Think Tank Director, Water and Sanitation for Africa (WSA) HQ, Burkina Faso [deadline November 30, 2012] Summary Water and Sanitatio...
Think Tank Director, Water and Sanitation for Africa (WSA) HQ, Burkina Faso [deadline November 30, 2012]
Summary
Water and Sanitation for Africa, a Pan-African Intergovernmental Agency, is looking to appoint a Think Tank Director to lead its African Sanitation Think Tank as part of its new policy program. The candidate will join the organization at an important stage in our development and will play a key role in increasing the capacity of the policy program as we enter an exciting and high-profile plan of work.
This is an exciting time to join WSA, and an opportunity to become a senior member of our team as we work to capitalize on our growing public profile and increase the influence of our research and policy work. This position will be located at the WSA Headquarters in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Formulate strategies to engage and mobilize the resources necessary to build public awareness of the African Sanitation Think Tank’s priority policy issues related to water and sanitation
- Manage the Think Tank’s overall research agenda by evaluating current research and anticipating and planning for future research needs, thereby ensuring the Think Tank engages in leveraged areas that advance its mission
- Oversee the execution qualitative and quantitative research to the highest standards and developing appropriate policy ideas, briefs and reports
- Liaise with Program Support and Development Department within the Research and Policy Unit
- Build relationships and work with key stakeholders in order to disseminate research to organizations that are in the best position to leverage
- Actively engage existing partners at national and international level as well as identify and cultivate relationships with new partners in order to educate the public on the African sanitation sub-sector
- Oversee internal capacity building on related policy issues
- Represent WSA on platforms and at seminars, conferences and other public events
- Generate ideas for action research to assess (suitability and implementation) and test existing policies through continuous assessment of policy environment
- Drive capacity building, analysis, influencing policy analysis within Agency and with NGOs etc.
- Mentor and guide the Think Tank team
- Monitor and keep the team informed of external policy developments relevant to the WSA’s 2011-15 Strategic Plan
In the first 18 months, the role will be responsible for coordinating the activities of WSA’s African Sanitation Think Tank, as well as working across the rest of the research program and playing an important role in developing the WSA’s future policy activities.
Education
PhD in Economics, Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy or related field
Competencies
Expected
- 10+ years of experience, with proven ability to manage staff
- Solid understanding of water and sanitation policy in Africa
- Leadership experience running issue campaigns at national and international level
- Strong program management, critical thinking, and organizational skills, superior communication skills
- Entrepreneurial spirit, humility, and a passion for African development policies
- Excellent writing and presentation skills
- Strong proficiency in English and French – bilingual
- Desired
Experience with working with Regional Institutions (e.g. ECOWAS, AMCOW, AU) and bilateral agencies
Application
Start date: ASAP
Application deadline: 30 November 2012
To apply: submit a cover letter and CV to hr@wsafrica.org. Application must be in English and clearly state the post applied for (WSA THINK TANK DIRECTOR).
