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Background

• The Lagos Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program (LUWASH) activity aims to rebuild the social contract around WASH services in Lagos through contributing to the following objectives 1) reliable data on water resources and services and 2) change management for institutional development across objectives to catalyze sector transformation, generating WASH service improvements for at least 4 million people in LICs and building a foundation for continued progress beyond LUWASH.
• Component 1 of the LUWASH program focuses on strengthening governance and institutional arrangements necessary for achieving sustainable WASH outcomes in the long run. This will be carried through three main sub-components: 1) Improve the policy, legal, and regulatory environments of both public and alternative private providers; 2) Enhance the capacity of sector institutions to improve accountability, equity, and transparency in the sector; and, 3) Support government planning efforts to manage water resources and incorporate the risks associated with climate change.

Reporting

The Accountability and Monitoring Specialist will report directly to the Governance and Regulatory Lead (GRL).

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

The Component 1 / Accountability and Monitoring Specialist will be responsible for the following:

• Assist the GRL with activities associated with Component 1: Governance and Institutional Arrangements Strengthened to Deliver Improved WASH Services.
• Assisting in the drafting of annual work plans and design and manage activities listed within the work plan to achieve Component 1 required results
• Work with GRL in the mapping of the policy, institutions, and regulation (PIR) landscape, determining responsibilities and identifying elements to change to ensure accountability and effective service delivery
• Support the development and enforcement of effective planning and management frameworks for water resources and ensure these frameworks are integrated into technical activities across project components
• Assist in the institutional development and capacity building initiatives with LWC, LSWMO and LAWARCO to strengthen their ability to carry out more effective, accountable, and transparent sector management and regulation.
• Assist GRL in coordination of stakeholder’s meetings, workshops, and / or learning and knowledge sharing visits
• Monitor and report on results and successes of relevant previous and ongoing WASH activities in Nigeria and Lagos to leverage into future activities.
• Assist GRL in putting together USAID facing deliverables that proactively communicate progress, achievements, and challenges.
• Provide support to the GRL for resolution of complex issues, timely completion of tasks, and achievement of project goals and objectives.
• Other duties as assigned by the GRL.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree in engineering, Management, Urban Planning, law or any relevant social science preferred.
• Minimum of three years’ experience working on water and sanitation sector reforms and utility management enabling environments at senior level.
• Demonstrated understanding of the institutional and legal framework in Lagos state and Nigeria at the federal level for WASH services, resources management and regulation
• Experience working on urban water supply systems and community-based water supply and sanitation services is preferred.
• A good understanding of operational challenges of water service providers in Nigeria, specifically Lagos
• Professional level of technical WASH knowledge, skills, and experience providing technical and management support related to similarly sized programs.
• Experience using integrated approaches to WASH including systems thinking.
• Demonstrated capacity strengthening skills and experience with focus on institutionalizing capacity strengthening systems within partner organizations.
• Strong communication skills, both interpersonal and written.
• Written and spoken English fluency required.

Duration of Assignment

• Long term, minimum of 2 years expected

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Job Summary:

• Embedded within LWC and provides technical assistance in financial management, infrastructure planning, engineering, data, and management of private sector contracts (Task 2.2). Collaborates with DCOP and utility operations and management specialist to help LWC establish a LIC unit, advising and building capacity of LWC staff to develop appropriate subsidies and business models, improve cost recovery, and forecast mid- and long-term capital investment requirements.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:

The main objective of this position is to support and build capacity of the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) in downstream utility operations including finance management, planning, monitoring and evaluation and general strategy development with the aim of improving their operational viability. In this respect the position will support the LWC to have adequate capacity for budgeting, financial management reporting, planning, M&E, and other revenue generation ventures. This means developing a robust, accurate, transparent accounting systems and strengthening transparent financial management along with a long-term strategic thinking hub for the utility. The position also supports the (LWC) in routine budgeting processes, and design of appropriate tariffs. Other functions will include:

• Facilitate the development and implementation of Financial Management Manuals and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Support prioritization and use of private sector options to improve delivery of water supply services.
• Identify innovative cost recovery mechanisms and service delivery models.
• Undertake Lagos State economic analysis and support the tracking of WASH investment trends.
• Facilitate an effective budgeting process and investment planning with specific sight on directed subsidies to low-income communities.
• Support the review and development of an appropriate financial management system for the LWC in compliance with international accounting standards.
• Review existing and if need be, propose the procurement or development of an accounting package or integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution.
• Recommend IT hardware requirement for the financial management systems.
• Build the capacity of the relevant financial management staff of the utilities.
• Support the M&E Unit personnel to be able to collect, collate and track utility data for decision making.
• Analyze financial data to identify LWC’s financial status.
• Advise senior management team on financial planning.
• Liaise with other LUWASH Technical Specialist to build the capacity of the Production, Network Intelligence and Engineering Services personnel.

Qualifications:

• At least a master’s degree in Accounting, Economics, finance, or any such related fields.
• A minimum of Master's degree and 6 years of experience or Bachelor's Degree and 10 years of experience post qualification experience in any of the above areas.
• Experience in designing and undertaking financial management systems, evidence-based budgeting.
• Knowledge of the key components of a utility tariff and familiarity with finance and statistical analysis software with MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook will be an advantage.
• Applicants should also have strong analytical skills with an attention to detail, excellent interpersonal and communication alongside customer relations skills.

Duration

This is a long-term assignment. The expected duration is at least one year. This position will be based in Lagos, Nigeria.