This position is open only for citizens and permanent residents of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is confronted with a widespread water deficit, aggravated by several pressing issues such as the deteriorating technical condition of water management systems, substantial water loss within networks, and inadequate water accounting practices. These challenges are rooted in inefficient water management methods and a growing scarcity of skilled human resources within the sector.

A significant milestone in addressing these challenges is the recent enactment of the new Water Code, which envisions a substantial expansion of responsibilities for the River Basin Councils (RBC). In response to this expansion, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has increased the staffing of basin inspectorates, which is a key part of RBC by 2.5 times and is actively in the process of organizing these expanded basin inspectorates.

Given these advancements, the imperative to enhance the internal capacities of basin inspectorates becomes a pivotal intervention to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary for the effective execution of their expanded roles. The initial phase of this strengthening initiative involves a detailed assessment of managerial, administrative, and decision-making functions in the integrated utilization of water resources. The significance of this assessment is accentuated by the critical need to establish an effective collaborative platform for the efficient utilization of water resources among all stakeholders in the basin.

Objective of Assignment:

The Office will require the services of a national expert to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of a selected river basin council, identifying key challenges, and providing recommendations for strengthening management in land and water resources (water quality, hydrogeology, hydrology) in Kostanay region.

Duration of Assignment:

1 month

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Economic and Environmental Officer, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

• Collaborate with international and national experts to develop a comprehensive work plan and methodology for conducting the assessment and adhere to the established work plan and timeline throughout the assessment period.
• Work closely with RBC stakeholders to collect and analyze information concerning the existing governance structures, key challenges hindering effective basin council management, and the current situation, in the following theme: the current situation in climate change risks, biodiversity, and natural disasters.
• Prepare a comprehensive root cause or causal chain analysis highlighting the existing governance structures and the current situation, for the following theme: climate change risks, biodiversity, and natural disasters.
• Formulate recommendations aimed at improving the current situation in climate change risks, biodiversity, and natural disasters.
• Prepare the preliminary consolidated assessment report with all the above-mentioned findings.
• Address the comments provided by the POiA, and Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan to the draft report.
• Finalize the report, prepare the PowerPoint presentation, and present the findings. Adjust assessment, where required, based on discussions during Training.

Necessary Qualifications:

• University degree in water resources management, environmental science, public administration, data analysis, research methods, and/or related fields.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in conducting assessments of water management structures and governance and/or providing capacity-building trainings.
• Proficiency in the Kazakh, and/or Russian languages both oral and written.
• Knowledge of local water policies, regulations, and administrative structures.
• Knowledge of English, including communication and drafting skills is desirable.
• Proven experience in engaging with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, local communities, and NGOs.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Digital literacy and basic use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Zoom, and the Internet.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant’s/expert’s qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates. Payment will be transferred in local currency (tenge) to the bank account of the consultant.

How to Apply:

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.