GWOPA Senior WOP Advocacy Consultant
Result of Service 1. 2nd WOP Enablers’ Dialogue preparation (programme, invites, brief, etc.) 2. 2nd WOP Enablers’ Dialogue meeting report (outcome note, follow-up actions, presentations) 3. One French WOP meeting event report report(s) 4. Report on activities pursued with French WOP actors (including new members, new funding) 5. Report on events and actions organized in the framework of the UN Water conference 6. Report on Global WOPs Congress Advocacy and enabling sessions (at least two) at the Congress and mobilization of speakers. 7. Recommendations and initial actions for GWOPA’s involvement in the UNSG’s Future Summit.
Work Location Home-based with possible short-term mission(s)
Expected duration 8 months
Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer and healthier places with better opportunities. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector.
UN-Habitat hosts the Secretariat of the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA), a network of partners committed to helping water operators help one another improve their capacity in providing access to water and sanitation services for all through Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs). The WOPs initiative is based on the insight that most of the required resources of skills and knowledge needed for sound utility management reside with utility staff. WOPs help transfer this capacity through partnerships, twinning and networking between water operators at global, regional and national levels. Following the “Hashimoto Action Plan” launched in March 2006, the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB) requested UN-Habitat to establish this global mechanism to promote not-for-profit peer support arrangements between water utilities.
A key role of GWOPA is to make WOPs well-known, supported, adopted and adequately funded Dedicated effort will continue to raise consciousness about the challenges facing water utilities and the opportunities for addressing them through WOPs. The WOPs practice will become better known and trusted by the relevant technical, financial and political actors, as a cost-effective mechanism for achieving concrete local objectives, such as improving services for customers and financial sustainability, while contributing to the aspirational visions embodied by the Declaration on the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation and the Sustainable Development Goals.
GWOPA lobbies to improve the context for utilities and solidarity-based peer-support partnerships by advocating for WOP– and utility-friendly positions within international, national and local policies, laws and frameworks. Through this activity, governments, financiers and decision-makers are encouraged to adopt or implement frameworks, policies and strategies that facilitate or enhance the WOP practice.
Main activities Under the guidance of the Programme Officer, the incumbent will perform the following tasks as part of her/his assignment:
European WOP Enablers’ Events - Collaborate in the planning and implementation of Enablers’ Dialogues (2, at least one during the Global WOPs Congress) - Moderate components of the meetings - Prepare/present background notes - Recommend and help pursue strategic follow up
French Engagement - Meet with French water operators, local governments, utility associations, development cooperation agencies and financiers on WOPs to increase awareness and membership - Organize one WOP related event within the French water/urban sector calendar - Recommend and help pursue strategic follow-up with key French actors
UN Mandates - Advise upon and contribute to the pursuit of strategic opportunities to better position operators, WOPs and/or GWOPA within UN mandates and initiatives - Lead the GWOPA Task for on the UN 2023 Water Conference and its proposed events and actions - Guide on GWOPA presence at the UN High Level Political Meeting in New York in July 2023 and 2024 Future Summit
5th Global WOPs Congress - Support the preparation and implementation of at least one plenary and one thematic event - Support the participation of French actors at the Global WOPs Congress
Qualifications/special skills Education: An advanced university degree (Masters or Doctorate) in water sciences, social sciences, management sciences, development planning, urban development or related fields is required. A first-level university degree (B.A./B.S.) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience: Minimum of 7 years of experience in the water, urban or sustainability sectors. Specific experience with consultative processes, policy formulation and urban public services required. Experience working with the UN system and its main partners in the water and sanitation sector as it relates to social and environmental sustainability concerns is an asset. Experience with WOPs is an asset. - Ability to easily navigate and connect within French, European and Global water and urban networks - Outstanding analytical and strategic planning skills - Strong interpretation and writing capacity - Strong consultative and teambuilding skills
Skills: - Ability to easily navigate and connect within French, European and Global water and urban networks - Outstanding analytical and strategic planning skills - Strong interpretation and writing capacity - Strong consultative and teambuilding skills
Languages Strong English language skills are required, both understanding and writing skills. Knowledge of other official UN languages will be an asset.
No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.