Governance and Political Economy Specialist – Burundi

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Governance and Political Economy Specialist for a consultancy assignment financed by AUDA-NEPAD in Burundi.

Aninver Development Partners is currently preparing a proposal for an upcoming technical assistance initiative in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector in Burundi. Funded by AUDA-NEPAD through World Bank/IDA resources, the broader regional programme aims to strengthen regulation, utility performance, and sanitation service delivery. As part of our multidisciplinary team, we are seeking an expert to lead governance evaluations and political economy analyses for this assignment.

The selected Governance and Political Economy Specialist will play a critical role in mapping sector governance, stakeholder incentives, and structural reform bottlenecks in Burundi. Working closely with national counterparts and regional bodies, the expert will contribute to diagnostic reviews and strategic scenario analyses designed to establish sustainable investment frameworks and enhance overall sector governance.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Conduct a comprehensive Institutional and Political Economy Review (IR) to map sector governance and stakeholder incentives in Burundi.
• Identify structural reform bottlenecks affecting water, sanitation, and hygiene service delivery.
• Support the formulation of a costed National WASH Investment Programme aligned with sustainable financing principles.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations and institutional capacity-building activities with national counterparts.

Scope of work

• Conduct detailed institutional mapping of sector ministries, regulatory bodies, and service providers in Burundi.
• Analyze underlying political economy dynamics and governance constraints affecting WASH service delivery.
• Contribute to public expenditure and strategic scenario analyses by evaluating governance implications on resource allocation.
• Participate in stakeholder engagement activities, including inception missions and validation workshops.
• Support knowledge capitalization through targeted institutional reports and policy recommendations.

Your role as Governance and Political Economy Specialist

• Lead the execution of the Institutional and Political Economy Review using structured analytical frameworks.
• Examine institutional arrangements, accountability mechanisms, and administrative bottlenecks within the sector.
• Engage with key government officials, national stakeholders, and local counterparts to gather qualitative data.
• Identify political economy risks and formulate actionable mitigation strategies for policy reforms.
• Draft comprehensive technical reports, briefing notes, and governance diagnostics for the assignment.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to integrate political economy findings into strategic scenario models.
• Contribute to capacity-building workshops and stakeholder validation sessions.

Requirements

• Education: Advanced degree in Public Administration, Political Science, or Law
• 10+ years institutional analysis and political economy in Africa
• Structured PEA frameworks
• Francophone Africa experience required for Lots 1, 2 and 3
• Successfully completed at least three assignments of comparable nature and complexity during the last five years
• Languages: Francophone Africa experience required for Lots 1, 2 and 3

Desirable

• Previous professional experience in Burundi or the East Africa region.
• Familiarity with donor-funded institutional reform projects, particularly within the infrastructure or WASH sectors.

An experienced governance and political economy expert with a strong background in institutional analysis, structured PEA frameworks, and a proven track record of delivering complex public sector reviews in Francophone Africa.

Assignment details

• Location: Burundi
• Financed by: AUDA-NEPAD
• Estimated duration: 16 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a AUDA-NEPAD-financed project in Burundi.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.