmental and/or climate change aspects of demand-driven development programmes/projects is required.
• Experience in influencing development of adaptive policies, guidelines and regulations at national and/or sub-national levels.

Asset
• Excellent qualitative and quantitative analytical skills and the ability to rapidly analyse and incorporate diverse information from a range of sources into concise reports.
• Demonstrate ability to manage multiple technical and administrative tasks.
• Previous experience working with projects and with a range of stakeholders.
• Experience in management and delivery of multi-donor funded projects.
• Excellent communication skills; both verbal and written.

Language Requirement
• Proficiency in English is required.
• Fluency in Swahili is an advantage.