Regulatory Specialist (water/wastewater regulation and compliance systems) – Zimbabwe

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Regulatory Specialist (water/wastewater regulation and compliance systems) for a water sanitation, agriculture, environment consultancy assignment financed by UNICEF in Zimbabwe.

Aninver Development Partners SL is seeking an expert Regulatory Specialist for an upcoming institutional assessment and capacity development initiative in Zimbabwe, supported by UNICEF. The water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector in the country is undergoing a major institutional transition, notably establishing a new mandate for water and wastewater regulation within the national institutional framework. This consultancy aims to assess and clarify institutional roles, capacities, and relationships required for effective WASH coordination and regulation.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in evaluating the design and functionality of regulatory systems, distinguishing clearly between coordination and regulatory functions, and developing actionable recommendations and implementation roadmaps. The assignment will adopt a mixed-method, participatory approach across national, provincial, and district levels to ensure sustainable governance, improved service delivery, and alignment with global commitments.

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

• Assess the design and functionality of regulatory systems within the national WASH sector in Zimbabwe.
• Distinguish clearly between coordination and regulatory roles and responsibilities to avoid fragmented implementation.
• Identify gaps in legal frameworks, institutional arrangements, and operational systems for water and wastewater regulation.
• Assess human, technical, financial, and logistical capacity needs required for effective compliance monitoring.
• Highlight linkages, synergies, and complementarities between coordination systems and regulation systems.

Scope of work

• Conduct a comprehensive desk review and institutional mapping of the WASH sector regulatory framework.
• Assess existing legal and policy frameworks governing water and wastewater services.
• Evaluate institutional roles and mandates for regulation across national, provincial, and district levels.
• Review standards, compliance monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms.
• Assess human resource capacity, technical expertise, equipment, logistics, and financial resources for regulatory bodies.
• Identify overlaps, risks of duplication, or institutional fragmentation between coordination and regulatory bodies.
• Align the assessment with global monitoring indicators related to regulatory and governance systems.
• Engage diverse stakeholders through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and validation workshops.

Your role as Regulatory Specialist (water/wastewater regulation and compliance systems)

• Lead the assessment of water and wastewater regulation, compliance monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms.
• Evaluate the design and functionality of existing and proposed regulatory systems in the water-sanitation sector.
• Analyze legal and institutional frameworks related to public service regulation and identify systemic gaps.
• Assess technical, human, and logistical capacity needs for effective regulatory oversight.
• Contribute to the identification of training needs and capacity development priorities for regulatory staff.
• Collaborate with the team to map linkages and data-sharing mechanisms between coordination and regulatory functions.
• Draft technical components of the regulatory capacity assessment report and contribute to the final roadmap.

Requirements

• Education: Not stated
• Expertise in water and wastewater regulation, compliance monitoring, service standards, and enforcement mechanisms
• Languages: English

Desirable

• Previous professional experience working on institutional strengthening assignments in southern Africa.
• Familiarity with UNICEF-supported water-sanitation and environment programs.

An experienced Regulatory Specialist with deep expertise in water and wastewater compliance systems, institutional frameworks, and WASH governance in developing country contexts.

Assignment details

• Location: Zimbabwe
• Financed by: UNICEF
• Sector: Water sanitation, agriculture, environment
• Estimated duration: 3 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 UNICEF-financed project in Zimbabwe.
• 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.