Senior Solarization Specialist

LonAdd HR Consultancy Plc (www.lonadd.com) is a Recruitment & Outsourcing Company based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with branch offices in Dukem and Hawassa. We are looking to recruit a qualified candidate on behalf of our client.

Background

Ethiopia has made significant progress in expanding access to water and sanitation. In 1990s, only 14% of the population had access to water and 3% to sanitation coverage. In 2017, this had increased to 65% and 32% respectively. In 20 years, 45 million people gained access to water. Ethiopia has made rapid progress in reducing open defecation (92% of population in 1992 to 28% in 2015, and 17% in 2020).

Despite the good progress that Ethiopia has made in improving access to WASH, frequent climate variability that led to successive droughts affecting large geographical areas, huge existing unmet needs, and geographical and social disparities have remained key challenges. Especially, for water supply, the source of energy for pumping water continues to be a huge challenge and most of the water systems are depending on fuel generators. The fuel cost is becoming beyond the community ability to pay. In addition, sustainable fuel supply is a day-to-day challenge in the entire country.

To address these challenges, particularly the fuel price hike and its nonreliability in the market, with the support of key donors, the Client jointly with Government of Ethiopia (GoE) started solarization of water schemes for most affected communities in remote areas.

As a lead and trusted donor in the sector, currently FCDO provided grant to the Client, to support sustainable access to climate resilient clean water and improved sanitation services and good hygiene practices. The programme FCDO is supporting is being implemented in 13 priority areas of Amhara, Oromia and Tigrai regions of Ethiopia. This programme prioritizes the most affected and drought prone areas of Ethiopia through strengthened climate resilient systems of WASH delivery whilst supporting sustainable financing systems for WASH in Ethiopia. This program supports construction solar system in the existing water sources of the intervention areas.

Justification

Since the Solarization Projects are implemented in both fuel and electricity energy source scarce areas, it is expected to be a problem-solving project. All selected sites are in remote areas and the water systems are serving multiple villages. The topography is more challenging and complex for the solar system implementation, operation, maintenance, and management.

Water sources of most of the project areas are found in a remote area which is far away from the towns and vulnerable to damage and failure if they are not given due attention the planning, design, implementation, supervision, and operation phases of the projects. Thus, these projects need proper expertise follow-up at each phase of project implementation, including planning, design, implementation, construction supervision, O&M management, staff capacity building, and project commissioning. This gap shall be filled by deploying experienced sector expert that provide specialized support to the regions and the Client.

Specific Tasks

The role of the Senior Water System Solarization Specialist working under the Third-Party Organization (LonAdd) to support and facilitate the effective implementation of particularly the Water System Solarization in different parts of the region of Ethiopia. The role of the Senior Water System Solarization Specialist will be to support the Cleint and Water Bureaus in different regional states of Ethiopia and providing them with preparation of technical specification, construction supervision of solar contractors, payment preparations and approval, capacity building /skills transfer through trainings and development of necessary O&M training manuals.

The Senior Water System Solarization Specialist will work with the Client Urban WASH specialist, responsible for managing and coordinating the Solarization Program implementing in different regions. The Client Urban WASH Specialist would affirm that work plans developed by the Senior Water System Solarization Specialist to discharge his/her assigned duties are logically compatible with his/her respective job descriptions and would monitor that the planned services are delivered by the expert in a manner and in line with the objective of the project/program.

Based on the roles described above, the specific areas of responsibility of the Senior Water System Solarization Specialist include, but are not limited to:

Technical aspects

• Prepare specifications for Water System Solarizations, tender evaluation, TOR development, inspection, supervision of installation.
• Develop, evaluate, improve, and implement Water System Solarizations guidelines, design standards, specifications, manuals, and standards to facilitate the study and design of solarized water supply systems.
• Perform Water System Solarization feasibility study, detailed design, design review, simulation work and prepare BoQs for the intervention Water System Solarization projects.
• Provide technical support and advice to WASH Officers/Specialists in the intervention regions, zones who are involved in Water System Solarization and design; provide training, review work, and accordingly take corrective action.
• Support complex water supply system modeling suing software.
• Identify complex and challenging electromechanical system in water supply, analyze designs solutions, coordinate, and facilitate ongoing projects to be economical, resource-intensive, and sustainable.
• Conduct Water System Solarization study and design training needs survey for urban and rural water supply systems in solarization intervention regions; based on the needs survey, prepare training manuals, provide ToT, monitor training at all levels and provide support.
• Prepare designs, work drawings and bill of quantities for Water System Solarization works in the proposed projects including field work and preparing design reports. Ensure the contractors Water System Solarization designs are aligned with national and international standards.
• Conduct the construction supervision and ensure that designs and supervisions are in line with national and international standards.
• Carry out cross-checks and selection of technical and financial proposals
• Review and approve contract documents for the design, supply, and installation of Water System Solarization goods, works and services.
• Ensure the installation, operation, and maintenance of all Water System Solarization works are complying with national and international standards. Check and ensure the proper operation of all Water System Solarization works before commissioning.
• Participate in and provide technical input in tendering, advise in evaluation and award processing of all Water System Solarization contracts for the project.
• Review periodic progress reports of Water System Solarization works, work completion reports, personnel assigned, and length of time needed to complete specific activities, analyze information about the site activities and site reviews.
• Conduct periodic work site inspections to determine adherence to project objectives, works standards and safety practices; review inspection reports and conduct field inspections to rectify the deficiencies identified and recommend areas requiring performance improvements by contractors through formal field visits
• Follow up and supervise the progress of contractors involved in the Water System Solarization works to accomplish the projects based on the time schedule and to resolve any ambiguity between them.
• Appraise Water System Solarization works study, design and supervision formats/templates and notify regional WASH staff and contractors.
• Assist and build capacity of regional WASH team in Water System Solarization fields (in collecting and analyzing, reviewing, and approving variety of Water System Solarization information), planning specifications, working drawings and bill of quantities.
• Conduct also post construction visit to the solar system installed sites and follow up sustainability.

Program Planning and Management

• Prepare and consolidate biweekly and monthly progress reports of Water System Solarization projects.
• Promote learning between woredas and between towns by sharing information, progress reports and best practices.
• Update data on Water System Solarization performance, including number of user communities and beneficiaries vs planned activities.

Sector Support

• Guide, capacitate and support technically government experts through related skill transfer and coaching,
• Work collaboratively with regional, zonal, woreda and town level government partners to ensure they have the necessary skills and trainings to perform their duties.
• Follow up and assist the regions/woredas/towns on overall program management starting from ToR and RFP preparation for Water System Solarization.
• Produce or update the necessary technical training materials and manuals (e.g. cost-effective designs, operation and maintenance, etc.) for use by implementing agencies,
• Provide technical backup support and training to WWT/Town Water Boards/Utilities (urban) during the early phase of project support.

Methodology

The Consultant will support the Client and regional water bureaus in the implementation of the tasks outlined in this TORs. Coordination with different government counterparts, private sector and the Client implementing partners to ensure smooth implementation of the Water System Solarization project activities in the regions.

Duration of the Assignment: The assignment will be for one year with possible extension based on individual performance, scope of work and arability of resources to fund the position. The client reserves the right to terminate the contract with a one-month prior notice in case of performance issues or funding constraints.

No. required : 1

COMPETENCIES (To be modified.)

• Knowledge and understanding WASH regulatory environment and working conditions.
• Excellent knowledge in monitoring and evaluation, preferably in the WASH.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to interpret and present complex data.
• Proficient in using Solarization, Civil and Water Engineering software and data management tools
• Strong communication and report-writing skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Knowledge of the regulatory framework and challenges in WASH Sector in Ethiopia is an advantage.
• Practical Experience in Solarization design, supervision, monitoring and evaluation.
• Good coordination skills, with the ability to handle multiple activities concurrently, work under pressure, and to tight deadlines.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.