Sunday 15 January 2012

Manager for the National Biogas program Coordination Unit



VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

The Federal Government of Ethiopia has incorporated a National Biogas Programme (NBP) in its rural development plan framework to ascertain the poverty alleviation and sustainable development efforts. The Ministry of Water and Energy (M0WE) is authorised for the overall NBP strategy development and implementation across the country. MoWE is implementing NBP in four regional states namely Tigray, Amhara, Oromiya & SNNPR in close collaboration with SNV — Netherlands Development Organisation, Ethiopia.

To this effect, a National Biogas Programme Coordination Unit (NBPCU) is established at the federal level, which will be coordinating all stakeholders including the regional biogas programmes. NBPCU earmarks regional funds, develops standards, resolves challenges, and facilitates the smoother implementation of the programme at regional levels. The NBP will be run over a five years period up to 2013 including the development, piloting, and dissemination. A total of 14,000 biogas digesters will be constructed across the country in five years.

The NBP is believed to significantly contribute to the Ethiopian rural development policy and strategy, which is based on Agricultural Development — Led Industrialisation and towards raising agricultural productivity, providing household energy while smoothing the energy, environment and rural development aspects.

The first phase of the NBP would disseminate domestic biogas with the purpose to develop a commercially viable market for the biogas sub-sector in the selected four regions, with specific intention to attract and strengthen institutions for the development of a national biogas subsector, increase the number of family sized domestic biogas plants by the 14,000 in the selected four regions, and ensure continued operation of the biogas plants while facilitating accelerated replication & expansion throughout Ethiopia.

The MoWE/NBP is looking for a Manager to the National Biogas Programme Coordination Unit to be based in Addis Ababa.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

oversee the overall operation of the national and regional biogas programmes and be responsible for all the delegation passed from the M0WE;
ensure and facilitate the timely formulation and approval of strategic plans, annual plans, bi-annual plans, trimester plans and reports;
ensure that NBPCU executes its supervisory and coordination roles over the regions and local stakeholders and partner organizations such that the construction of planned biogas plants takes place following the right procedures and standards and that these plants remain operational;
delegate to regional and local level partners on the actual implementation of the biogas programme and oversee the actual implementation of planned activities within the region:
manage the NBPCU staff such that planned activities and duties! responsibilities of each unit in NBPCU function within expected norms and standards;
ensure proper financial management practices are in place and adhered to best financial management practices upon which the Manager will;
oversee the timely preparation of budgets, timely allocation and transfer of construction contribution funds to biogas construction companies, upon the completion of biogas plants using specified quality standards and upon signing of approval by biogas owners;
approves and co-signs on cheques and delegates the administration and finance officer of NBPCU on the day-to-day financial operation of the programme;
represent the NBPCU and enter agreements with external bodies within the region in the interest of the programme;
make decisions on issues brought to her/his attention by the various partner organizations within the region and at Woreda and local levels;
sign on outgoing letters and receive incoming letters for further channelling to responsible units within the office;
ensure periodic monitoring and planned evaluations are conducted to measure whether expected outputs are achieved and overall impacts of the biogas programme are attained in relation to planned objectives;
chair weekly, trimester, bi-annual and annual meetings;
make final decision on hiring, termination, promotion, training of staff, in consultation with M0WE;
serve as a secretariat for the steering committee at the national level;
work towards building relevant networks with partners and ensures the right image is created for the NBP;
report to MoWE on the basis of delegation! consultation practices as agreed between NBPCU and MOWE.

Key Result Areas:

Biogas Plant Construction and follow up: The actual construction and commissioning of a biogas plant in each of the selected woredas;
Training, Extension and Building Institutional Capacities: The training of internal staff at RBPCU, masons, biogas users/owners, regional and woreda offices staff, external agencies staff, etc. Building the institutional capacity of the RBPCU and also Woreda and local level institutions;
Promotion, Marketing and Demand Creation: Mobilizing government institutions, NGOs, private sectors, MFIs and cooperatives, construction companies/contractors and existing biogas users to promote and market the national and regional biogas programme so as to increase the outreach and enable the construction of the desired number of biogas plants;
Quality Management and Verification: Ensure the right quality is maintained in the construction and use of the plant through known quality management practices such as proper training of masons, sufficient check-up and inspection of newly constructed digesters on plant sizing and other specified parameters supported by after sales and maintenance services and users training;
Research and Development: Research and development to improve the technical performances and efficiency of the biogas digesters; to address socio economic issues such as ability and willingness to pay for biogas digester, gender, improved agricultural productivity and food security; to environmental issues such as resource management and sustainable land use, etc;
Monitoring and Evaluation: M&E to impact measurement. All programme activities are measured and assessed against the targets, and communicated. Problems are identified and possible alternate solutions will be suggested:
Programme Administration and Financial Management: Ensure the overall programme is progressing as planned, and appropriate fund utilisation and the prescribed financial management systems and procedures are adhered;

Position: Manager for the National Biogas program Coordination Unit

Requirements:

Education: Minimum of Masters/Post graduate degrees in Energy and Environment, Development Studies, Economics, Sociology, Management or equivalent and an academic level of working;

Work experience: Minimum of 8 years of relevant working experience with sound portfolio or programme management exposure. S/he needs to have demonstrated ability in leadership skills and proven ability to handle human resources issues. In addition should have experience with giving advice in complex situations and in different contexts.

Knowledge: Broad knowledge of and insights into theories of development focused on structural poverty alleviation, and rural development. Good knowledge of organisational and institutional development processes. Knowledge, expertise and innovative ideas on biogas/renewable energy development and mainstreaming, and private sector development are advantage. Knowledge of local languages is desirable.

Skills: Team player with high networking abilities. Possesses management skills with ability to inspire colleagues, uses coaching techniques whilst being a good communicator, and steer on results.

Other: Computer skills, ability to work in a challenging and dynamic context are necessary.

Duty station: Addis Ababa

Salary: 9,680.00 Allowance: 1,300.00 and Other Benefits

Length of contract: Initially for one year (with possibility of extension)

Address: Interested applicants can send their resume, cover letter and copies of

credentials to:

Ministry of Water and Energy/National Biogas Program Coordination Unit, P.o.Box 5744, Tel 0115159887 Addis Ababa on or before January 23/2012.

WOMEN PROFESSIONALS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

www.mowr.gov.et/

Source:www.employethiopia.com/index.php?post_id=12206&cat=23