Description

Project Coordinator - Ruvuma River Basin

Financing Agency: Global Environment Facility (GEF)

GEF Implementing Agency: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Executing Agency: Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) and Wetlands International (WI)

Location: The Ruvuma River Basin shared between the Republic of Malawi, the Republic of Mozambique, and the United Republic of Tanzania

Duty Station: Mtwara, Tanzania

Tenure: 36 Months, renewable (contracted through GWPSA and based at the Ruvuma Interim Secretariat in Mtwara, Tanzania)

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1996 to support countries in their efforts to implement a more equitable and sustainable management of their water resources. The network spans 13 regions with more than 3,000 institutional Partners in more than 180 countries. The global secretariat is in Stockholm, Sweden.

The GWP Africa Coordination Unit is based at GWP Southern Africa in Pretoria, South Africa, and coordinates GWP Africa programme across Africa. In addition, GWPSA hosts the GWP global theme on Climate Resilience and is charged with providing global leadership and coordination of implementation of the GWP strategy on climate resilience.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) project, "Strengthening integrated transboundary source-to-sea management of the Ruvuma River Basin and its coastal zones to ensure ecosystem health and livelihood security", seeks to advance integrated source-to-sea management across the Ruvuma River Basin and its associated coastal and marine systems.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The project aims to safeguard ecosystem integrity while strengthening climate resilience and supporting inclusive, sustainable livelihoods across the riparian states of the Republic of Malawi, the Republic of Mozambique, and the United Republic of Tanzania. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility and is led by the IUCN as the GEF Implementing Agency, in partnership with Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) and Wetlands International (WI) as Executing Agencies.

Regional and national institutions in the three riparian countries play a central role in implementation, with transboundary coordination mechanisms serving as the focal custodians for basin-level governance and cooperation. The project, valued at approximately USD 7.1 million, is expected to be implemented over a period of 60 months. During this period, a comprehensive suite of activities will be undertaken to strengthen coordinated planning and management of land, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems through a source-to-sea framework. These activities are structured under five (5) interlinked project components:

• Component 1: Strengthening institutional frameworks for transboundary basin and coastal zone management
• Component 2: Facilitating basin and coastal zone management through science-based decision-making
• Component 3: Supporting strategic investment planning and resource mobilisation for integrated basin and coastal management
• Component 4: Promoting integrated sustainable land and water management through effective, community-based stakeholder engagement
• Component 5: Project management, knowledge generation, communication, and dissemination

Together, these components aim to enhance transboundary water cooperation, protect critical ecosystems from ridge to reef, and deliver durable social, environmental, and economic benefits for communities across the Ruvuma River Basin and its coastal zones.

POSITION SUMMARY

GWPSA seeks to hire a Project Coordinator (PC) for the aforementioned project, to be stationed at the Project Management Unit (PMU) in Mtwara, Tanzania. The PC will be the technical lead of the project and provide technical guidance and project management on key project outcomes. The PC will also be responsible for the regular monitoring of project outcomes and risks, including social and environmental risks, and the day-to-day management of the project. This includes the mobilization of project inputs, supervision over project staff, consultants, responsible partners and sub-contractors/service providers under the responsibility of the Implementing Partner; high-level interactions with the Project Board ("Project Steering Committee") and its members, and the wider stakeholder community; as well as to lead technical advice and support, and coordinate and promote coherence and synergies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical assistance

• Provide guidance / leadership and technical expertise to support the following specific project elements:
  • Work with Co-Executing Agencies to ensure implementation of activities aligned with the approved workplans
  • Training and capacity development activities in the Member States
  • Development of evidence-based science products to address knowledge gaps
  • Development of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Strategic Action Plan
  • Implementation of the in-country demonstration projects
  • Project knowledge management activities
  • Project monitoring and evaluation activities, including monitoring events as determined in the project monitoring plan, and updating the plan as required.
• Provide technical leadership to ensure effective delivery of project outcomes, outputs and activities, including:

1. • Monitor project risks - including social and environmental risks - initially identified and submit new risks to the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log
   • Monitor implementation plans including the gender action plan, stakeholder engagement plan, and any environmental and social management plans
   • Monitor and track progress against the GEF Core indicators
   • Provide technical leadership to secure feedback as needed from project oversight and implementation partners to support adaptive management, including:

• Prepare narrative reports for submission to the donors as well as the Project Steering Committee

• • Support in the preparation of documentation for the PSC - providing secretarial services to the PSC.

• Lead project activities related to Safeguards, including:
  
  • Oversee/develop/coordinate implementation of all safeguards related plans
  • Ensure social and environmental grievances are managed effectively and transparently
  • Review the SESP annually, and update and revise corresponding risk log; mitigation/management plans as necessary
  • Ensure full disclosure with concerned stakeholders
  • Ensure environmental and social risks are identified, avoided, mitigated and managed throughout project implementation
  • Ensure reporting, monitoring and evaluation fully address the safeguard issues of the project

General Project Management

• Strategic Leadership and Oversight

• • Lead, delegate (as appropriate), and oversee the planning of project activities, including coordination, monitoring, and reporting against the approved Main Project Work Plan (budgets, timelines, risks, and deliverables). This includes identifying deviations from plan and formulating and/or pre-approving corrective actions within Project Board-agreed tolerances and decisions.
  • Assess proposals for both major and minor amendments to the project, evaluating cost and budgetary implications against expected benefits, and ensuring compliance with the parameters set by GEF, IUCN, and/or the Project Board.
  • Lead, delegate (as appropriate), and oversee the preparation of revisions to the multi-year Project Work Plan, as required, including any corresponding annual and quarterly work plans.
  • Lead, delegate (as appropriate), and oversee regular (and extraordinary, where required) progress reporting to the Project Board, in accordance with agreed responsibilities of the Implementing Partner (IP), including proposing measures to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Financial and Human Resource Management

• • Ensure sound stewardship of human and financial resources and other project assets; serve as the principal budget owner for funds allocated to GWPSA and WIEA in their capacity as Implementing Partners.
  • Promote resource efficiency by ensuring effective coordination and liaison between the project and other Ruvuma River Basin initiatives, aligning programmes and avoiding duplication of effort.
  • Manage personnel, goods and services, training activities, and low-value grants, including drafting terms of reference and technical specifications, and overseeing contractor performance.
  • Manage requests for IUCN financial resources, including funding advances, direct payments, and reimbursements. Monitor financial resources and accounting systems to ensure accuracy, reliability, and compliance in financial reporting.
• Monitoring, Reporting, and Compliance
  • Lead, delegate (as appropriate), and oversee monitoring of events, milestones, and achievements as outlined in the Project Monitoring Plan, including reviewing and updating the plan where necessary.
  • Oversee the preparation of quarterly financial and narrative reports for submission to IUCN.
  • Lead, delegate (as appropriate), and oversee the identification, management, and monitoring of project risks.
  • Lead, delegate (as appropriate), and oversee the documentation and capture of lessons learned, particularly with respect to project management practices.
  • Oversee the preparation of Project Board meeting documentation and reports.
  • Ensure that indicators in the Project Results Framework are monitored annually ahead of the GEF Project Implementation Report (PIR) submission deadline, and that required data from other Implementing Partners is consolidated for integrated reporting.
  • Oversee and support the preparation of the annual GEF Project Implementation Report (PIR).
  • Oversee monitoring and tracking of progress against GEF Core Indicators, consolidating information from other Implementing Partners as necessary for integrated reporting.
• Support to project evaluation
  • Support and facilitate the Mid-Term Review and Terminal Evaluation processes.
  • Provide support for IUCN-required assessments, spot checks, internal and external audits, ensuring timely and accurate provision of information.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental management, environmental sciences, natural resources management, Integrated Water Resources Management, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with demonstrable experience in transboundary river basin management may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience

• At least 10 years' experience working on river basin management, environmental management, or water resources management issues
• Demonstrated understanding of sustainable development, including financial and institutional sustainability
• Experience in management and facilitation of transboundary water management planning processes
• Experience working with stakeholders to promote sustainability and environmental awareness
• Demonstrated experience in project management
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written)
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-disciplinary and/or cross-sector teams.
• Experience in implementing UN, GCF, or GEF-funded projects is a distinctive advantage.

Language Requirements

• Proficiency in English is required (oral and written), with proficiency in Portuguese as an added advantage

Competencies

• Results Orientation: Ability to meet project goals and produce high-quality results and reports
• Planning and Execution: Capacity to translate strategic goals and priorities into realistic project deliverables.
• Leadership: Competent leadership abilities necessary for dynamic, diverse, and complex projects.
• Building Coalitions: Ability to build relevant coalitions to achieve project goals.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to formulate objectives, set priorities, and implement plans consistent with project interests.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Applicants must be citizens of a Member State of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• Candidates should submit a cover letter, a detailed CV and a minimum of three references in English through the online Bamboo application system and not via email.
• Bamboo link: https://gwpsanpc.bamboohr.com/careers/126
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted within 4 weeks after the application deadline.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Questions can be directed to engeline.sebego@gwpsaf.org
• Deadline: 30 April 2026 17:00 GMT

CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION

The Project Coordinator shall maintain confidentiality of all non-public information, data, and documents accessed or generated in the course of the assignment. Such information shall not be disclosed, shared, or used for purposes outside the scope of this role without prior written authorization from the Responsible Party and/or the Regional Project Management Unit. This obligation shall remain in effect during and after the completion of the assignment.

TAXES

A withholding tax will be deducted from the Contractors invoices at the default rate of 15%, or 10% where a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) is applicable for the respective country. GWPSA will provide the corresponding tax certificates and shall not be liable foranyadditionaltaxes payable to the tax authority/authorities in the Consultant's country of origin.