Water Resource Officer (Lebanese Nationals Only)

Assignment

Under the supervision of the WASH Projects Coordinator, the Water Resource Officer will support ACTED and EU MADAD project partners to implement river basin management plans in three river basins in Lebanon. This will include ensuring harmonisation in the methodology, tools and outputs, supporting partners to design stakeholder engagement strategies and workshops, supporting in the development of water balance models and River Basin Plans in each basin, and lead on the research and capitalization actions of the approach. The Water Resource Officer will coordinate directly with the National Steering Committee (Ministry of Energy and Water, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Establishments).

1. Background

ACTED is an International Non-Governmental Organization with headquarters in France and global operations in 34 countries across Central and South Asia, Europe, Middle-East and Africa. ACTED has been active in Lebanon since 2006 operating mainly in the North and Beirut and Mount Lebanon governorates. ACTED has been implementing WASH and Shelter interventions in various areas of the country.

The aim of the development of the River Basin Management Plans is to improve water management by identifying and implementing a bundle of demand management measures which can alleviate the prevailing water stress. In parallel to these water quantity issues, the work also focuses on assessing the current pollution levels in the surface waters, in order to mobilize the local community and stakeholders to take action to reduce pollution loads in the basin, and to mitigate the current problem.

The project pursues and promotes an inclusive participatory approach, not only by disseminating the results and outputs to the various target groups, but by also involving them in a consultation process: Policy relevant targets for water conservation, water reuse, etc. will be developed together with the stakeholders using water balance to analyse and quantify the imbalance between sectoral water demands and available supply sources and prevailing trends.

1. Functions

The Water Resource Officer will be responsible for implementing the River Basin Management Plan for ACTED, and supporting in the implementation of two over RBM Plans in Lebanon with ACTED’s NGO partners.  This will entail facilitating local and national river basin stakeholders to identify: 1) priority needs (water resource management, infrastructure, operation and maintenance, pollution control, etc) in line with the existing Lebanese policy and planning, 2) Set targets to improve services, reduce pollution, reduce costs for the community and improve operation and maintenance and 3) Produce a multi-stakeholder Action Plan, and a realistic assessment of the breakdown of actions over a five-year period, their costs and the role of each stakeholder

The functions of the Water Resource Officer include, but are not limited, the following activities:

1. Assessment and design
   1. Under the guidance of the Project Manager and with the support of the project field staff, identify, mobilise and coordinate with local and national government and non-government stakeholders as relevant and needed for the program. Effectively manage stakeholder databases and reporting internally and externally
   2. Support data collection and analysis (hydrometeorological data, geological and land use data, information on the water supply systems, GIS cartographic data, etc.) to assess the current conditions (environmental conditions, infrastructure condition, service availability, costs for consumers, etc.)
   3. Coordinate with the Communications Officer to design and produce of various online and offline communication and visibility materials (photos, videos, presentations, etc.), as deemed necessary by the program’s needs
   4. Design the program’s tools and communications strategy(ies) and manage its implementation through various events and campaigning such as workshops/focus group discussions/trainings and events etc.

1. Project implementation
   1. Ensure that the project targets are met and documented
   2. Lead the planning and management of program’s various stakeholder and beneficiary consultation events (workshops, conferences, community events etc.)
   3. Manage budget projections and work plans for activities
   4. Prepare timely reports and feedback on activities for coordination
   5. Ensure effective flow of information to target audiences and provide regular updates to ensure continued public interest
   6. Draft meeting minutes, articles, human interest stories and other information materials, of field activities to be shared with communities and internally
   7. Manage the planning, implementation and facilitation of the stakeholder workshops in coordination with relevant stakeholders
   8. Coordinate with the Consultant developing of a semi distributed (node-based) Water Resources Management Model and with University stakeholder conducing field water quality sampling program
   9. Development of an online and open source GIS database for each River Basin
   10. Support in the development of representation on each river basin (committee or similar) to advocate for implementation of the Plan. Facilitate training for the committee (or similar) as required, in fundraising, communication, advocacy, stakeholder mobilisation, etc.

1. Sustainability

The Water Resource Officer will be support the WASH Technical Coordinator to prepare tools and guidelines in River Basin Management, and ensure the effective handover and ongoing monitoring of the Plans with the local stakeholders.

1. Accountability to Communities and Beneficiaries

The Water Resource Officer is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities we work are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner.  Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about ACTED programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every ACTED staff member.

Skills and Experience:

1. Masters level degree in Environmental Engineering, Resource Management, Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Sciences or similar
2. At least 5 years of relevant experience in private/NGO/public sector
3. Possesses advanced understanding of principles, practices, codes, and standards in the field of Water Resources Engineering; and Lebanese water policy
4. Demonstrated Hydrology & Hydraulic Modeling Experience, and good working knowledge of GIS programs
5. Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and management, in particular in agriculture and environmental projects
6. Demonstrates effective leadership skills in facilitating stakeholder workshops and driving outcomes with multiple stakeholders
7. Excellent organisation and creative problem solving skills
8. Excellent written and oral Arabic communication skills and proficiency in English are required
9. Advanced working knowledge of MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Publisher)

The candidate should have high level of integrity and accountability. He/she should also demonstrate and be exemplary in portraying humanitarian values and ethics. He/she should be a good team player.

The position is based in Beirut, with frequent overnight travel to Beirut (accommodation available).