Benin: Senior Advisor Local Governance

Senior Advisor Local Governance

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Benin

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT SNV

For SNV Benin (duty station Dogbo) we are looking for a

Senior Advisor Local Governance, with specialisation in drinking water supply

The decentralisation process in Benin took a major leap ahead with the successful organisation of the first-ever local elections at the end of 2002. Since then, local development has become the responsibility of the mayors and councillors. SNV Benin provides advisory support to some 30 mostly rural and middle sized municipalities (population 25-100.000) with the objective to strengthen the capacities of the local governments, especially in the fields of planning, local finance and project preparation and management. These activities take up a large part of the programme.

The advisors of SNV Benin are organised in five Advisory Teams in Dogbo, Natitingou, Kandi, Parakou and Cotonou-Porto Novo, each with 5 - 7 advisors. Together they cover the whole territory of Benin.

SNV wishes to strengthen its team in Dogbo with a Local Governance advisor specialized in water issues, especially the provision of drinking water and sanitation.

Your main responsibilities will be
- Support the strengthening of local government institutions, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders involved in local governance through the provision of professional advice;
- Work to foster institutional linkages between local, regional and national level institutions and assist the promotion of democratisation in governance and civil society capacity development;
- Assist the local governments to achieve the Millennium Development Goal related to the supply of safe drinking water;
- Explore and identify opportunities for the development of activities related to Integrated Water Management issues, especially in the wetlands of the coastal zone of Benin
- Promote, develop and participate in water related knowledge networks at provincial, national and international level
- Interest new clients for SNV's services and maintain high quality client relationships;
- Contribute to team learning and establish strategic alliances.

Requirements
Educational background: Masters in Public Administration, general economics, sociology or politico logy or equivalent, with specialisation in supply of drinking water and interest in water management issues
Experience: 7-8 years of advisory experience (of which at least 4-5 in a developing country) in the area of Local Governance with a focus on supply of potable water. Good communication skills and familiar with capacity development and participative planning methods.
Other: commitment to SNV's mission, values and vision on advisory practice; academic level of working and thinking; excellent inter-cultural understanding and skills.
Language: fluent in French and English.
Positioning: hierarchical under the Portfolio Coordinator of the SNV Dogbo team.

Description of the region
Health services: acceptable (clinics in Cotonou)
Security: good
Accessibility: 120 km (2 hours) from Cotonou; good road network with other parts of the country and neighbouring countries; frequent flights to Paris and other destinations; very reasonable telephone, E-mail and internet connections.
Education: national schools in Dogbo (French and British schools in Cotonou)
Possibilities for employment for partner: very limited in Dogbo, more probable in Cotonou

Salary: Minimum Euro 2536,00 - maximum Euro 3945,00 gross per month, excluding attractive secondary conditions and individual allowances.
Desired appointment date: as soon as possible
Contract period: 2 years

Information / application:
Your can apply on-line through the internet www.snvworld.org until March 4th, 2005.
Reference number: BJ/1562
Women are in particular invited to apply.
More details will be available at: [email protected]
We do not appreciate any commercial mediation