Water , Sanitation and Hygiene ( WASH ) Technical Advisor

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali Region. IRC is currently providing assistance to disaster-affected and high-risk communities in the Tigray; Gambella; Benishangul-Gumuz; Somali and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regions, and to refugees in thirteen refugee camps across the country. IRC is implementing emergency water and sanitation activities, education, child protection and youth program activities , conducting agricultural activities, working with pastoralists on improving animal health, raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, family planning, and polio, and conducting community-based activities to reduce morbidity and mortality among children under five.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

The Environmental Health (WASH) sector in Ethiopia is focused on water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in refugee camps in Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Tigray and Somali regions, and rural communities in Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, SNNPR, and Somali regions. Projects started in 2000 in the Somali region and expanded to include refugee camps and drought and AWD-affected rural communities. The current projects aim to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality from diarrheal diseases amongst refugees and disaster-affected populations.

The IRC is currently implementing DFID funded programme in consortium with Save the Children International (SCI) Islamic Relief (IR), and Ogaden Welfare and Development Association (OWDA). The programme titled “Support to the Provision of Basic Services in the Somali Region of Ethiopia under the Peace and Development Programme” (BASES under PDP) aims to work with the Ethiopian Somali Regional State (ESRS) to improve sustainable access to basic services in 15 districts/woredas. Save the Children (SC) is a consortium lead; while IRC is the lead for WASH sector of the program. This program involves a significant scope of water and sanitation infrastructure constructions, and hygiene promotion activities. The WASH Technical Advisor is responsible for ensuring that the partners have all and adequate WASH technical support and guidance in order to be able to implement WASH activities timely and in a quality manner,  is responsible for implementation of consortium level WASH activities, coordination, and representation in front of the Government, partners, communities and other internal and external stakeholders. This position is based in Jijiga Town, and works 100% on this project.

Scope

The WASH Technical Advisor provides leadership and technical support of all WASH aspects of the Basic Services under Peace and Development Programme. He/She will work with each of the partner organizations involved in the project, and will be responsible to advise on and monitor technical quality, supporting consortium members in completion of activities to a high quality within the project period. Experience in the particular context of WASH in pastoral communities will be essential in this role. Understanding of, and experience in, Disaster Risk Management and Natural Resource Management is also required.

Key responsibilities include:

This position works alongside the Health and Education Technical Advisors, and reports to the Deputy Program Director (also based in Jijiga) at Save the Children International on day-to-day management of the WASH sector of the Programme, and is co-supervised by IRC Environmental Health Coordinator based in Addis Ababa. This position works closely with the IRC Ethiopia Environmental Health teams in Addis Ababa and Jijiga. The position is based in Jijiga Town, but with frequent travel throughout the region for management, support, monitoring and evaluation of program activities.

Project Implementation

• Ensure regional level WASH sector activities are performed and implemented with consistent approaches and quality, and on time.
• Ensure proper and timely utilization of regional level WASH sector activities.

Technical oversight

• Advise partners on all technical aspects of WASH sector activities implementation, ensuring a unified and effective approach to achieving project milestones.
• Develop guidelines and tools as required for WASH staff to implement key project activities consistently and effectively.
• Organize technical training for project staff as required to enable them to implement the project strategy and activities effectively.
• Identify and collate evidence base of context specific promising practices and support dissemination workshops to improve existing practices and introduce new practices and/or ideas among project partners.
• Prepare or review all technical designs & BoQs, specifications and tenders for a variety of water and sanitation interventions.
• Ensure that effective engagement is maintained with communities and with local government partners, to ensure responsive and sustainable programming.

Project monitoring

• Oversee the WASH components of the project in the Somali region, with a focus on keeping activities on track for completion. Develop detailed activity, budget plans and monitoring tools for the project, and monitor progress against plans ensuring that objectives and indicators are achieved.
• Maintain regular contact with the field WASH staff through regular field visits to ensure that the WASH component of the project is carried out promptly, to a high quality and according to the project strategy.
• Compile and submit consortium level WASH technical reports; verify and validate WASH project implementation reports received from partners (Output tracker, WASH Matrix Activity, Monthly/quarter Reports, ad hoc reports, donors report, etc).
• Prepare monthly field reports incorporating activity and financial progress for project work across the Somali region.

Coordination & representation

• Build links with WASH stakeholders to share knowledge, experience and ideas.
• Represent the WASH sector of the Programme to local communities, government departments, international agencies, local partners and donors as required.
• Attend relevant meetings as required.
• Ensure regular communication with Addis Ababa-based WASH Unit technical staff for feedback, updates and guidance as required.

Operations (HR, Logistics and Finance)

• Identify training needs and ensure that members of the WASH sector team receive appropriate training (including mentoring, on-the-job sessions as well as formal trainings).
• Ensure that high priority purchases are monitored and prioritized by the logistics team.
• Ensure that tenders are prepared in accordance with the projects logistics requirements and the WASH sector standards.
• Monitor and ensure spending against plan, and analyze monthly financial reports. Alert the senior management team of any anomalies and propose corrective actions. Subsequently follow up with the implementation of the agreed corrective actions.

Requirements

• BSc in Water Resources Engineering or similar field.
• Minimum 5 years of WASH (Watsan) experience with an NGO in a senior capacity.
• Experience in managing and implementation of performance based contracts preferable.
• Previous experience with pastoralist communities essential, preferably in the Somali context.
• Knowledge and experience in Rangeland Management in dryland environments strongly preferred.
• Proven practical experience in project implementation and management, particularly engineering activities.
• Comfortable to work and travel in a remote environment.
• Ability to work and adapt under pressure.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Computer literate (word processors, spreadsheet, database, CAD and statistical packages, etc).