JOB ADVERT: TECHNICAL ADVISOR COVENANT OF MAYORS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA H/F - YAOUNDÉ - GIZ CAMEROUN

A-Context

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) initiative supports Sub-Saharan African cities in their fight against climate change and in their efforts to ensure access to clean energy. Under the CoM SSA, local authorities are invited to make a voluntary political commitment to implement climate and energy actions in their communities, and agree on a long-term vision to tackle access to energy, climate mitigation and climate adaptation.

The support to the CoM SSA initiative in its first phases has been instrumental in setting up a network of over 160 signatory cities and forming a group of early movers. The upcoming support (under CoM SSA Phase III) aims at scaling-up the initiative's impact by enhancing the network of beneficiaries and bridging the gap to finance for local administrations through 3 pillars:

1. Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SEACAP) development, integration and monitoring;
2. Support urban sustainable energy and climate related investments; and
3. Promoting regional cooperation and enhancing learning from good practice.

Organisational set-up

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa is an initiative financed by the European Commission. The support to CoM SSA Phase III is implemented by GIZ in cooperation with Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Expertise France (EF) and the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID).

GIZ is supporting the implementation of the CoMSSA Phase III in 3 focal countries (Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Kenya). The main project office is in Brussels, Belgium.

CoM SSA in Cameroun

In Cameroun, the CoM SSA has 65 signatory cities. The operational objective of GIZ’s CoMSSA Phase III activities in Cameroun is to support SEACAP development, capacity building and supporting climate related investments through:

• Providing tailored technical assistance to local administrations to develop bankable projects in the areas of climate mitigation, adaptation and energy access)
• Supporting the process of developing SEACAPs for identified cities in line with national mandates and CoMSSA guidelines
• Implementing capacity building measures for local administrations through topical workshops, seminars and trainings

The Advisor will take the lead responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of the CoMSSA activities in Cameroun. The Advisor shall operate with close coordination with the responsible country manager in the CoMSSA team in Brussels.

B-Responsibilities and Tasks

The advisor will coordinate and support the implementation of all relevant activities in Cameroun along the 3 pillars of action. The advisor will have the following key responsibilities: 

1. Being the focal point of coordination for CoMSSA activities, (including local administration authorities; consultants; local GIZ office; and other relevant partners) in close cooperation with the Project team in Brussels.

This entails tasks such as

• Following up for all activities agreed between the project and cities officials (as per the agreed work plan);
• Maintaining appropriate contact and good working relationships in close cooperation with the CoM SSA consultants with all relevant partners in the country;
• Independent field visits to local administrations and projects in different regions in accordance with the requirements of the project;
• Networking and communicating with national stakeholders relevant for the CoMSSA activities (this could include national ministries; CSOs; financiers; etc)
• Compiling information about CoM SSA projects, including activities and their results, and knowledge transfer through reports and presentation materials.

2. Support the implementation of core CoMSSA objectives through managing key day-to-day activities and providing professional inputs and advice.

This entails:

• Organizing measures for tailor made capacity development and peer exchange of experience between partner cities/countries, with the aim to build adequate local institutional structures and policy frameworks for financing in the context of CoM SSA;
• Developing and supporting technical trainings for city administrations and local stakeholders   to improve their capacities to prepare and implement SEACAPs or infrastructure projects;
• Reviewing and providing technical inputs on areas relevant to the project such as context-specific energy/climate planning, or developing infrastructure projects for financing
• Conceptualizing, preparing and implementing workshops, seminars, conferences or other events on subjects relevant to the CoMSSA activities;
• Defining terms of reference, selection, and independent supervision of consultants in carrying out project´s activities;
• Selection, steering and professional backstopping of national (and international) consultants as well as quality assurance of the work results in the field of urban sustainable energy and climate related investments;
• Screening infrastructure projects on their viability for financing for existing infrastructure financing facilities and development banks (such as AFD and EIP) and verify compliance of projects with lending criteria.

C-Required qualifications, competences and experience

• University degree in a relevant field (eg. Economics, finance, urban planning or natural and environmental sciences);
• 5 years of professional experience in working with local administrations – existing networks with national urban authorities, bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as consultants, academic institutions and civil society actors;
• Professional experience (at least 5 years) in advising public or private institutions on urban planning, financing of infrastructure projects and/or adaptation to climate change;
• The candidate should have experience in project formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of urban infrastructure projects (especially in energy and climate resilience).
• Knowledge of decentralisation and governance at the local and national level, climate and energy planning and development strategies would be an advantage:
• Experience in the field of communication, knowledge transfer and experience working with finance institutions and development agencies would be an advantage.
• An interdisciplinary mindset, the ability to cooperate and work in a team, a high degree of initiative and a willingness to take responsibility;
• Excellent communication, writing and presentation skills;
• Excellent proficiency in French and English.

Expected starting date: December 2019

Assignment Period:  one year extensible until Dec. 2021

Place of employment: Yaoundé

Closing date: 07.11.2019

Internal Classification: Professional 4T, Reports to Head of Programme (AV) and Country Manager CoM SSA

Application submission: Interested and suitable applicants should forward their applications including a detailed Curriculum Vitae (maxi 2 leaves), a one-page cover letter addressing the applicant’s motivation and three (3) professional references, only via the GIZ-CM online recruitment platform : TECHNICAL ADVISOR

Female candidates are strongly encouraged!

Important note: Recruitment at GIZ is not subject to any fees nor mediation. Any fraudulent information detected will result in the elimination of the application of the current and future recruitment process. Only selected candidates will be contacted. Unsuccessful files will be destroyed six months after the date of publication.