Private Sector Coordinator
(1 position)
Based in Khulna with frequent visits to Project sites
(National contract)

Introduction

SNV is a mission-driven global development partner working in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia. Building on 60 years of experience and grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we work on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance. Our mission is to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems, which enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all. For more information, please refer to our website: www.snv.org

Programme Background

In Bangladesh, SNV had initiated urban water (primarily in Sanitation) programme from 2014 in southern cities and have been proactively engaged in National level to support urban sanitation initiatives. SNV under the Urban Sanitation Programme with the support from BMGF and DGIS aims to support Local Authorities (Khulna and Gazipur City Corporations, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Jessore and Benapole Paurashavas) to address service delivery challenges in sanitation and advance the sector development as a whole, through strategic engagement with Government Agencies and partnering with other experienced civil society and private sector organisations working in the sector. 

SNV believes in rethinking, reforming, and enhancing institutional structures to lessen the impact of rapid urbanisation and climate threats. To do this, we must seek ways to improve the governance and practices of the waste management, drainage and water supply sectors. In Bangladesh, the local government is responsible for water, sanitation, drainage, and solid waste, often needing more local capacities. Private sector engagement plays a crucial role in making cities more sustainable, but accountability and performance still need improvement. SNV has been working with different stakeholders to set up PPPs with clearer rules of engagement and oversight to strengthen performance accountability by adopting a holistic approach to a sustainable urban water cycle.

In continuation of this, and in close collaboration with the two responsible national departments – the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) SNV is heading towards a new approach of promoting Sustainable Urban Water Cycle (SUWC) in Bangladesh. Supporting this, SNV is implementing the following two water projects in Bangladesh:

1. Transitioning to Sustainable Urban Water Cycles (SUWC) in Bangladesh supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) in Bangladesh, (2022-2027) and
2. WASH Systems for Health Programme (WS4H), supported by FCDO (2023-2027)

The SUWC project is implementing 12 cities (4 City corporations and 8 Paurashavas. The objective of this project is to improve sanitation, solid waste, and drainage water management to protect the health and well-being of around 1.4 million people in 12 cities and towns by increasing access to safe, essential urban services (sanitation, solid waste, stormwater management).

The SUWC project envisages following 6 (six) outcomes to support city-wide inclusive services by professionalisation and financial viability of urban sanitation and solid waste facilities.

1. Strengthened capacities to support city-wide inclusive services.
2. Increased professionalisation and financial viability of urban sanitation and solid waste services.
3. Strengthened governance, regulation, enforcement, and monitoring capacity.
4. Strengthened performance, integration and circularity of treatment, reuse, and recycling.
5. More responsive strategic communication towards consumer behaviours.
6. Improved capacity and preparedness for city-level floods and droughts.

The WS4H is a multi-country project where the consortium of SNV and WaterAid is implementing in two south Asian countries Nepal and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, the project will address both priorities in the Country Scope Outline with the desired outcome of Increased access to safely managed, gender-responsive and climate-resilient rural water supply and small-town sanitation in selected geographies (two Union Parishads of Paikgacha Upazila and safely managed sanitation in two Municipalities, Paikgacha and Lalmonirhat). Five intermediate outcomes, framed around focus building blocks, support the achievement of the outcome:

1. Safely managed water supply network modelled in selected Unions and safely managed small town sanitation value chains promoted in selected Municipalities;
2. LGIs in selected locations develop and implement GESI responsive WASH plans, informed by active community participation and women's leadership;
3. Monitoring mechanisms and IMIS system being used to inform WASH development, operations, financing, and spending;
4. Established systems within local and national governments, including by-laws and guidance, to support resourcing, development and effective operation of safely managed rural water supply and small-town sanitation;
5. National system for rural water supply and small-town sanitation integrates key learnings from the programme.

Context and purpose of the job

The project aims to achieve systems change towards a sustainable urban water cycle at the city level and contribute to the national level. We follow a systematic process through all interventions to ensure the approach is institutionalised within the LGIs (City Corporations/ Paurashavas). Service component of this project focus on professionalising and developing the capacity of service providers. Several national-level directives and plans encourage private-sector engagement in the delivery of adequate sanitation services; however the engagement of private sector is very low. SNV has already successfully implemented a variety of business models with different combinations of public and private roles and responsibilities across the FSM value chain in six cities. Therefore, the project will use an informed-choice decision making process with each city to develop the most suitable business model to operate sanitation and solid waste services. 

The position is responsible for services component of the project. She/he will specifically be responsible for development of business models for sanitation and solid waste management services as well as the integration of these models with oversight and governance arrangements. This position is also responsible for private sector and entrepreneurship development. Across all SNV’s work, gender and social inclusion is a priority. Therefore, it is expected the position will promote equal employment opportunity, decent job for workers, inclusive services for all, and gender equality in the work. To further develop and implement the services and finance and investment component of the programme in close collaboration with the activities of other components and also contribute to the work of colleagues, by providing sound advice for activities in the other components.

Job Responsibilities/ Result areas

• Support and strengthen capacity of stakeholder clients in developing and implementing the safe and affordable consumer services for sanitation and solid waste.
• Provide technical support including capacity building to LGIs and entrepreneurs/private operators including the start-ups with regards to business aspects on sanitation and solid waste management value chain including business model analysis, financial planning, work place compliances, market promotion, etc.
• Support City Corporations and Paurashavas in tendering for outsourcing of services including development of the contracts following public procurement procedures. 
• Support LGIs and private operators to design and implement marketing and promotions of sanitation and solid waste management services and conduct market assessments to determine the potential demand for services.
• Support the technical feasibility of Public Private Partnership (PPP) options for LGIs in sanitation and solid waste for mobilizing investments both from public and private entities.
• Prepare investment documentations, including investment briefs, memos, presentations, financial models, and scenario analysis.
• Design and conduct supply side studies on sanitation and solid waste value chain analysis, market analysis etc.
• Support implementation of SNV’s monitoring for results framework.
• Identify, document, and explore replication of good practices.
• Ensure performance of relevant interventions, corresponding to plans and targets.
• Support content development related the component for external communications.
• Support in organising and facilitating field visits for key stakeholders to share experiences and good practices.
• Support colleagues to integrate financial and business aspects into their work, such as in formative research, city planning and investment, pro-poor support strategies etc.

The above list of job responsibilities is not exclusive or exhaustive and the position will be required to undertake any assigned responsibilities assigned by his/her supervisor as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the position.

Educational Requirements

• Minimum a master’s degree in business administration/ finance/ marketing/ economics or related field from a university.

Desired Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies:

• At least 10 years of overall experience in the development sector of which at least 6 years in entrepreneurship/ private sector development.   
• Strong interest in business solutions for development, Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) models and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and proven track record of relating technical, financial and social solution.   
• Creative, practical and systematic professional.
• Flexibility to handle varied and demanding tasks and ability to balance priorities, thrive under pressure and juggle a multitude of details in a fast-paced environment.
• Significant experience in developing and managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives directly delivering change.
• Ability to work independently, as well as member of a team, and to be flexible to accommodate the needs of stakeholders.
• Ability to lead the assignment and the team with remote supervision.
• Excellent analytical, written, and oral communication skills both in English and Bangla.

Please apply through this link https://smrtr.io/sWxb2 

Reference and vetting check                    
We will require that you provide us with the full details of three people willing to act as a reference. We will not contact these references without your explicit permission. 
As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme.   

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Any form of solicitation by phone or other means will be treated as disqualification of the candidate. SNV is an equal employment provider.