Senior Technical Advisor: ICM Operations

Salary Band 4

Reports to: Component Manager

Duty Station: Lesotho

Duration: Until 31 March 2026

 

BACKGROUND

The BMZ - financed programme “Transboundary Water Management in SADC” supports the implementation of regional strategies for Integrated Water Resource Management. In its fifth phase, the focus lies on supporting the national programme ReNOKA for Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) in Lesotho, which is co-financed by the EU. ReNOKA is a multi-stakeholder initiative that includes ministries, civil society and the private sector. The programme aims to develop capacities of Basotho stakeholders and implementing rehabilitation and prevention measures at catchment level.

Different approaches to integrated catchment planning and implementation have been followed in Lesotho in the past. The ICM programme is implementing a harmonised approach by piloting catchment planning processes at community, local council, and catchment management area levels. In parallel, national planning guidelines and financing mechanisms to fund implementation plans are being developed.

Decentralised ICM is coordinated from six regional catchment management offices staffed by government ReNOKA catchment managers, GIZ regional technical advisors, and implementation partners. The regional teams support the establishment of ICM institutions, planning, implementation and monitoring in the six catchment management areas.

The ICM programme is looking for a Technical Advisor - ICM Operations to oversee operational activities at every level and managing quality assurance in the development and implementation of integrated catchment planning, implementation and monitoring processes in Lesotho.

 

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Senior Technical Advisor - ICM Operations will be based in Maseru, report to the Component Manager, Catchment Implementation and co-lead the component with the Component Manager. The Advisor will steer the planning, implementation and monitoring processes based on international experiences, advise and support the regional teams with the development of ‘bankable’ and climate resilient integrated catchment management plans and strategizing the sound implementation of ICM actions and reporting on progress. The position requires a thorough understanding and field experience of IWRM / ICM planning and implementation at community and catchment levels to address root causes of degradation in a holistic “peak-to-valley” approach and systematically address the impacts of climate change.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

The Senior Technical Advisor - ICM Operations is required to undertake the following tasks:

  • Support in integrated catchment management planning processes and development of catchment management and action plans.
     
  • Support the development of integrated sub-catchment management plans (ISCMP) and Local Council ICM Action Plans according to the guidelines and best practices.
  • Assure that ISCMP and Council Action Plans are aligned with the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) on CMA level.
  • Contribute to refinement and improvement of the different modalities of ICM implementation and identify best practices.
  • Develop sustainability concepts regarding post implementation maintenance and operation of implemented measures.
  • Coordination of actors and tools towards a more efficient implementation and monitoring of ICM in the catchments.
     
  • Assure the close coordination of processes and implementation of measures in the different modalities between the GIZ planning and implementation team and with the ICU and CPU teams.
  • Develop strategies to align the activities on planning, implementation, upscaling and monitoring.
  • Support the mainstreaming of monitoring of all measures defined in the different ICM Plans on CMA and sub-catchment and local level.
  • Review the monitoring plans to ensure that all measures are constantly supervised and implement monitoring system that guarantees availability of information at any time of implementation and make amends where necessary.
  • Document lessons learnt in the prioritization, design and implementation processes as a contribution to knowledge management.
  • Strengthen a coherent data management by aligning the impact monitoring of ICM measures with the available ICM data management systems (real-time Lesotho Land Cover surveillance dashboard).
  • Assist the Component Manage - ICM Implementation in the following tasks:
  • Operational planning of activities
  • Coordination of movement plans for field teams
  • Organization of EU field visits
  • Participation in meetings, workshops and conferences
  • Representation of GIZ and the Action towards partners

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE

Qualifications

  • At least Master’s degree in soil sciences, natural resources management or equivalent in the field of environmental studies, water resources or natural resources management
  • Competencies and Professional Experience
  • At least 10 years of professional working experience in the context of water resources management with a focus on soil and water conservation, integrated catchment management and field experience of IWRM / ICM planning
  • At least four years of professional working experience in the public sector in Lesotho preferably connected to Water Resources; Forestry; Rangeland and/or Soil Conservation
  • Strong know-how of the land and water resources management landscape in Lesotho including relevant public institutions, donors, networks, national platform and development partners;
  • Regional experience in the context of IWRM, climate resilience and climate financing
  • Professional experience in project management, management of grants, facilitation and organisational development
  • Proven ability to prepare reports and to draft project concepts/proposals and terms of reference;
  • Demonstrated experience in planning, implementation and monitoring of soil data and catchment rehabilitation measures.
  • Demonstrated good interpersonal skills in communication, teamwork and facilitating meeting and workshops
  • Excellent communication and networking skills;
  • Other knowledge, additional competences
  • Excellent command of English, both technical writing and verbal, is essential
  • Fluency in Sesotho and ability to express oneself well both verbally and in writing
  • Confident use of MS Office, experience in processing data sets with the help of relevant statistical programs (Excel or similar); user experience of MS SharePoint
  • Experience in the context of international development cooperation and/or working experience with development partner agencies is highly desirable
  • Experience in training and capacity development with regards to natural resources management is highly desirable
  • Willingness to frequently travel to remote rural areas in Lesotho

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This position is based at GIZ in Maseru, Lesotho.

The contract period for this position is until 31 March 2026 in line with the current commissioning period of the project.

GIZ offers a global network and an atmosphere characterized by diversity, respect and equal opportunities, including gender equality promotion.

GIZ is a signatory to the diversity charter which recognizes that all employees shall be valued regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, social background, age, or sexual orientation.

There are possible training and personal development opportunities.

At GIZ, you will be offered global network and an atmosphere that is characterised by diversity, respect and genuine equal opportunities. Gender equality promotion is a matter of course for us.

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, social background, age or sexual orientation.

GIZ would like to increase the proportion of employees with disability. Applications from persons with disabilities are most welcome.

An extension up to 2028 might evolve based on the approval of a new commission for ICM II.

For more information on ICM Programme, please visit our project page: https://renoka.org.

APPLICATION PROCESS

GIZ will only assess applications which meet the following criteria

Suitable candidates should apply by submitting:

  • A motivation letter (concisely 1 page) detailing why they should be the preferred candidate and the value they will bring to the work of ICM Programme. and desired salary range.
  • This should be accompanied by a detailed CV and indicating their nationality.

Applications should be submitted to: recruit-pretoria@giz.de, with the email subject line “Application for Senior Technical Advisor: ICM Operations” for the attention of Head of Human Resource.

NB:      Interviews will be held in Maseru, Lesotho.

Closing date for applications: 14 March 2025.

Only shortlisted candidates who meet the role requirement will be contacted.

Applications without a motivation letter will not be considered!