Call for Delegate: Evaluating Water Conservation, Efficiency and Productivity Project Team, Alberta Water Council

Position: 
ENGO Sector Member
Initiative: 
Evaluating Water Conservation, Efficiency and Productivity Project Team
Application Deadline: 
8 Mar 2016

Water conservation and major water-using sectors voluntarily developing and implementing water conservation, efficiency and productivity (CEP) plans are pillars of the Water for Life (WFL) strategy. Improving overall efficiency and productivity of water use by 30% from 2005 levels by 2015 was identified as an aspirational specific outcome in the original WFL strategy (2003), and was reaffirmed in the renewed WFL (2008) and associated action plan (2009).

Since 2004, the Alberta Water Council (AWC) has supported the CEP initiative with three project teams: the first identified guiding principles and definitions related to CEP planning; the second developed a framework to guide the sectors in creating their CEP plans; and the third supported the seven priority water-using sectors as they developed their plans. The third team also made a recommendation for a fourth team. This team would report on the implementation progress of sectors’ CEP plans, evaluate the overall CEP planning process, and make recommendations to enhance sector CEP planning, implementation and future reporting if needed.

The recently released Water Conversation Action Plan commits the Government of Alberta to ensuring major water-using sectors make concrete, measurable and demonstrative improvements in water CEP. This will be accomplished by continuing to support the voluntary approach to CEP planning by working with the AWC to examine implementation progress and evaluate the extent to which the CEP process was successful.

The purpose of this project is two-fold:

  1. Evaluate and report on the contributions of the water-using sectors’ implemented CEP
    opportunities to achieving the three WFL goals, the specific WFL outcome of a 30% improvement in overall efficiency and productivity from 2005 levels by 2015, and the AWC-approved CEP desired outcomes; and
  2. Evaluate the process undertaken by the AWC to achieve CEP objectives and make recommendations for potential future enhancements to sector planning, implementation and reporting, if needed.

​Delegate Expectations:

  • Come prepared for meetings, (i.e., reading pre-meeting materials, completing homework assignments and being able to negotiate on behalf of their sector);
  • Make constructive contributions that advance the team’s goals and objectives, and help others do the same;
  • Report regularly to the ENGO sector by participating in AEN conference calls & meetings, and providing periodic written briefs;
  • Brief their sector’s Directors regularly, including prior to the team’s report and recommendations being presented to the Board;
  • As appropriate, participate in briefing Directors and Alternates in their broad category;
  • Liaise with their sector’s participants on the Board and other AWC teams to maximize synergy, ensure coordination, and prevent duplication by keeping each other informed;
  • Follow the rules and principles of consensus decision making
Time Commitment: 

The project is expected to be approximately 15 months in duration comprising 8–10 full-day meetings, with some hours required between meetings to gather information from your sector, and review and comment on meeting materials and draft reports.

Expenses & Honoraria: 

Stakeholder support is available in accordance with the process guidelines of the Alberta Water Council.

Selection Criteria: 

The representative should also have the following attributes:

  • Knowledge about water, watershed function, and sector use of water.
  • A good understanding of water management.
  • A designated representative with the endorsement of an AEN member group, or other reputable environmental non-governmental organization with a demonstrated interest and commitment to the environmental stewardship and protection of water resources.
  • Time required to complete the work of the project team.
  • Ability to represent the interests of their sector while working creatively and constructively with others towards a common goal.
  • Can effectively communicate the work of the project team to others in their sector.
Application Instructions: 

Please reply to [email protected] by Tuesday, March 8, 2016 providing:

  • Contact information of applicant (including address, email, and phone number);
  • Contact information of the organization endorsing the applicant; and
  • A brief description of the applicant’s background and abilities, particularly those relevant to the selection criteria 

NOTE: Delegates may include a resume as additional information but not in the place of the other information requested.