View Vacancy – Infrastructure Adviser – (13/24 KSH)

Main purpose of job:

The main purpose of this role is to support the successful delivery of British Embassy Kinshasa infrastructure programmes in the DRC. You will also lead infrastructure engagement with IFIs and provide advice and support to the British Embassy Kinshasa on major DRC based infrastructure projects. 

Infrastructure systems form the backbone of every society, providing essential services that include energy, water, waste management, transport and telecommunications. Infrastructure can also create harmful social and environmental impacts, increase vulnerability to natural disasters and leave an unsustainable burden of debt. Investment in infrastructure is at an all-time high globally, thus decisions being made now will lock-in patterns of development for future generations. Although for the most part these investments are motivated by the desire to increase economic productivity and employment infrastructure either directly or indirectly influences the attainment of all of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 72% of the targets.

Roles and responsibilities 

Programme (55%)   

• Provide technical oversight and lead technical advice into the design, delivery, monitoring, evaluation and learning of FCDO infrastructure and urban projects and programmes. In the British Embassy Kinshasa this includes our humanitarian, education and Green Cities programme. Ensuring adherence to agreed engineering standards, cods of practice etc
• Support delivery of the British Embassy Kinshasa programmes through providing programme management support.       
  

Policy (15%)    

• Position the UK at the forefront of infrastructure and urban policy engagement through developing policy, contributing to advocacy strategies for UK infrastructure and urban development policy objectives in the DRC.
• Support institutional, legal and regulatory reform to build a more enabling environment for sustainably focused infrastructure projects and development of appropriate infrastructure financing models.
• Engage effectively with senior officials and directly with Ministers as necessary    
• Develop close engagement with infrastructure and urban policy and research teams (in the UK and DRC) to ensure that the policy work in this role is informing and learning in the UK.
• Writing briefings and supporting visits to DRC and in the UK.

Relationships and networks (15%)

• Establish constructive relationships with key individuals and organisations, including representing FCDO with relevant partners and in relevant forums (e.g. donor coordination, country teams etc). This will include within the British Embassy, with the DRC government including at senior levels, with the private sector, civil society, research organisations, academia, international bilateral and multilateral aid agencies and foundations, in-country, at headquarters, regionally and/or internationally – as needed.
• Interpretation in and organisation of meetings, writing meeting records in English and translation as needed.

People and building capability (15%)

• Maintain cutting edge understanding of and application of evidence and work to build the capability of others.   
• Support FCDO’s wider infrastructure and urban and other objectives. This might entail support to another country programme such as contributing to an annual review, developing an evidence product or the design and delivery of training for other cadre members or HMG officials.

• At least 2 years’ experience working on infrastructure projects/advising on projects.
• Ability to think and work strategically with a range of partners, including DRC government, UK government counterparts and other development partners, including devising long-term strategies encompassing short term tangible achievements.
• Understanding opportunities and challenges in mobilising private finance for sustainable infrastructure.
• Proactive and self-starting approach to your work.
• The ability to form and strengthen internal and external networks to deliver against UK development and wider objectives.
• Exceptional personal and professional resilience including a recognition that progress will face set-backs and require continual prioritisation.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to a range of audiences and engage in high level policy dialogue.
• The resilience to manage multiple projects concurrently, with the ability to research, benchmark, scope, design, implement and evaluate project delivery to tight deadlines.
• A proactive approach and a focus on continuous improvement of self and service, with an appetite to work with others to simplify processes and improve efficiency.
• Experience running/working on an infrastructure programme.
• Programme management expertise.