Liaison and Coordination Officer

Benghazi, the second-largest city in Libya, faces significant challenges in providing adequate water services to its population of approximately 850,000 residents. These challenges are exacerbated by rapid urban expansion, aging infrastructure, water scarcity, poor water and sanitation management performance and climate change.

Against this backdrop, our clinet  jointly with the African Development Bank (AfDB), are supporting the Municipality of Benghazi to develop a comprehensive water infrastructure master plan for Benghazi City. To ensure alignment with the Benghazi Metropolitan Area Master plan1 currently under finalization (as of October 2025), the water infrastructure masterplan will have 2050 as the final planning horizon year. The goal of this masterplan is to provide a strategic framework for addressing these challenges, ensuring sustainable water management, and enhancing the resilience of the city's water and sanitation infrastructure. The achievement of this goal is anchored in three project components namely:

Component A: Inclusive and resilient urban water masterplan for Benghazi

The development of the masterplan will include, amongst others, the following activities: infrastructure assessment, assessment of existing institutional frameworks, field data collection and analysis, identification of infrastructure needs, analysis of the water tariff system, development of long-term goals, identification of stakeholders and their roles, and identification of potential financing mechanisms. The Consultancy Firm selected to deliver this project will also refer to the recently developed sanitation masterplan2 launched in October 2024 between the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund, ensuring coherence and between this and the water masterplan being developed. With respect to the water tariff system, in Libya, the price of water depends on its source of withdrawal. According to the AfDB, the charge for the use of water from the Man-made River Project (MMRP)3 is defined in Decree No.218/1994 and is dependent on its use. For domestic use, the General Company of Water and Wastewater (GCWW) pays a tariff to the MMRP. For desalinated water delivered by the General Desalination Company of Libya (GDCOL) for domestic use, there is a charge applied for this supply to the GCWW. Finally, the domestic water tariff paid by users for the water supply service delivered by the GCWW is volumetric and has a fixed tariff4.

The water masterplan will cover all of Benghazi municipality, including peri-urban areas and new areas which are not connected to any water supply system (and informed by population growth projections and city expansion), and integrate climate change adaptation measures and best practices, such as circular economy concepts, when possible. It will be a strategic document, providing a vision for the sustainable development and operation of water supply facilities with 2050 as the final planning horizon year, and from the technical, institutional, financial and environmental perspectives. Accordingly, the technical and investment forecasts will be defined for the following horizons:

• Short term (intermediate) 2030
• Long term 2050

Each horizon and interval between them will be the subject of a priority analysis of the projects and works to be carried out for the achievement of the objectives fixed at the final horizon according to the criteria of urbanization, existing infrastructure, and environmental and socio-economic impacts.

• Component B: Preparation of Water and Sanitation Investment Plan Projects

An investment plan will be developed by the Consultancy Firm appointed to develop the Benghazi water masterplan and cleared by the competent authorities. The investment plan will include a project prioritization table, following a multi-criteria analysis, established in collaboration with the main stakeholders. The Consultancy Firm will then prepare the preliminary design, full design, and tender documents (including Bills of Quantities) for the top three (3) prioritized investment projects and initial budget estimates. The full / detailed design will be developed for the top three prioritized investment projects, for which at least EUR 100 million (in words: one hundred million) will be expected to be mobilized for infrastructure development.

• Component C: Governance and capacity building of relevant national stakeholders and Project management

This component will strengthen the project's ownership and relevance by involving the relevant national stakeholders of the sector. Specifically, the Consultancy Firm

develop a Capacity Building Plan (aligned to the time horizons as articulated under Component A) to train local authorities, particularly the Municipality of Benghazi, Libya Reconstruction and Development Fund, the GCWW and the GMRA, on the operation and management of the systems proposed in the masterplan.

The development and consultation process for the above three components will involve the engagement of several stakeholders. These stakeholders include:
(a)our clinet  (Implementing Partner)
(b)General Company for Water and Wastewater (GCWW)
(c)Great Man-Made River Authority (GMRA)
(d)Ministry of Water Resources
(e)Libya Reconstruction and Development Fund
(f)Municipality of Benghazi
(g)Housing and Infrastructure Board
(h)International Partners and Technical Advisors
(i)Civil society
(j)Community / end users
(k)Academia

Under Component B above, the focus will be on the preparation of water investment projects with a relevant Investment Plan. For these future investment projects, E&S aspects will need to be properly addressed including identifying the E&S risks and potential impacts, such as those related to land acquisition, physical and economic displacement and compensation, etc., and necessary measures to mitigate the identified E&S risks and associated impacts.

To support the implementation of this urban planning project, our client in Libya Country Office has established a Project Implementation Unit (PIU), with the E&S being a key member of the PIU team. Accordingly, our client is seeking an E&S Officer to support all E&S aspects of the project. our client recruited E&S Officer will work closely with the Consultancy Firm, to provide oversight and ensure all E&S requirements for the proposed investment projects are delivered by the Consultancy Firm. The Consultancy Firm will be recruited by our client separately, and through a competitive tendering process.

To deliver the Benghazi Water Masterplan, several stakeholders will be involved in the development and consultation process of the masterplan, investment plan and capacity building plan. To better manage communication and information exchange, our clientwill be the primary conduit for communication between the Stakeholders, and the Consultant. our client in close coordination with the National Steering Committee (NSC), will also facilitate the convening of the Stakeholders for meetings as required, as well as representing them collectively to the International Consultant as the needs arises.

Against the above backdrop, our client requires a Liaison and Coordination Officer to support with the coordination and liaison between the Consultancy Firm team (to be recruited byour client) and the different stakeholders throughout the entire duration of this project. He / she will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, coordinating activities, and ensuring smooth communication to avoid overlap, support to resolve any emerging misunderstandings and enhance collaboration.

Under the direct supervision of the CSD Officer (Benghazi Field Office), the Liaison and Coordination Officer will be responsible for coordination and liaison between our client, the International Consultancy firm and key stakeholders (primarily the Benghazi Municipality and GCWW) throughout the entire duration of this project. He / she will specifically be responsible for the following key functions and accountabilities:

a)Facilitate, build and sustain close working partnerships / collaboration with key stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate project

implementation
b)In close coordination with our client Project Focal Point (Supervisor), draft communication and information materials for the project advocacy to promote awareness and establish / sustain partnership/alliances.

c)Facilitate and follow up on all meetings with government authorities.

d)Ensure active follow-up on outstanding application(s) filed with government, responding to queries from authorities in a timely manner.

e)Work with authorities to secure all required authorizations and permissions to facilitate smooth project implementation.

f) Perform as a key focal person for coordination, responsiveness, and compliance related to project.

g)Ensure effective communication primarily between the Municipality of Benghazi, GCCW, our client and other key stakeholders involved in the implementation of this project.

h)Facilitate monthly, quarterly project implementation progress review meetings between the Municipality of Benghazi, GCCW, our client and other key stakeholders involved in the implementation of this project.

i) Maintain meeting notes, circulars, notices etc., and provide the same to tour client Project Focal Point (Supervisor).

In close coordination with the CSD Officer in Benghazi Field Office, and WASH Manager, the Liaison and Coordination Officer will be required to provide the following deliverables on an agreed date at the end of each month:

1.Monthly progress report - The monthly report will be provided in an agreed format, including, but not limited to:
a.Details of key activities carried out each month to support the Benghazi masterplan project, as agreed with the CSD Officer and WASH Manager; b.Details of all meetings attended/facilitated;
c. Details of any project milestones reached;
d.Details of key challenges and bottlenecks identified during the month, and any actions/recommendations agreed to address them; and
e.Outline plan for the proceeding month.

2.Minutes for all Benghazi water masterplan coordination meetings held during the preceding month, including list of participants and key actions agreed.  These meetings will be held monthly, or as agreed by the project’s NSC.

3.Minutes of any other meetings as required by the project including those between the Consultancy Firm and project stakeholders, held during the preceding month.

4.Circulation of all minutes and progress updates to project stakeholders.

5.Any other activities, as may be required and directed by the Supervisor.

• Proven experience in liaising with governmental authorities, international organizations, UN and other stakeholders required.

• Experience working on public sector/utility infrastructure development projects is considered a distinct advantage.

• Diplomacy and strong interactive skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, and donor/development organizations as well as partners / stakeholders.

• Excellent oral and written communication, and analytical skills are necessary.

• Demonstrated experience in forging relationships between partners / stakeholders and maintaining effective relationships.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, along with problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities, are essential for effectively building and maintaining relationships.

• Strong computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office applications

• Strong coordination skills.

• Ability to manage deadlines, document decisions and ensure timely delivery of outputs.

This role requires no team management skills.

Our clinet is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.Our clinet has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and Our clinet, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. Our clinet also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.