International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Administrative and Financial Consultant for the GEF Trifinio project. OAS. Deadline: 24JAN23

Type of contract: Full-Time Consultant Organizational Unit: DDS Start of consultancy: February 2023 Duration: 6 months – renewal subject to performance Consulting fees: based on experience, training and skills Workplace: Esquipulas, Guatemala Deadline: Send CV and cover letter no later than January 24th, 2023, to water@oas.org
  1. Background

  1. For more than 50 years, the OAS has been working on approaches that take into account the multiple values of water at the watershed level. This level allows us to have a broad vision, not restricted to the place where the water is produced or to the place where it is consumed, but  a complex system, where all sectors coexist, all users, and both upstream and downstream. We have scaled this approach at the transboundary level, 60 percent of the continent is covered by transboundary basins where 70 percent of the total surface water flow crosses, and where 40 percent of the population lives. The most important biodiversity hotspots (and the largest to produce enough water in terms of quality and quantity) found in LAC are shared by one or more countries: Amazonas, the Pantanal, Lake Titicaca, Guarani Aquifer, Trifinio among others. The problems found in transboundary basins are generally the same as those found at the national level; however, its management and governance is complicated by international jurisdictions and the divergent interest of countries sharing the water resources.

  1. Due to its biodiversity, its potential to act as carbon sinks, and the economic and subsistence needs of its populations, the Trifinio region has been the longest-running flagship program in the OAS-Water, with more than 35 years of experience.  The Trifinio Region consists of 7,541 km2, distributed at the point where the borders of El Salvador (15.6%), Guatemala (46.5%) and Honduras (37.9%) converge; it is home to about 1 million inhabitants, of which 50% of the population are women and approximately 15% of the total population is indigenous. The region is considered a priority area for the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and is one of the few areas that unites the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through its 3 transboundary river basins: Motagua, Ulúa and Lempa.

  1. The project "Promoting Water Security in the Trifinio Region" focuses on improving cooperation for water resources management in the tri national Lempa River basin. The overall objective is to promote water security in the Lempa basin and, at the same time, increase the resilience of the basin's ecosystems to climate variability and change. The project: (1) strengthen environmental governance and transboundary cooperation frameworks affecting the natural resources of the Lempa basin, with an emphasis on transboundary management; (2) identify sustainable financing mechanisms to implement priority actions to solve the transboundary environmental problems of the basin; (3) engage communities and the private sector in demonstration projects to strengthen their capacities to apply ecosystem-based management approaches to activities that support human health and livelihoods; and (4) raise awareness of the benefits of integrated water resources management approaches for human communities and the environment. Together, these activities aim to initiate the transformative changes that will lead the basin towards greater water security and build climate-resilient ecosystems.

  1. Financial resources come from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and are managed by the United Nations Environment Program, and executed by the Water Program of the Department of Sustainable Development, OAS/SEDI in coordination with the Trinational Trifinio Commission (CTPT) and its Trinational Technical Unit (UTT). For implementation, A 'Project Coordination Unit' (PCU) will be created to coordinate the implementation work and report on outputs and results.

  1. The UCP will be responsible for
  1. Coordinate the day-to-day activities of the project;
  2. Ensure project assurance and quality control (QA/QC);
  3. Ensure timely execution of project components and activities;
  4. Consolidate project reports, including technical, environmental and financial progress reports;
  5. Communication of the project to the public, including through the website and the media;
  6.  Communication/coordination with OAS and UNEP and CTPT;
  7. Coordination of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) requirements; and
  8. Facilitate the work of mid-term and final evaluations.

  1. The PCU will carry out effective monitoring and evaluation activities in the field and will submit periodic reports and supporting documentation to the GS/OAS, UNEP and CTPT through the Project Steering Committee (PSC) in accordance with the monitoring and evaluation plan. These include quarterly progress reports, annual project implementation reviews (PIRs), annual project reports, and a final report.  It is expected that the PCU of Trifinio will be composed of the following staff 1) Project Coordinator - Regional Coordinator 2) IWRM Consultant 3) Knowledge Management and Communication Consultant 4) Administrative and Financial Professional.

  1. Objective of the consultancy

  1. Under the supervision of the Regional Coordinator, the consultant will deliver financial and progress reports, activities report, terms of reference, budgets, and others required by the PCU on a timely and organized manner. Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates assigned activities.

  1. Activities to be carried out:

  1. The Regional Coordinator will have the following responsibilities and activities:
  • Provide all necessary financial and administrative reports to OAS as required.
  • Maintain financial and administrative records according to OAS best practices in coordination with CTPT.
  • Prepare requests for funds according to OAS procedures.
  • Register suppliers.
  • Collaborate in the development of terms of reference and the process of contracting services and consultants for the project.
  • Organize meetings, calls and others necessary for the fulfillment of the project objectives indicated by the PCU.
  • Maintain the inventory of the equipment acquired by the project, informing OAS about eventual breakages or losses.
  • Follow up on the purchase of materials and equipment, especially for the demonstration projects activities.
  • Coordination of budgets and activities with PCU.
  • Keep a record of the expenses of the project and the contributions of partners.
  • Coordination of itineraries, issuance of plane tickets and the corresponding per diem according to each travel schedule for the participants to attend the events scheduled and required by the PCU, e.g. TDA, SADA and SAP meetings, workshops and field trips.
  • Undertake hotels and reservations for accommodation, conference services, equipment rental and refreshments (coffee breaks), and other logistics.
  • Support the preparation of a portfolio of projects for donor round tables.
  • Organize and update the documentation of the activities carried out and maintain the physical and digital file of all the documentation, as well as answer the telephone calls associated with project tasks.
  • Support the coordination of the webinars carry out during project execution.
  • Support PIACT enhancement in constant communication with CeNAT.
  • Monthly report of activities, including table of events (participants, country, subcomponent, results).
  • Assist with IW:LEARN side events.
  • All other administrative activities necessary to fulfill the objectives of the project, as indicated by the Project Coordination Unit.

  1. Responsibility

  1. The contractor will work in close coordination with the CTPT through the mechanisms defined in the institutional governance of the project, supervised by the Regional Project Coordinator; and being technically responsible for compliance with these terms of reference with the Department of Sustainable Development (DDS) of the OAS General Secretariat. It will act within the framework of the CTPT General Secretariat  in close coordination with the UTT. The work involves frequent interaction with the following: i) Counterparts, senior officials and technical staff in the OAS, the Trifinio Plan and in the funds, programs and other specialized agencies of the UN; (ii) Representatives and officials of national and local governments, international organizations and consultants; (iii) Grassroots organizations and local and indigenous communities of the Lempa watershed

  1. Education and professional experience:
  • Appropriate financial or accounting qualification (economics, accounting or business administration).
  • Minimum 5 years of work experience in accounting or business administration, NGOs, cooperation agencies and intergovernmental institutions.
  • Experience with UNEP, GEF, OAS and partner institutions will be valued.
  • Previous work experience in one of the three countries, the Trifinio region, and in IWRM projects or in water sector institutions will be valued.
  • Excellent command of Spanish and preferably the English language.

  1. Competences:
  • Professionalism: Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
  • Communication: Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style; good drafting and copy-editing skills. Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences. Capacity to develop and facilitate relationships with the media community. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
  • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
  • Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
  • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
  • Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
  • Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients.
  • Commitment to Continuous Learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.
  • Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.