International cooperation between Germany and Nigeria commenced in 1974. GIZ was initially represented by an office in Lagos until 2003, but since 2004 it has maintained a country office and four project offices in the new capital Abuja. At present, GIZ has around 25 seconded staff, 100 Nigerian and regional experts, and four CIM experts working in Nigeria.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and has a population of 175 million, making it the continent’s most populous country. With a young, highly motivated and growing population, abundant natural resources and an increasingly diversified economy, Nigeria is not only a regional power but also an increasingly significant political player on the African continent and in the world. However, Nigeria faces major challenges. So far, its substantial oil revenues have had little impact on poverty. More than two-thirds of the population still live in extreme poverty and unemployment remains high. Sustainable economic and social development is hampered by corruption and by regional, ethnic, religious and social differences and the associated conflicts, which sometimes lead to attacks and unrest.
As agreed between the Nigerian and German Governments, GIZ’s activities since 2002 have focused on sustainable economic development. GIZ is also engaged in the energy sector, agriculture and regional integration.
The ‘Pro-poor Growth and Employment Promotion in Nigeria’ (SEDIN) programme aims to increase income-generating employment in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and improve access to financial services. The programme is currently being implemented in Abuja and in Niger, Ogun and Plateau states.
The Nigerian and German Governments also cooperate in the energy sector. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ provides advisory services to Nigerian partners on topics such as rural electrification, energy efficiency and renewable energies, and is contributing to the success of the Nigeria-German Energy Partnership (NGEP) as well.
GIZ provides support to the ECOWAS Commission (Economic Community of West African States) in Abuja, focusing on the management, implementation and monitoring of ECOWAS decisions on economic and trade policy, and peace and security.
In addition, two regional programmes focusing on agriculture are under way in Nigeria. The first aims to promote African rice value chains; the second builds the capacities of market-oriented small-scale farming. The purpose of both programmes is to achieve sustainable improvements in the livelihoods and food security of poor farmers in Nigeria and other West African countries.
A distinctive feature of GIZ’s activities in Nigeria is the high level of cofinancing obtained from other sources, primarily the European Union (EU) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These additional funds make it possible to broaden the scope and intensity of the programmes being implemented on behalf of the BMZ, boosting the effectiveness of German development cooperation with Nigeria.The project
Applied Water Resources Management in the Lake Chad Basin II
The ” Applied Water Resource Management in the Lake Chad Basin, phase II ” project is a regional project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by GIZ in collaboration with the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
Its specific objective is to strengthen the capacities of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) to better advise its member countries on transboundary water resource management that is environmentally friendly, adapted to climate change, gender-sensitive and conflict-reducing.
The Lake Chad Basin Commission and its member countries (Cameroun, Chad, CAR, Nigeria, Niger and Libya) are engaged in a constant struggle against multidimensional and multi-faceted challenges in the basin, including the gradual drying-up of Lake Chad amplified by climate variability and change, recurrent droughts, demographic pressure and growing insecurity.
To meet these challenges, the LCBC has developed several strategic documents reflecting the political will of member countries to turn the Lake Chad Basin into an environment of sustainable socio-economic development for the benefit of the fifty million people living in the basin.
These documents include the Strategic Action Program (SAP) 2023-2027, the Regional Stabilization Strategy and the LCBC Vision 2025.
The regional project “Applied Water Resource Management in the Lake Chad Basin, phase II”, implemented by GIZ, provides crucial support to the LCBC in implementing the Water Charter and the Strategic Action Program (SAP) for the period 2023-2037.
The project pursues three results and 6 performance indicators, two for each result, at three (3) intervention levels, namely the central level (support for the LCBC Executive Secretariat), the regional level (support for LCBC member countries) and the local level (support for stakeholders in the transboundary sub-basin).
Responsibilities and Tasks
Design and implementation of regional project activities in the Komadougou Yobe transboundary basin in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Republic of Niger.
Responsible for technical and administrative coordination with GIZ offices in Niger, Nigeria in collaboration with regional project coordination based in Ndjamena.
Advise partner organizations on the implementation of the project approach in conflict and gender sensitive Integrated Water Resources Management both at regional level (LCBC) national and local levels.
Support the design and implementation of participatory approaches for the development of climate, gender and conflict sensitive IWRM action plans in the Lake Chad basin with a focus in the Komadougou Yobe interventions areas.
Regularly exchange with the LCBC and project coordination in Chad for strategic advice and the preparation and implementation of activities, with a focus on the development of the Lake Chad Information System (LIS) and LCBC water charter and Strategic Action Program Implementation.
Function as a regional project focal point in Nigeria and Niger, e.g. participate in relevant regional events on behalf of the project and regularly liaise with projects partners such LCBC focal points in Niger and Nigeria.
Effective project management of the Komadougou Yobe component of the project including operational planning, reporting and project staff management in Niger and Nigeria.
Supervise the Organization and facilitation of regional workshops and dialogue sessions through the platforms to collaboratively identify climate and conflict hotspots in the Komadougou Yobe.
Design and support the implementation of training workshops for local stakeholders in the Komadouguou to apply environmentally friendly, resource-conserving, climate change- adapted and conflict-reducing IWRM practices identified in the action plans
Other duties/additional tasks:
Performs other duties and tasks at the request of management
Required qualifications, competences, and experience.
Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Hydrology, Water Resources Management, Climate Change or a comparable field relevant to the position and subject area Professional experience.
Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in water resource management and the design and development of decision-support tools.
Solid knowledge of climate change and natural resources related conflict prevention in the Lake Chad Basin.
At least 3 years’ experience in providing advisory support to regional basin organizations.
Practical experience and demonstrable knowledge in the prevention and peaceful management of conflicts linked to the management of natural resources in a context of climate change.
Language skills: English and French required.
Awareness-raising and capacity-building for identified partners and key stakeholders.
Strong technical network in the region
Other Knowledge, additional competences
Work experience with international and development organizations, including GIZ.
Strong experience in design and conducting participatory IWRM approaches at transboundary levels in a fragile context.
Language skills: English and French required
Fluent oral knowledge in local language (Hausa, Fulani, or Kanuri) and basic French is highly desirable.
