BACKGROUND:

The Eastern and Southern Africa region hosts large national and transboundary boundary basins, lakes and Wetlands. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organizations. IUCN’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature, and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. With over 75 years of experience, it harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organizations and the input of more than 15,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. The IUCN Secretariat has offices located all around the world and is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.
Every four years, the IUCN membership adopts a quadrennial Programme that guides the work of the Union, especially that of the IUCN Secretariat. The Secretariat implements the IUCN Programme through a growing portfolio of over 400 projects across the world that are designed to respond to country, donor, and IUCN priorities.

IUCN in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique with support of a Kingdom of the Netherlands is implementing MozWateR project as a part of Integrated Water Management Resources Programme, in period of 2024-2028. The focus for the project is to continue and scale up the previous programme, focusing on improved collaboration and stakeholders and investors synergies, access to safe water and to water for economic activities. The aggregated output to this programme will be increased climate resilience and improved sustainable livelihoods, including the promotion of alternative income generating activities and knowledge to plan and adapt in accordance with the landscapes´ evolution. The project is implemented with implementing partners (Government counterparts) and with the collaborative sub-national stakeholders.

Under direct supervision of the Country Representative, IUCN Mozambique and in close consultation with designated Programme Officers at DNGRH, National Directorate of Water Resource Management and, under the guidance of the Regional Water Programme in IUCN ESARO, the Chief of Party (CoP), MozWateR is responsible for the overall management of the MozWateR project on behalf of the implementing partners and within the limitations laid down by the Project Steering Committee (PSC).
The Chief of Party (CoP) will provide technical advice and support to the implementation of the project activities, and in doing so will work to ensure coherence with the MozWateR project framework developed at the national project management support unit (PMSU) and at local levels by IPs and with relevant parties. The CoP will oversee the overall implementation of the project, monitoring of the use of funds and the procurement plan. S/he will be head of the Project Management Support Unit (PMSU) and will be supported by Project officers allocated to the project, such as Finance & Administration Manager, Senior Gender Officer, Procurement and Administration Officer, MEAL Officer and Communication and Knowledge Management Officer. In addition, s/he will provide guidance on the strategic direction of the project to other project management unit staff and technical experts recruited to deliver project activities. S/he will ensure proper monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all project activities. The CoP will also serve as the Secretary of the Project Steering Committee which is comprised of key stakeholders and project partners.
The position requires significant coordination skills, broad general and technical knowledge, experience in the country and in the region and skills to ensure coherence and consistency despite urgent deadlines.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Manage the overall implementation of the MozWateR Project activities:
Develop annual activity and procurement work plans, as well as budgets based on expected year-end outputs, and ensure close monitoring of activities and delivery.
Work closely with the finance team on matters including financial planning, expenditure tracking, contracting to IPs to ensure IUCN policies are applied.
Follow up on 1) the compliance of project implementation with IUCN policies and safeguards 2) the performance of the activities with the target indicators, logical framework, workplan and budget through regular reporting and on-site supervision missions.
Work with project staff to receive, review, and synthesize monitoring information to support adaptive management and ensure timely compliance with internal and donor requirements, especially to produce the annual performance reports.
Prepare any required updates / summaries on the projects and participate in project-related meetings with the IPs, government, and other partners.
Supervise personnel engaged in delivering aspects of the project.

Coordinate partnership with key stakeholders:
Develop and coordinate the project management support unit (PMSU).
Build, maintain and manage effective working relationships with the IPs and other stakeholders. Ensure that each IP is performing to the highest standards, support project objectives and targets, and comply with IUCN and donor rules and regulations.

Provide technical advice and support to the implementation of the Project activities:
Provide technical inputs to the implementation of the different project activities and outputs – by providing technical inputs to workshop presentations, to studies, to advisory services and to other activities and outputs of the project.
Provide technical support and back-up services to project staff.
Prepare, in consultation with the IPs, TORs for consultants and comment on their reports.
Oversee all cross-cutting activities and ensure their strong support of and synergy with technical implementation objectives and vision, including, but not limited to communications and outreach; monitoring, evaluation & learning (MEL), knowledge management; and gender empowerment and social inclusion.
Monitor and report the implementation of environmental and social risk management measures through the programme cycle.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the overall Project deliverables:
Carry out regular follow-up and monitoring of implementation activities.
Carry out regular monitoring and reporting on risks and mitigation measures.
Ensure timely preparation and submission of required reports, including annual progress and expenditure reports.
Provide regular updates on the project’s progress where possible for all parties and reporting requirements.
Facilitate independent evaluations.

Other responsibilities:
Fundraising and programme development support
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.