Lead Policy Analyst - Water Financing

Lead Policy Analyst - WATER Financing

Contract type: Permanent, Full time

Location: The role can be based in London, Washington DC, or Nairobi. We will also consider candidates based in locations where WaterAid has an office, subject to right-to-work eligibility in the respective countries.

Salary & Benefits: Salaries and benefits for different countries will vary in line with the location of the successful candidate and depending on experience. See further details below:
Role-based in:

• UK, London, Grade 2: £53,065 - £55,718 with excellent benefits


• Kenya, Nairobi: 6,382,738 - 7,972,024 KES with excellent benefits


• USA, Washington DC: Competitive salary package, to be discussed with the successful candidate

For the UK location, we offer Hybrid Working - A minimum of 40% of working time is spent face to face, either in the London office or as a result of an external engagement or travel for WaterAid. WaterAid is located at Canary Wharf, London and this will be your location and contract base for candidates based in the United Kingdom.

About WaterAid:

Are you a Policy Analyst or Policy Consultant with environmental financing experience specifically in the water industry? Are you passionate about influencing policy change? Do you want to use your skills to play a vital role in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone everywhere?

We need passionate, creative and dedicated people. In return, you will be encouraged and empowered to be yourself at your very best. Together, we will make a bigger difference.

Join WaterAid as Lead Policy Analyst - WATER Financing to change normal for millions of people so they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good. On top of that you'll be joining a 2020 Great Place to Work® award-winning

About the Team:
This position will be based in the Global Policy and Research Team (part of the Global Policy and Campaigns Department, GPAC), a highly motivated group of policy analysts, who are passionate about influencing policy change to enable sustainable access to WASH to the world's poorest and most marginalised people through evidence-based advocacy. The Team plays a leading role across the WaterAid Federation in setting WaterAid's policy change agenda.

About the Role:
Safely managed WASH services are essential foundations for human health, livelihoods, and economies, yet in many parts of the world they are undervalued and underfunded. Through its Global Strategy (2022-2032), WaterAid has significantly increased the priority given to financing the WASH sector, with a high-level ambition to see an additional US$15 billion mobilised a year by 2032, and a dedicated Strategic Aim focusing on increasing both the quantity and quality of financing.

As Lead Policy Analyst - WATER Financing, you will manage and lead WaterAid's approach to implementing the Global Strategy's high-level ambition and Financing Aim, in terms of policy, research and advocacy. You will act as an authoritative reference point for WaterAid, working closely with other colleagues across the organisation, and developing informed WaterAid positions and advocacy on the key sources of finance for the WASH sector, the three "T's": taxes, transfers, and tariffs. We particularly want to develop our analysis and policy on new forms of financing including blended, private, and climate finance.

In this role, you will lead WaterAid's WASH financing policy agenda in the following ways:

• Strategic Leadership on WASH Financing Policy


• WASH Financing Research, Evidence, and Policy Formulation


• External Representation and Global Influencing


• Act as a recognised WaterAid spokesperson and expert adviser on WASH financing, in particular on private sector, blended, and climate financing.


• Cultivate influential relationships with high-level policy makers and processes, working with and through CPs, regions and Federation members, positioning WaterAid as a global authority on WASH financing.


• Through WASH finance horizon scanning identify and lead key moments and opportunities for WaterAid, including relevant WASH financing conferences, roundtables, and events.


• Establish and maintain a strong network of key players - both within the WASH sector and in broader development finance communities - to increase influence and position WaterAid as a leading organisation in terms of addressing the financing challenges faced by the WASH sector.


• Travel as necessary to regions and Country Programmes, as well as to relevant international events and conferences.

About You

• Extensive experience of working in and leading public policy and/or advocacy on issues related to WATER or WASH financing - with preference given to candidates who demonstrate a strong knowledge and experience of working on innovative financing including private finance issues, financial instruments, impact investing, and issues relevant to the provision of private finance for WATER and WASH.


• Knowledge and experience of working in sustainable finance on issues of private investment for WATER or WASH and/or mobilising private climate finance.


• Knowledge and experience of working on public finance issues, ODA from bilateral and multilateral sources and/or costing at national and subnational levels including gender budgeting issues.


• Experience of working with or helping mobilise private investment in developing countries.


• Experience and demonstrated evidence of leading and managing teams including senior team members.


• Willingness and ability to travel internationally to fulfil requirements of the role.


• Masters' degree, or post-graduate qualifications and research experience in a relevant water related or development finance discipline (desirable).


• Fluency in French, Spanish or Portuguese (desirable).

Closing date: Applications will close at 23:59 on 25th October 2023. Shortlisting and interviews may take place on a rolling basis and the application process will close if a suitable candidate is found prior to the advertised closing date.

How to Apply: To see the full job pack, please click 'Apply'. 

• Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter into one document in either Word Document or PDF format.


• Please indicate your location and the right to work eligibility in your Cover letter.

Pre-employment screening: In order to apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to the applicable laws in the respective country.
All our UK-based vacancies require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to comply with our Safer Recruitment policy.

Our Commitment

An inclusive workplace:

We are committed to being an organisation where everyone is included, respected, and empowered to be their best. We represent and celebrate our staff, partners and everyone we work with, and create a culture where everyone can reach their full potential.

Equal opportunities:

We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.

Safeguarding:

We are also committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously.