RECRUITMENT PACK
REGIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGER, SOUTHERN
AFRICA
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Introduction from the Head of Southern Africa Region
Dear Candidate
Thank you for expressing your interest in working with WaterAid. If successful you will be
joining us at a really exciting time for WaterAid as we embark on an ambitious new strategy
(2015 - 2020) to do whatever we can to catalyse the changes needed towards our vision of
a world where everyone has access to hygiene, sanitation and water.
We strongly believe that access to safe clean water and sanitation are basic human rights
and underpin health, education and livelihoods, and are central to eradicating extreme
poverty. I know you will agree with me, the challenge is enormous as currently almost 783
million people in the world are still without access to clean water and 2.5 billion people still
lack access to adequate sanitation facilities, almost two fifths of the world’s population. Half
of the hospital beds in developing countries are filled with people suffering from diseases
caused by poor water, sanitation and hygiene. To address this we have set ourselves an
ambitious Global Strategy. By 2030, we want everyone, everywhere to have safe clean
water, toilets and hygiene.
WaterAid works with people in the world’s poorest countries to provide access to safe
water, sanitation and improved hygiene. As we want our work to be sustainable we work
with partner organisations in Africa, Asia, Pacific region and Central America that includes
governments, NGOs, academic and technical institutions and the private sector. Our
partner organisations deliver services; carry out advocacy and policy influencing work and
campaign globally.
In the last 10 years our global income has grown from £17 million to £81.8 million and we
have seen a major scaling up of our global operations. In 2013/14 our global programme
work reached 2million people with access to safe water and 3million people with access to
sanitation. We have also been effective in influencing policies of governments and donors
at various levels, working in collaboration with a number of organisations. For example,
following our influencing in collaboration with other agencies, in April 2014, over 20
developing countries promised to achieve universal access to water and sanitation by 2030
at the Water and Sanitation for All and many committed to ending open defecation.
The International Programmes Department has four regional teams (East Africa, Southern
Africa, West Africa and Asia) each lead by a Head of Region. The role of the regional team is
to support and develop the capacity of country programmes in the region to maximise their
impact at the national and regional levels. The regional team is also responsible for
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contributing towards the development of a strong WASH sector in the region hence enabling
the poor, marginalised and excluded people realise their rights to equitable and sustainable
access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Regional Programme Managers (RPM) provide leadership in programme planning,
development, effectiveness, quality assurance, learning and assessing impact of WA’s work in
the region. They support programme staff in countries where we work to undertake their
responsibilities effectively, ensuring that country teams have the right capacities to deliver their
country strategies and ensuring that the global norms on programme quality, planning,
monitoring, evaluation and assurance are applied across the region. The RPM also plays a
key role in our fundraising efforts, makes significant contributions to our influencing work
across the region and explore collaborative regional opportunities for WASH.
This also is a particularly exciting time for us in Southern Africa. We will be developing new
Country Programme Strategies as well as the Southern Africa Regional Strategy to support
and contribute towards the achievement of our ambitious Global Strategy. Furthermore, we will
be developing our work in the new countries of Lesotho and Swaziland with a possibility of
starting in two more new countries whilst growing and deepening our programmes in four of
our established countries, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. If selected, you will
have this exciting opportunity to contribute towards the development and implementation of
our new regional strategy, development of WA’s work in Southern Africa including the new
countries and establishing ourselves as a change agent in the region.
We are looking for someone who is passionate about transformational change, human
development, equity and social justice, with significant and diverse experience at the senior
management level, a sound knowledge and skills in strategic and operational planning,
developing country and programme strategies, norms and standards for programme
effectiveness, programme cycle management, programme audit and quality assurance. This
person needs to be an influential leader, promoting a culture that is collaborative, inclusive,
empowering and accountable, and have the ability to represent the organisation effectively at
various levels. Good experience in programme and financial management, excellent
leadership and analytical skills will be important. Knowledge of and experience in water,
sanitation and hygiene, especially in the African context, will be a significant advantage.
Since I joined WaterAid, am thoroughly enjoying it here. There is a clear commitment to
delivering our mission. I see courage and ambition in the organisation to stretch and challenge
ourselves to be the change agent and transform lives. We believe in strong collaborative
engagements and effective partnerships. I strongly believe in our values – being accountable,
courageous, collaborative, inclusive, inspiring and always learning, which defines our
organisational culture. My time with WaterAid has provided me with tremendous learning, and
WaterAid has invested in my development as a leader because of which, I am able to
contribute effectively in achieving our mission.
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Our team is quite diverse in terms of their skills and background. There is a strong
commitment to develop and empower staff. All these make WaterAid a very stimulating and
dynamic organisation to work for.
If you share our passion for our cause, would like to join our International Programmes
Department and be part of a dynamic and stimulating Southern Africa Regional Team, and
have the relevant skills and experience to help us respond appropriately to the inspiring
challenges ahead, we would welcome your application and wish you success!
With best wishes
Robert L. J .Kampala
Head of Southern Africa Region
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Job description
Regional Programme Manager
Place of work:
Based in the Regional Office in Pretoria, South Africa or any
of WA’s country Offices in the region (Zambia, Malawi,
Madagascar, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland)
Reports to:
Head of Southern Africa Region
Manages:
Regional Technical Advisor
New Country Managers
Heads of Regional Teams and Head of Programme Support
Unit in the International Programme Departments
Heads of UK Departments
Country Representatives
Regional Team members
Senior Programme Staff in Country Programmes
Budget responsibility:
Less than £1.5 million
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Introduction
The Regional Programme Manager (RPM) is a senior member of the regional team, in the
International Programmes Department. The role of the International Programmes
Department is to support, resource and enable delivery of our global strategy at the
country, regional and continental levels, develop and deliver our portfolio of programmes
to maximise our impact in realising the rights of those who are marginalised and excluded
from access to water, sanitation and hygiene. The role of the regional team is to support
and develop the capacity of our country programmes in the region to maximise their
impact at the national and regional levels. The regional team has also the role to contribute
to the development of a strong WASH sector in the region as a whole and thus enable the
poor, marginalised and excluded people realise their rights to equitable and sustainable
access to water, sanitation and hygiene.
Job Purpose
The purpose of the role is to lead on programme planning, development, effectiveness,
quality assurance, learning and impact in the region, supporting programme staff in
countries to do so effectively, ensuring that country teams have the right capacites to
make best use of WaterAid’s programming approaches. The role will also make significant
contributions to our influencing work across the region, explore collaborative regional
opportunities around programme delivery and advocating for change in how WASH is
delivered in the region, to bring about equitable and sustainable change to achieve
universal access.
Reporting directly to the Head of Southern Africa Region, the RPM will have a strong
professional relationship with the Head of Programme Support Unit to ensure that global
norms on programme quality, planning, monitoring, evaluation and assurance are applied
across the region. At the Country Programme level, the RPM will have a strong
professional relationship with the Head of Programmes / Senior Programme staff.
Keeping in mind the overall purpose of the role described above, the following key
accountabilities are highlighted.
Key accountabilities
1. Strategic Support and Guidance:
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Support the regional leadership team in developing and promoting effective
programmes, aligned to our regional strategies and thematic frameworks
Advise and support the CRs and country programme staff to plan and deliver
programmes effectively in line with Country Strategies
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2. Programme Development
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Lead the development of WaterAid programme in new countries, Lesotho and
Swaziland
Lead the development of Regional programme proposals and in collaboration with
the Regional Funding Manager proactively engage in raising resources for the
same
Review and endorse in-country protocols for approval by CRs or Head of Southern
Region as appropriate, or approve them as delegated
Review programme plans of country programmes, support and challenge them in
the process to ensure high quality operational plans are developed
Encourage and actively promote cross sectoral linkages so that WASH is
mainstreamed in other sectors and strong links are established with other sectors
3. Programme Management, Assurance and Accountability
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Support the Head of Southern Africa Region in maintaining strategic oversight of
programme work within the region and its contribution to regional and global
objectives
Ensure that in-country programme staff meet agreed standards of accountability
as required by our PM&E framework and global guidance on Strategic Performance
Indicators
Review quality of programme work at the country programme level to provide
assurance to the Country Representatives and Head of Southern Africa Region
that the programme performance in the Region meets WaterAid’s standards
4. Capacity Development and Support
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Guide country programmes in the effective implementation and monitoring of
programme and operational plans, including identifying and facilitating relevant
capacity development support
5. Learning and Knowledge Management
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Contribute actively to ensuring that learning from programme experiences are well
documented and link to our advocacy, campaigning and policy work
Lead research, evaluations, studies and documentation on key programme themes,
disseminate programme best practice within the region and globally
Encourage and support learning from other Sector and Development actors
6. Collaborative Initiatives
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Lead and manage our involvement in regional and cross-country projects with other
collaborating agencies to promote strategic programme opportunities,
Represent WaterAid, as delegated, in regional consortia on programme themes /
initiatives to influence thinking of other stakeholders on effective delivery of WASH
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7. Leadership and People Management :
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Encourage and promote empowering and collaborative leadership, effective
management and a culture of openness and accountability in line with WaterAid’s
values
Coach, guide and mentor senior programme staff in country programmes so that
they are effective as leaders and senior managers
Line manages the Regional Technical Adviser (RTA) to ensure that they provide
effective support to country programmes and the regional teams as per their
respective roles and accountabilities.
Line manages Country Managers / Team Leaders of new countries, Lesotho and
Swaziland and as delegated by the Head of Southern Africa Region.
Person Specification
Essential
Education
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Post graduate degree or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant subject
preferably with significant relevance to the WASH sector
Sound knowledge of international / regional WASH development and programme
delivery.
Experience
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Substantial experience of working at a senior management level in a developing
country and in the Region
Strategic and operational planning
Experience of project and programme management with significant financial and
budget management responsibility
Experience of managing staff
Knowledge and Skills
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Multi-sectoral development programmes
Developing country and programme strategies
Developing project / programme proposals for raising resources from institutional
donors
Developing norms and standards for programme effectiveness
Programme cycle management, Programme audit, quality assurance
Knowleage and understanding of Rights Based Approaches and programming
Demonstrated leadership skills especially in leading and empowering teams and
effectively
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Ability to manage self and staff performance
Working as a member of a team
Strong communication and persuasion skills
Fluent spoken and written English. Those fluent in French or Portuguese will have
an added advantage.
Personal Qualities
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Commitment to inclusive approaches and rights of poor, marginalised and excluded
people
Able to deliver to agreed schedule, timelines
Positive and constructive attitude and approach
Innovative
Give feedback constructively, receptive to feedback and being able to act on it
Strong, motivated team player
Ability to travel extensively up to 12 weeks per year.
Able to work effectively with diverse cultures and adapt personal style to get the
best out of others
Desirable
Education
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Familiarity with WA’s mission, values and aim.
Experience
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Multi-country experience in development
Working at senior levels in large national level organisations
Experience of working in a WASH sector.
Knowledge and Skills
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Programmatic delivery of WASH programmes
Knowledge of a local language spoken in the region.
Financial controls and monitoring
Coaching and mentoring
Networking, ability to collaborate and build alliances
Use of computer packages especially Microsoft Excel
Personal Qualities
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Analytical and quick learner
Willingness to listen and contribute
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Able to support and challenge colleagues
Able to self manage and work under pressure
Abbreviated Terms & Conditions
Salary
A very competitive INGO Salary and Benefits will be offered to a
successful candidate.
International A relocation package in line with WA’s policy may apply depending on
Relocation
individual circumstances especially if relocated to any of the WA
country offices
Main
Pension scheme
Benefits
Group Life Insurance
Annual leave – 25 working days
Medical Insurance with nominated WaterAid’s provider
Travel
Regular travel within the Southern Africa region and other international
travel for up to 30% of the time
Working
Hours
Full time (minimum 35 hours per week). However given the seniority of
this post, the postholder will be required to work flexibly
Contract
Period
Open ended contract is offered. Successful candidates who are
relocating may however be subject to work permit regulations. WA will
support in arranging such work permits if deemed necessary.
Six months probationary period.
Probation
Recruitment process
Closing
date:
To apply:
13.03.2015
View the application instructions on the Vacancies page at
www.actionappointments.co.za and email your application by
Friday 13 March 2015 to lisa@actionappointments.co.za
Your application must be in English.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please assume that you
have not been shortlisted if you have not heard from us within 2
weeks of the closing date.
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