For an ongoing KfW-funded project in Ethiopia (Afar), GITEC-IGIP GmbH is looking for an international Team Leader/CTA with vast experience in construction supervision, contract and financial management of IFI funded (KfW, World Bank, BID, ADB) projects related to water supply, irrigation, dams, sand dams or water related infrastructure, ideally in arid or semi-arid regions.
Basic Parameters | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country / City | Project Start | Duration | Deadline |
| Ethiopia / | Ongoing- ASAP | Fulltime assignment | 15th September 2026 |
About the company
GITEC-IGIP GmbH is a leading consulting company for international development cooperation projects headquartered in Germany’s fourth-largest city Cologne. GITEC-IGIP’s multi-cultural team and global network of companies and offices around the world has more than five decades of professional experience across four continents. Our companies lead mainly publicly financed development projects.
Project: Strengthening Drought Resilience, Phase II — Ethiopia. KfW
About the Project
GITEC-IGIP GmbH is implementing the second phase of the "Strengthening Drought Resilience" project in Ethiopia's Afar Region, funded by KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ; BMZ Reference No. 2017.6745.8 KfW). The project supports the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in improving the livelihoods of pastoral communities through investments in water infrastructure and rangeland rehabilitation. The project is currently in its final phase and is expected to run until April 2027, with a possible extension of at least one year.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced International Team Leader / Chief Technical Advisor with a strong background in water resources and civil engineering to lead the project team and ensure the successful completion of all project activities. The position is based in Addis Ababa (50%) and Semera, Afar Region (50%).
The Team Leader will oversee all project operations, lead a team of approximately 25 national and international staff, and serve as the primary point of contact for the client (MoA), the donor (KfW), and all project stakeholders.
The remaining project period is predominantly focused on water infrastructure development. The core technical responsibility of the Team Leader is the design, tendering, and hands-on construction supervision of water infrastructure works — specifically the construction of sand dams, the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, and the restoration of erosion hotspots. Candidates with direct field experience in dam or sand dam construction and irrigation scheme supervision are strongly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
- Overall management of project offices in Addis Ababa and Semera, including team coordination, budget management, and administrative oversight
- Representation of GITEC in all formal and informal project matters vis-à-vis MoA, KfW, and the subcontractor
- Oversight of financial management and procurement procedures, including hands-on management of the disposition fund (financial reporting, withdrawal requests, disbursements, accounting, and annual audits) and compliance with KfW procurement guidelines
- Coordination and supervision of the national engineering team for all water infrastructure activities
- Tendering and hands-on construction supervision of water infrastructure works, including sand dams, irrigation scheme rehabilitation, and erosion hotspot restoration
- Issuance of variation orders, payment certificates, and instructions to contractors; management of FIDIC-based contracts; quality control including BoQ management and contractor management
- Oversight of rangeland management activities, including prosopis clearing, reseeding, and nursery operations
- Monitoring and evaluation, including semi-annual progress reports, quarterly financial reports, and the project completion report
- Ensuring compliance with environmental and social safeguards (ESMF), occupational health and safety (OHS), and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) requirements
- Liaison between project implementing agencies at federal, regional, woreda, and community levels; support for KfW inspection missions and engagement with KfW headquarters and country office on behalf of the project
Your Profile
Education
- Postgraduate university degree (Master's or equivalent) in civil engineering, water engineering, or a related discipline
Professional Experience
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience as a team leader in the sector, with at least one long-term assignment
- Proven track record in the design, tendering, and construction supervision of water infrastructure, with direct field experience in dam or sand dam construction and/or irrigation scheme rehabilitation being a strong asset
- Hands-on experience with civil works supervision in rural or dryland settings, including quality control, BoQ management, contractor management, and FIDIC-based contract administration
- Experience with works contract management, including variation orders, payment certificates, and FIDIC contracts
- Experience with the procurement, reporting, and financial management of infrastructure projects; proven experience with the management of disposition funds — including financial reporting, withdrawal requests, disbursements, accounting, and annual audits — is a strong asset
- Experience with procurement according to KfW or World Bank procedures is a strong asset; familiarity with environmental, social, health, and safety (ESHS) requirements in the context of infrastructure works contracts is a strong asset
- Exposure to integrated rural development, rangeland management, natural resource management, or community development is an asset
Regional Experience
- Work experience in Sub-Saharan or East African countries with comparable socio-economic conditions
- Previous work in dryland ecosystems and/or with pastoral communities is a strong asset
Language
- Proficiency in English (required)
Assignment Details
- Duty station: Estimated Addis Ababa (50%) and Semera, Afar Region (50%), Ethiopia
- Assignment period: Until April 2027; possible extension of at least one year
- Project: Strengthening Drought Resilience, Phase II (SDR-3)
- Donor: KfW Development Bank / BMZ
- Client: Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
If you are interested
Please send us an email containing your most recent English CV, copies of relevant diplomas and employers‘ certificates including full contact details, fee expectations (per day / per month) and details on availability to:
Quoting the Job ref. no.: 00140 CTA
Or apply online via the Application-Form in the section below.
Please note that we can only consider candidates who meet the required criteria!