Company Description
Introduction
SNV is a mission-driven global development partner working in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia. Building on 60 years of experience and grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we work on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance. Our mission is to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems, which enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all. For more information, please refer to our website: www.snv.org
Programme Background
In Bangladesh, SNV had initiated urban water (primarily in sanitation) programme from 2014 in southern cities and have been proactively engaged in National level to support urban sanitation initiatives. SNV under the Urban Sanitation Programme with the support from BMGF and DGIS aims to support Local Authorities (Khulna and Gazipur City Corporations, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Jessore and Benapole Paurashavas) to address service delivery challenges in sanitation and advance the sector development as a whole, through strategic engagement with Government Agencies and partnering with other experienced civil society and private sector organisations working in the sector.
SNV believes in rethinking, reforming, and enhancing institutional structures to lessen the impact of rapid urbanisation and climate threats. To do this, we must seek ways to improve the governance and practices of the waste management, drainage and water supply sectors. In Bangladesh, the local government is responsible for water, sanitation, drainage, and solid waste, often needing more local capacities. Private sector engagement plays a crucial role in making cities more sustainable, but accountability and performance still need improvement. SNV has been working with different stakeholders to set up PPPs with clearer rules of engagement and oversight to strengthen performance accountability by adopting a holistic approach to a sustainable urban water cycle. In continuation of this, and in close collaboration with the two responsible national departments – the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) SNV is heading towards a new approach of promoting Sustainable Urban Water Cycle in Bangladesh. Supporting this, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh has awarded SNV a new project in Bangladesh titled “Transitioning to sustainable urban water cycles in Bangladesh (SUWC)”.
The objective of this project is to improve sanitation, solid waste, and drainage water management to protect the health and well-being of around 1.8 million people in 12 cities and towns by increasing access to safe, essential urban services (sanitation, solid waste, stormwater management). Moreover, the project will initiate improvements in relevant water resource management indicators at the city level over five years.
The project envisages following 6 (six) outcomes to support city-wide inclusive services by professionalisation and financial viability of urban sanitation and solid waste facilities.
- Strengthened capacities to support city-wide inclusive services.
- Increased professionalisation and financial viability of urban sanitation and solid waste services.
- Strengthened governance, regulation, enforcement, and monitoring capacity.
- Strengthened performance, integration and circularity of treatment, reuse, and recycling.
- More responsive strategic communication towards consumer behaviours.
- Improved capacity and preparedness for city-level floods and droughts.
The project works in various geographically and ecologically diverse areas across Bangladesh. Four city corporations and eight paurashavas – grouped into following six clusters. The cities are: Rajshahi, Sylhet, Cumilla and Khulna City Corporation, and Chapai Nawabganj, Shibganj, Bogura, Joypurhat, Lalmonirhat, Moulvibazar, Chatak, and Bagerhat municipality.
The project aligns with the long-term Bangladesh Delta Plan (BDP) 2100; and related national commitments on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 6 on achieving inclusive and sustainable safely managed sanitation, SDG11 around solid waste and water-related risks, and SDG13 around resilience, adaptive capacity and greenhouse gas emissions.
Job Description
Context and purpose of the job
Urbanisation alters the urban water cycles, leading to less infiltration, less evapotranspiration, and more run-off. As a result, the risks increase for flooding during rains and drought during the dry season. These floods and droughts interfere with city services, like water supply, sanitation, and solid waste management (SWM), and thus affect the living environment of the urban population. Furthermore, these processes are exacerbated by climate change, which in Bangladesh will lead to higher rainfall intensities and greater interannual variability. Cities will also experience higher temperatures than nearby rural areas, due to the materials used in the built environment. Exposure to water-related risks in the cities and towns in Bangladesh is aggravated by the poor maintenance of storm water drainage systems. This includes blockages from solid waste, weeds, disrepair of basic infrastructure, and encroachment.
Although the malfunction of drainage networks is largely caused by the illegal dumping of solid waste and faecal sludge from sanitation containments, proper operation and maintenance of these networks is lacking in most cities. Existing stormwater management systems depend on conventional drainage, with less emphasis on water re-use or the recharging of aquifers. Moreover, greywater management at household level is generally limited to (inadequate) connections to sanitation containments or it is directly discharged to drains or surface water bodies.
The SUWC project will support cities to improve the planning and operation of the existing drainage system and identify sustainable alternatives for stormwater management towards a ‘sponge cities’ approach. The project will focus on reducing the water related risks in the cities, primarily from floods and droughts. It will work to reduce both exposure (at city and neighbourhood level) as well as vulnerability (at household and neighbourhood level). Furthermore, premise-level water management can make a small contribution to address floods and droughts in some areas. BCC campaigns will also focus on reducing the illegal dumping of solid waste into the environment, with a particular link to keeping drainage systems free of waste before the rainy season. These campaigns will be complemented with enforcement mechanisms defined under governance component of the project to increase uptake and compliance with the formal solid waste collection services of the cities.
On the one hand the project will work on improved and timely maintenance of the drainage network, and on the other hand it will contribute to reduce vulnerability in ‘hot-spot’ areas through BCC campaigns, smart enforcement strategies, and social marketing. Where relevant, the project will promote revaluation of traditional (urban) water storage practices such as ponds and rainwater harvesting, as blue-green or nature-based solutions.
To design the interventions and support the cities to build their capacity to well manage the urban flood and droughts effectively and to promote the ‘sponge cities’ approach, SNV is seeking for an expert to be the member of staff in the project team.
Purpose of this position
The Drainage and Flood Management Advisor will lead the flood and drought management component in close collaboration with the advisors of other components and the respective Cluster Coordinators. He/she is expected to provide advisory support on capacity building, drainage planning and preparedness for city-level floods and droughts in the program areas. Drainage and Flood Management Advisor needs to work collaboratively and constructively with the different partners and is also expected to have a methodical and systematic approach to identifying solutions, implementing and monitoring those for properly documenting the process.
Job Responsibilities/ Result areas
- Conduct and support research to understand the causes of urban flooding, water logging and drought.
- Together with other on-going initiatives, support selected city authorities in developing drainage master plan, awareness raising and safe water source mapping;
- Support colleagues in the other components to develop technology upgrading options, service options for vulnerable areas, city data management and standards;
- Identify and engage with key national and local stakeholders in engaged flood and draught, and climate change, including government agencies, research institutions, civil society platforms, and private sectors to promote the project objectives relate to flood and draught and build partnerships.
- Integrate legal and social information in the search for appropriate approach and suitable technological solutions.
- Develop resource materials including guidelines/ tools and organise training/ workshop with city authorities and stakeholder for better their better understanding about the urban flood and drought, their causes, impact and alternative options for solutions.
- Conduct comparative studies and facilitate horizontal learning to improve practice among the cities.
- Provide support to the Communication Advisors/Sector Leader/Project Manager and the team for content development in relation to organisation’s communication materials, and policy briefs.
- Engage and participate in other activities as will be deemed necessary for project implementation and will be assigned by Sector Leader/Project Manager.
The above list of job responsibilities is not exclusive or exhaustive and the position will be required to undertake any assigned responsibilities assigned by his/her Supervisor as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the position.
Qualifications
Educational Requirements
- Masters in environmental science, civil or environmental Engineering, hydrology or relevant discipline.
Desired Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies:
- At least 10 years of working experience in the relevant areas including 4 years in urban area.
- Must have a track record of successful completion of similar assignments with similar context.
- Significant experience in developing and managing complex and multi-stakeholder initiatives in programme delivering.
- Ability to lead a programme component with remote supervision and work independently, as well as member of a team, and to be flexible to accommodate the needs of stakeholders.
- Should have good written and oral communication skills both in English and Bangla. Should also have relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office).
- The candidate should be strategic, analytical, and able to think critically.
- Should have the flexibility to handle varied and demanding tasks and ability to balance priorities, thrive under pressure and manage a multitude of details in a fast-paced environment.
- Should be passionate about the issues she/he work on and committed to making a positive impact. She/he should also have a strong work ethic, be self-motivated, and have a positive attitude.
Additional Information
Duty station : Sylhet City with frequent travel to project cities
Contract Duration : Initially for two years with a possibility of extension depending on performance and availability of funds.
Expected Joining Date : As soon as possible.
Working Hours : Full time (minimum of 40 hours per week)
Salary & Benefits : The total gross salary package (basic salary + House Rent Allowance + Transportation Allowance + Medical Allowance) will range between 1,57,820 and BDT 1,72,549 per month, depending on the selected candidate’s work experience and competencies. Gratuity and provident fund entitlement will be followed by SNV Bangladesh HR Manual.
In addition
- Communication Allowance
- Gratuity
- Provident Fund
- Festival Allowance
- Hospitalization insurance Coverage for employee and family member (spouse and children)
- Group life insurance for employee
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position. If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by submitting a brief letter of motivation (1 page) and your CV (not more than 3 pages). Your CV should highlight your prior work achievements; it should not be a list of your current or prior job responsibilities. Please apply through SmartRecruiters by 6 May 2023.
We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Any form of solicitation by phone or other means will be treated as disqualification of the candidate. SNV is an equal employment provider.
