Senior Water and Sanitation Engineer at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

African Development Bank Group (AfDB) - Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Water and Sanitation Engineer

Position Number: 50001049
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Employment Type: Full-time
Position Grade: PL5

The Complex

• The Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex (AHVP) leads in implementing two of the five priority areas “High 5’s”, namely “Feed Africa” and “Improve the Quality of Life for Africans”. The Complex comprises five departments: (i) Agriculture and Agro-Industry Development; (ii) Agriculture Finance and Rural Development; (iii) Gender, Women and Civil Society; (iv) Water Development and Sanitation; and, (v) Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development. The complex objectives are (i) to develop, policy and strategy; (ii) provide deep sector expertise to the regions and (iii) develop new financing instruments
• The Vice-Presidency for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery (RDVP) is responsible for operational relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the Bank Group’s operational programs and activities. 
• The RDVP ensures that the Bank operates successfully across its Regional Members Countries (RMCs) and oversees the full implementation of all aspects of the Bank’s Regional Directorates.

The Hiring Department

• The Water Development and Sanitation Department (AHWS) is part of the Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex. 
• The Department is responsible for the coordination of the Bank’s water development and sanitation-related activities to enhance synergies and contribute to achievement of all High5s (Power and Light Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life).
• The AHWS leads the scaling-up of the Bank’s contribution to Africa’s efforts to attain water security and sanitation for sustainable socio-economic transformation. The Department is also responsible for the origination of Non-Sovereign Operations (NSOs). 
• It also supports regions concerning complex projects. Through its divisions: AHWS.l, AHWS.2, AHWS.3 for Water Security and Sanitation in Africa, and the African Water Facility (AWF), the AHWS Department supports regional hubs in the development and promotion of knowledge, approaches and tools for green and inclusive water security and for improved sanitation.

Hiring Division

• The African Water Facility (AWF) is an initiative of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) to mobilize resources to finance water sector facilitation and investment activities in Africa. 
• The AWF has been established within the context of the Africa Water Vision and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The African Development Bank is managing the AWF on the request of AMCOW. 
• The resources of the AWF are primarily allocated to: water resources projects and programmes focused on improving the enabling environment for sustainable national and regional water resources management, preparing projects and programmes for immediate capital investments, and providing resources for strategic and small-scale investments. 
• The AWF plans, organizes and carries out activities related to projects and programs cycle activities (identification, preparation, appraisal implementation and supervision) in the above areas, in all African countries; undertakes studies on issues regarding the water sector development and related areas; provides advice and technical assistance to African countries; and ensures coordination and synergy with other partners and donors in the water and sanitation sector in Africa. 
• The AWF currently manages a portfolio of more than €200 million spread all over Africa. 
• The AWF currently manages more than €200 million project portfolio shared all over Africa. The AWF is recruiting a Sanitation Specialist who will mainly support the management of the growing sanitation portfolio of the AWF.

Key Functions

• Develop the AWF portfolio in line with the AWF strategy through identifying projects and conducting dialogue with governments, river basin organisations, local governments, utilities, private sector and NGOs, among others.
• Supervise AWF’s Project Portfolio in the EastAfrican Region ensuring that project objectives are met particularly regarding financing of follow-up investments.
• Develop knowledge products to disseminate AWF’s impact and lessons learnt.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The Senior Water and Sanitation Engineer reporting functionally to the Co-ordinator AWF and administratively to the DG RDGE  will be responsible for supporting the development and supervision of the AWF portfolio in the East African Region. S/he will be responsible for managing a portfolio of projects and will ensure that project objectives are met in an efficient and sustainable manner. S/he will undertake various activities, which among others, include:

AWF Pipeline Development and Portfolio Management:

• Lead or participate in missions for AWF project or program identification/origination, preparation and appraisal, and eventual processing for approval
• Collaborate with the legal and other departments in preparation of grant agreements, and follow-up of agreements signature
• Supervise AWF’s portfolio of projects in accordance with Bank rules and procedures, co-ordinating inputs of other Bank experts for effective and efficient portfolio management and administration and support to grantees
• Contribute to the sector’s portfolio performance reviews pertaining to the experience in the water and sanitation sector
• Promote and contribute towards the integration of city-wide inclusive sanitation and green growth in sector operations addressing issues of gender, climate change and fragility
• Lead or participate in project reviews including Internal Working Groups (IWGs) and Inter-departmental Working Groups (IDWGs) and the preparation of project completion reports
• Undertake project completion missions with a view to preparing project completion reports
• Provide technical advice/assistance to RMCs for the development of their water security and sanitation sector programming and tools towards ensuring a water secure environment
• Support RMCs in mainstreaming water security and sanitation as well as broader integrated water resources management principles in their policies, strategies and development plans
• Assist RMCs in identifying institutional capacity building and reform requirements in the Water Sector
• Recruit consultants and/or organize and undertake project preparation missions as necessary to finalize the preparation of the Project Appraisal Reports and support the review process to approval by the relevant persons.
• Ensure that grant agreements are signed promptly after approval as well as timely achievement of grant effectiveness.
• Provide on-going assistance to recipients in understanding and applying AWF’s operational procedures relating to grant administration as well as the AfDB rules and procedures for the procurement of goods, works and services.
• Undertake desk and field supervisions to ensure that projects are timely implemented to achieve the intended objectives.
•  Conduct regular meetings with project implementing teams to assess project status, recommend changes and improvements to ensure the timely achievement of expected results.
• Ensure efficient achievement of all the project milestones including project evaluation, regular audits, knowledge synthesis and timely monitoring and reporting on project progress and completion, problems experienced and solutions to all stakeholders.
•  Support arrangements for project evaluation.

Develop Knowledge Products:

• Contribute to knowledge management including undertaking analytical work to generate and disseminate knowledge products on water and sanitation, water resources management and institutional development to inform the pipeline of projects
• Provide technical guidance and backstopping support in the preparation of country and/or sector studies to promote inclusive, sustainable and affordable water and sanitation services at country level
• Contribute technical inputs to the community of practice on water supply and sanitation to facilitate knowledge exchange within the Bank and to harmonize service standards across the regional hubs
• Establish and maintain active communication between the different stakeholders and work with them to ensure that they are adequately informed on portfolio progress.

Co-ordination, Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships:

• Participate in the co-ordination and organisation of AWF donor meetings, regional and international meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops on water and sanitation development issues.
• Contribute to the AWF/Bank’s collaboration with key external stakeholders, regional bodies and development partners in advancing Africa’s water security.
• Contribute to the AWF and sector department’s responsibility for the coordination of water and sanitation related interventions across complexes
• Contribute to the preparation of the AWF Annual Report, and the Annual Work plan and budget as required.
• Respond to requests for information from the AWF Co-ordinator and the AWF team at HQ in a timely manner.
• Undertake assignments as may be required by the AWF Co-ordinator from time to time
• Participate in or coordinate the preparation of AWF thematic reports and documents and provide expert advice and help improve the quality of Bank reports in-house and outside the AWF
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior experts in relation to the AWF’s Strategy and related Bank policies and procedures in general.

Competencies (skills, experience and knowledge)

• Hold at least a master's degree in civil engineering, water resources engineering, water resources management, or a related field.
• Have a minimum of five (5) years of post-qualification experience in the water and sanitation sector.
• Possess a good understanding of water supply, sanitation, and water resources issues, trends, challenges, and opportunities in Africa.
• In-depth knowledge of integrated water resource management and governance modalities. Ability to identify and articulate policy and strategic issues and provide sound advice.
• Knowledge of investment planning, water sector infrastructure project preparation, climate resilience, structuring of informal sanitation value chains, financing mechanisms for capital and O&M costs of water facilities, private sector mobilization, and Public-Private Partnerships preparation.
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a multicultural environment and build effective working relationships with colleagues.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as part of a multicultural team.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, synthesize complex issues, and communicate them effectively both orally and in written briefs.
• Experience in delivering high-quality operational products and services (research advice, sectoral studies, and reviews; projects).
• Good communication skills and ability to build effective working relationships in a diverse multicultural environment.
• Experience with International Development Financing Institutions (DFI)s in developing countries, including satisfactory knowledge of their operational policies and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively (in writing and orally) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); knowledge of SAP is desirable.

Application Closing Date
12th June, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online