Uganda: WASH Officer

TITLE: WASH Officer (1 Position)
LOCATION: Kiryandongo
DURATION: 11 Months

Job Purpose:
The WASH Officer will be responsible for assisting in the project implementation, coordination and monitoring including and reporting. The WASH Officer will work closely with other IRC staff the existing WASH structures at district and settlement level in implementing the project activities and. The WASH Officer will be responsible for the planning, budgeting and direction of the WASH aspects of the project. She/he will oversee construction of WASH infrastructure to ensure the appropriate standards and quality are met. He/she will specifically be charged with building the capacity of the project staff, and service users using the established community participatory methods of hygiene and sanitation promotion and general behavior change models.

Specific Responsibilities:
Program Quality
Technical

• To sensitize the community on the contribution and responsibility towards water sanitation and hygiene promotion activities and facilitate advocacy activities to solicit community support at all levels.
• Ensure that there is formation and training of water users and sanitation committees and community based hygiene promotion workers e.g. VHTs (Village Health Team), Hygiene Promoters on sanitation and hygiene promotion.
• Plan, budget and ensure effective implementation of hygiene and sanitation promotion activities as an integral part of the environmental health program.
• Improve the capacity of the project, beneficiaries and other staff involved in sanitation and hygiene, conduct training in established participatory approaches and ensure their employment to improve program.
• Monitor hygiene and sanitation activities promotion activities and behavior change in the communities by facilitating baseline, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) assessment and evaluate program impact.
• Develop strategies to improve community hygiene and sanitation practices based on assessment results.
• Identify/adapt appropriate media, messages and IEC materials to promote the key aspects of hygiene behavior, in consultation with partner agencies active in this sector and the district.
• Ensure that hygiene promotion activities are carried out in a participatory manner with the beneficiary communities, making optimal use of the existing promotion and community hygiene and sanitation promotion network.
• Ensure timely procurement, requisition and distribution of hygiene promotion supplies.
• Supervise the contractors assigned to build/rehabilitate IRC contracted work (e.g. boreholes, latrines, bath shelters, etc.) and report any issues or obstacles faced during construction and proposed solutions in accordance to IRC procurement policy.
• Monitor and evaluate program delivery in IRC project areas, report program delivery progress to meet organization reporting needs and implement the IRC monitoring schedule adhering to MFA and the IRC strategy.
• Support WASH staff to set and review HPM and water user committee training and supervise their work on ground.
• Work with the WASH staff to ensure the HPMs (Hand Pump Mechanics) deliver services in regular maintenance and minor repairs of IRC supported water points.
• Ensure adequate, safe and quality water supply for the refugee community at all times during the project implementation.

Program Implementation

Effectively Communicating process, progress, and vision

• Routinely exhibit progress towards project objectives and highlight challenges and gaps in internal monthly reports.
• Ensure all reports are timely and concise as well as use relevant and specific data to demonstrate progress and explain challenges.
• Ensure reports and information about the program is shared with supervisors and staff as well as other IRC departments and partners when appropriate to ensure cross sectional collaboration within the organization and other stakeholders
• Ensure that all external (donor and other stakeholder) reporting requirements are met and that reports are timely, data specific, and of a high quality

Proactive Planning

• Plan overall implementation of project to meet objectives while balancing the efficient use of staffs time and finances. This includes developing and updating grant work plans, procurement plans, quarterly department plans, spending plans and staff work plans.

Systematic Monitoring & Evaluation

• Ensure that systems to monitor progress towards indicators are developed and incorporated in all activities
• Ensure WASH staff understand their roles, responsibilities, and contribution to the monitoring systems and that their use of monitoring tools are accurate, routine, and done on time.
• Ensure that systems are in place to monitor spending and manage grant budgets
• Participate in conducting baseline KAP surveys and end of program assessments.

Strengthening local partnerships

• Support local partners to develop realistic WASH project based on actual capacities and resources
• Develop strategies with partners and staff to enhance local partner’s capacity to implement and monitor activities that meet specified objectives
• Be available to support partners and trouble shoot challenges when they evolve.

Budget/Grants

• Judiciously manage the use of WASH program finances, supplies, and assets
• Manage the budget ensuring expenses are appropriate and incurred according to schedule. .
• Participate in proposal writing and budget development
• Participate in the development of WASH program budgets and budget tracking tools in coordination with the Team.
• Under the guidance of the Health Team Leader update the budget tracking tools.
• Participate in monthly budget and spending reviews and projections. Ensure and maintain accurate use of budget lines according to donor regulations

Human Resources

• Supervise WASH staff including monitoring of staff welfare and administrative status (performance evaluations, training plans, update job descriptions, ensure Mandatory Reporting Policies (MRPs) are understood and followed, staff meetings and well-being, etc.)
• Ensure staff grievances are heard and addressed balancing the needs of the staff and IRC policies
• Empower staff and promote accountability by appropriately delegating responsibilities according to staff’s capacity
• Promote team work by sharing responsibilities among and diffusing superfluous power dynamics
• In collaboration with district WASH staff and settlement WASH sector, supervise community structures such as VHTs and WASH committees.

Coordination & Representation / Liaison

• Promote integration and coordination with the OPM, UNHCR, district, partners’ agencies and community leaders working in the WASH sector.
• Attend relevant meetings to represent IRC.
• Active and regular participation in internal (IRC) country coordination mechanisms, ensuring:
• Communication and collaboration among country program sectors for integrated programming
• Effective coordination between program and operations departments to facilitate quality, timely support to programs
• Participate in WASH sector monthly coordination meetings of the settlement and District.
• Represent IRC at relevant related health partnership and coordination meetings. Assist the Health Team Leader as deemed necessary.

Qualifications/Experience

• A University degree in civil engineering/water/environmental management, or related discipline preferred
• At least three (3) years related WASH experience ideally in an NGO-development oriented setting.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to manage project grants including budget preparation and management, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting Experience in logistics and budget management.
• Knowledge, skills and experience in participatory methods for community development e.g. PHAST and CHAST.
• Group and adult facilitation skills and experience.
• Clear understanding of WASH programming in a refugee setting, desirable.
• Excellent and demonstrated oral and written communication skills;
• Good interpersonal and team building skills;
• Experience supervising diverse staff in a complex, insecure emergency setting;
• Experience in project design and proposal writing is preferred;
• Ability to enhance good interpersonal relationship
• Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, Power point, Outlook and Outlook Express;
• Ability to live and work under pressure in an unstable security environment;
• Fluency in English is required Additional qualities: ability to do multiple tasks at the same time, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

To Apply: Send CV and cover letter clearly indicating the position applied for as the subject to:

UA-IRCJobs@Rescue.org (The Human Resource and Administration department, International Rescue Committee)

Deadline**:** Thursday January 26, 2017. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Whilst all applications will be assessed strictly on their individual merits, qualified women are especially encouraged to apply. IRC is an equal opportunity Employer.International allowances are not available, position open to Ugandan Nationals only.