Job Description

Vacancy Announcement for GIZ Yemen / Improving Food Security for Resilience in Yemen (IFSR) – (PN 22.1802.2-001.00).

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, with 23,614 employees. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. Our business volume is around 3.3 billion euros. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government – in particular the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – and many public and private sector clients in around 120 countries in achieving their objectives in international cooperation. With this aim, GIZ works together with its partners to develop effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has been working in Yemen on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) since 1969. It opened its office in Sana’a in 1983. In order to deliver flexible support at a time of war and insecurity, GIZ operates in Business Continuity Management mode in Yemen.  Yemen is one of the nexus and peace partner countries of the German development cooperation. GIZ implements projects in the fields of water and sanitation, health, education, private sector, and employment, as well as good governance, peace, and local administration. At the same time we support measures to rehabilitate basic services for and enhance resilience of the local population, including particularly vulnerable groups such as internally displaced people.​ Our actions and decisions are guided by several core principles, the safety of our national colleagues as well as their well-being belonging to the most important ones. 

With immediate effect the GIZ Office Sana’a invites applications from qualified Yemeni nationals for the following position: 

• Position: Water and Sanitation Advisor
• End of Contract: 30.06.2025
• Post Location: Sana’a or other duty station according to the instructions of the employer.

Responsibilities

The Water and Sanitation Advisor

• Coordinates with stakeholders to pinpoint needs in agriculture, disaster prevention, and climate adaptation.
• Analyzes data and conducts site visits to assess project feasibility for initiatives like irrigation networks or community nurseries.
• Designs impactful cash-for-work programs adhering to technical standards, providing income opportunities while addressing community needs.
• Crafts detailed work plans with budgets, timelines, and resource allocation, ensuring efficient project execution.
• Coordinates environmental and technical studies for specific project sites, ensuring responsible implementation.
• Leads and oversees project execution by managing teams, including contractors and subcontractors, for timely completion.
• Supervises construction activities to guarantee quality and adherence to specifications for sustainable project outcomes.
• Provides technical guidance and support to project staff and beneficiaries, fostering a strong learning environment.
• Monitors progress closely, identifying and mitigating risks, while tracking performance indicators to ensure projects stay on track.
• Conducts regular field visits to inspect work progress, address emerging concerns, and maintain open communication with stakeholders.
• Fosters strong relationships with beneficiaries, ensuring their active participation and ownership of the project.
• Collaborates with other organizations and agencies for partnerships and resource sharing, maximizing project impact.
• Represents the project in meetings and conferences, effectively sharing updates, knowledge, and best practices.
• Develops and manages a community committee, empowering them to continue managing project assets and resources after project closure, ensuring long-term sustainability.
• Assesses the training needs of project beneficiaries in areas like water management and climate adaptation practices.
• Develops comprehensive training programs and materials that equip project beneficiaries with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the targeted areas.
• Delivers training sessions and workshops, facilitating hands-on learning experiences to ensure knowledge retention and application.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of training initiatives through feedback mechanisms, continuously improving the training programs for maximum impact.
• Prepares accurate and timely project reports (progress, technical, financial) that adhere to project requirements and donor guidelines.
• Maintains meticulous project documentation, including photographs, technical drawings, data, and reports, ensuring all information is organized and accessible for future reference.
• Supports the development of public-private partnerships according to project scope of work and strategies.
• Is supervising the implementation of project activities and partners to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, as well as ensure sustainability of project activities and its impacts.
• Conducts site visits to Sana’a, Al-Mahwit, and Hajah.

Main Tasks                                                            

The Water and Sanitation Advisor

• Collaborate with project stakeholders to identify suitable cash for work opportunities related to coffee and fruits production, agriculture, disaster prevention, and climate adaptation.
• Conduct assessments to determine the feasibility and viability of proposed projects, including coffee and fruits pools, harvesting pools, network for irrigation, rehabilitation of dams, reservoirs, construction of villagers nurseries for coffee and fruits production, rehabilitation of traces, and afforestation for fruits and coffee and fruits.
• Design cash for work interventions, ensuring they meet technical standards and project objectives in the areas of coffee and fruits production, agriculture, disaster prevention, and climate adaptation.
• Prepare detailed work plans, budgets, and procurement plans for each project.
• Environmental and technical studies for targeted and selected interventions and sites to be selected (reservoirs, harvesting water tanks, pools, networks for irrigations, rehabilitations of dams or waters, afforestation sites, nurseries)
• Coordinate with project team members to ensure timely and efficient implementation of cash for work projects.
• Supervise construction activities related to coffee and fruits pools, harvesting pools, network for irrigation, rehabilitation of dams, reservoirs, construction of villagers’ nurseries for coffee and fruits production, rehabilitation of traces, and afforestation for fruits and coffee and fruits.
• Provide technical guidance and support to project staff and beneficiaries.
• Monitor project progress, identify challenges, and propose solutions to overcome them.
• Conduct regular field visits to project sites to assess progress and address any issues that may arise.
• Liaise with community members, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders involved in coffee and fruits production, agriculture, disaster prevention, and climate adaptation.
• Foster positive relationships with beneficiaries and ensure their active participation in project activities.
• Collaborate with other organizations and agencies working in the project area to leverage resources and expertise.
• Represent the project in coordination meetings, workshops, and conferences as required.
• Develop/ manage community committee along with methodologies and approaches that maintain committee managing the activities after project close out to ensure sustainability of assets and resources within community.
• Identify training needs of project beneficiaries in the areas of coffee and fruits production, agriculture, disaster prevention, and climate adaptations related to water management, rehabilitation of lands and resilient practices to protect lands from floods and water streams during seasons and related smart agriculture and water climate adaptations and respective mitigations.
• Develop training programs and materials to enhance the skills and knowledge of beneficiaries.
• Conduct training sessions and workshops to build capacity and promote sustainable practices.
• Prepare timely and accurate project reports, including progress reports, technical reports, and financial reports.
• Maintain proper documentation of project activities, including photographs, technical drawings, and other relevant data.
• Ensure that project records and databases are up to date and easily accessible.
• Prepare report using information management tracking system for interventions and beneficiaries as well as inventory list 
• Handing over and Receive notes from local authorities
• Perform other duties and tasks at the request of management 
• Drive project car to implement project related tasks 

Required qualifications, competences, and experience

• Masters /MSc or bachelor’s in civil engineering
• At least 5 years’ professional experience, in a comparable position
• Proven experience in implementing WASH & Sanitation as well as cash for work or infrastructure projects, preferably in the areas of coffee and fruits production related agriculture measures such construction or rehabilitation of small, medium and big scales tanks, reservoir, dams, harvesting water pools, networks rehabilitation of terraces, cleaning and recycle stations, agriculture, disaster prevention, and climate adaptation measures.
• Strong technical knowledge of construction techniques, materials, and quality control.
• Proven Technical experience in preparation of tendering documents and analysis sheets and tendering regulations and engineering best practices standards 
• .Proven technical experience strong in technical analysis and financial costing analysis of tenders. 
• Experience in conducting assessments, preparing designs, and overseeing construction activities.
• Excellent project management skills, including planning, budgeting, and coordination.
• Experience in providing training and capacity building activities is preferred.
• very good working knowledge of IT and digital applications (e.g. MS Office, MS Teams, etc.)
• digital literacy
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven experience in community engagement, establishment of community committees
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• strong managerial and organisational  skills
• willingness to travel to pilot areas regularly.
• fluent written and oral knowledge of English and Arabic languages; German language would be an asset.
• willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with management. 
• motivation to work in a team and ability to work independently. 
• Ability to drive 4-Wheel vehicle with valid driving license.