Regional Technical Advisor – West Africa

In a region where rapid urbanization and climate change are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources, technical excellence is not just a standard—it is a survival necessity. As the Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) for West Africa, you will lead the charge in ensuring that every drop of water and every sanitation facility provided by WaterAid Nigeria and our partners meets the highest global benchmarks. This is a high-impact leadership role for a visionary engineer or specialist ready to transform the landscape of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) across West Africa through innovation and technical rigor.

Table of Contents

Job Summary

The Regional Technical Advisor is the primary guardian of technical quality and innovation for WaterAid’s programs across the region. You will provide high-level advisory support to Country Programs, ensuring that both “hardware” (infrastructure) and “software” (behavioral and policy frameworks) are climate-resilient, sustainable, and inclusive. Reporting to the Regional Leadership Team, you will bridge the gap between global strategy and localized technical implementation.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Climate Resilience

Review and validate Country Program technologies to ensure they align with global best practices and WaterAid’s Quality Programme Standards.
Champion the design and implementation of climate-resilient WASH systems, with a specialized focus on optimizing solar-powered water schemes.
Adapt global thematic frameworks—such as Water Security, Urban Sanitation, and Equity & Inclusion—to the unique socio-political contexts of West African nations.

Capacity Engineering & Talent Development

Identify and bridge technical competency gaps within Country Offices and partner organizations through targeted training and mentorship.
Map and leverage regional resources and specialized organizations to enhance the technical caliber of field teams.
Monitor the long-term effectiveness of capacity-building initiatives to ensure sustainable service delivery.

Quality Assurance & Global Monitoring

Establish and oversee robust monitoring mechanisms that provide high-level quality assurance to Country and Regional Directors.
Conduct periodic technical audits of WASH facilities, proposing and following up on remedial actions to maintain excellence.
Continuously update construction and safety protocols to ensure the highest standards of site security and operational integrity.

Innovation, Research & Representation

Lead regional research into emerging themes such as the circular economy in sanitation and advanced solar-powered scheme management.
Author and present technical papers at prestigious global forums like Stockholm Water Week, AfricaSan, and IWA events.
Serve as the principal regional spokesperson on technical matters, influencing stakeholders and advocating for sustainable WASH policies.

Qualifications & Requirements

Essential Criteria

Academic Background: Master’s degree specializing in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Water Resources, or a related WASH field.
Professional Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in the national or international WASH sector, with significant time spent in advisory or management roles.
Technical Mastery: Proven expertise in Climate-Resilient WASH (CR-WASH), solar-powered water system design, and diverse rural/urban management models.
Consultancy Management: Demonstrated experience in managing high-level consultants and multidisciplinary teams.
Language Proficiency: Full professional fluency in English; fluency in French is highly advantageous for this regional role.
Planning & Evaluation: Advanced skills in operational planning, participatory monitoring, and impact evaluation.

Desirable Attributes

Chartered membership in a relevant global professional engineering or environmental institution.
A research-based qualification or a proven track record of published technical innovation.
Familiarity with the operational dynamics of a global federation or large international NGO.

Why This Position Matters

With over 150 million people in Nigeria alone facing water scarcity, your technical oversight ensures that investments in infrastructure actually result in long-term, functional services. By integrating climate-resilience and solar innovation, you are not just building wells; you are building a future where communities can withstand environmental shocks.

Benefits of Applying

Strategic Influence: Join the Extended Regional Leadership Team and help steer the mission of one of the world’s most respected WASH NGOs.
Global Exposure: Represent the region at top-tier international conferences and technical communities of practice.
Innovation Hub: Lead research into cutting-edge technologies like circular sanitation and renewable energy applications in WASH.
Competitive Package: Significant professional remuneration and benefits reflective of a senior regional advisory position.

Position Details

Location: Abuja, Nigeria (Regional coverage)
Job Type: Full-Time
Application Deadline: January 26, 2026

About the Organization

WaterAid is an international non-governmental organization focused on a world where everyone, everywhere has access to clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene. We work in 28 countries, changing millions of lives every year. In West Africa, we tackle the root causes of the water crisis by combining high-quality service delivery with powerful advocacy, working alongside governments to build systems that last forever.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified specialists are invited to apply via the WaterAid recruitment portal: Apply via the WaterAid Workable Portal

Tips for Applicants

Focus on Resilience: Given the emphasis on Climate-Resilient WASH and solar power, ensure your CV details specific projects where you have implemented these technologies.
Demonstrate Thought Leadership: If you have published papers or presented at conferences like AfricaSan, highlight these as evidence of your regional influence.
Showcase Advisory Breadth: This is an RTA role, not just a site engineer role. Emphasize your experience in “software” (policy, planning, and standards) alongside your “hardware” (engineering) skills.

myngojobs

Sama’ila Muhuddin is a dedicated Registered Nurse and humanitarian professional with over seven years of frontline experience. Since May 2018, he has served with prominent international non-governmental organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland, Spain, France projects and ALIMA, responding to emergencies and providing critical care in some of the most challenging humanitarian settings.