Senior Wash Officer – HelpAge International
Engineering, Water and Sanitation
HelpAge International
We believe that the contribution older people make to society is invaluable. Yet older people remain some of the poorest and most neglected in the world. We are committed to helping them claim their rights, challenge discrimination and overcome poverty.
Our vision and mission
Our vision is of a world in which all older people can lead dignified, active, healthy and secure lives.
We work with our partners to ensure that people everywhere understand how much older people contribute to society and that they must enjoy their right to healthcare, social services and economic and physical security.
Our values
We believe that "age helps" – a position which puts the experience of older women and men at the centre of our work. This guides the type of programmes we run, the way we develop our advocacy work and the way we communicate.
Our values and the way we behave are:
Supportive
Optimistic
Expert
Committed
How we work
We put older men and women at the heart of our work, involving them in programme design, implementation and review.
We work in partnership with like-minded organisations.
We provide services where governments are not.
We respond to emergencies quickly and effectively.
We develop ways of improving older people's lives by monitoring our programmes.
We persuade policy makers to address ageing issues.
Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa with a population of nearly 90 million. Despite having good economic growth, it remains among the 10 poorest countries in the region.
HelpAge began working in Ethiopia in 1992 and works with 20 local partners to support older people.
HelpAge’s priority programmes include income security, social care and support, inclusive health and wellbeing, emergency response and resilience building.
Key Relationships:
Internal: Operations Manager- Addis; Head of Humanitarian Program Coordinator in the field; Communications Officer and Country Director
External: Various humanitarian actors in drought-affected areas and refugee camps, cluster and other coordination mechanisms
Background
HelpAge International (www.helpage.org) is the secretariat to the HelpAge Global Network, which brings together a wide range of organisations and individuals working together to ensure that older people lead dignified, active, healthy and secure lives. HelpAge International’s secretariat is based in London, UK and closely works with its supporting network members- Age International, HelpAge Germany and HelpAge USA.
Our long-term vision is to establish a global movement of strong connected age focused and older people led platforms in every country in the world. Only by collaborating together can we achieve a world in which all older people can lead dignified, active, healthy and secure lives. We aim to extend the reach and influence of the HelpAge Global Network to all those in a position to help bring about our vision for older people – including Governments, regional institutions, policy makers, development partners, the private sector, UN organisations and academic institutions. In Africa region, we will deliver this through a combination of programme, policy and communications work focused on our core themes of social protection, health and care and humanitarian response.
HelpAge has been operating in Ethiopia since 1992 and has been engaged on thematic sectors including social protection, health and care, emergency response and capacity building of local partners
Overall Purpose of the Job
The Officer is responsible for the planning, implementation, supervision and technical management of the emergency water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities by HelpAge as per the approved project documents. He/She organizes and coordinates the woreda level supervisors and community level facilitators/mobilizers for the effective and efficient implementation of the project.
Job Responsibilities and Key Tasks
Project Management
- Responsible for the overall management of the WASH project response in the designated district including proper planning and organizing of tasks, providing technical guidance and management of project scope
- Ensure timely and quality implementation of water and sanitation infrastructures constructions, rehabilitation and maintenance activities
- Along with the woreda supervisors and community facilitators, organize and coordinate sanitation and hygiene campaigns and promotion activities
- Organize and facilitate capacity building trainings for WASHCOs and scheme care takers
- Work with government partners in planning and monitoring day to day emergency WASH interventions at the assigned districts
- Make regular follow-up and monitoring of water schemes with emphasis on technical soundness, effectiveness, quality and sustainability.
- Adopt and ensure implementation of basic guidelines and standards for emergency WASH response;
- Ensure timely and quality implementation of sanitation and hygiene components;
- Organize and facilitate capacity building trainings for WASHCOs and scheme care takers;
- Make regular follow-up and monitoring of sanitation and hygiene practices, as well as emergency public health risks for timely response
- Adopt and ensure implementation of basic guidelines and standards for public health in emergencies;
- Work with government partners and structures on facilitating basic community health education through home to home visits, community meetings, schools (Schools based Environmental Sanitation and Hygiene clubs), health centres, FBOs, social occasions, etc;
- Ensure integration Humanitarian Principles, sphere standards and cross cutting issues and concerns e.g. ageing, gender, HIV & AIDS, disability and environment into planned water scheme provision, NFI distributions, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities
Reporting and Documentation
- Organize and submit weekly updates and periodic progress reports on emergency WASH related activities
- Collect, sanitize and communicate emergency WASH situation of current and potential woredas.
- Organize and submit weekly updates and periodic progress reports on emergency WASH related activities of HelpAge to the Emergency Programme Coordinator/ Manager
- Collect, sanitize and communicate emergency health, sanitation and hygiene situation of current and potential woredas.
- Document and recommend best sanitation and hygiene practices/interventions.
Networking and Partnership
- Closely cooperate with partners, relevant government offices (e.g. water, health and education bureaus) in the target woredas
- As delegated, coordinate with other organizations including participation in cluster meetings and forums.
Contract Length: Nine Months
Responsible To: Programme Manager- Mega
Duty Station: Mega, Borena Zone
Responsible For: Technical leadership and management of the emergency Wash activities in priority woredas
Technical/Programmatic
- MSC/ BA degree in Water Supply and Sanitation / Hydraulic Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, or another relevant field and at least 5-7 years of experience (2-3 of which is in programme and people management role). For BSC degree minimum of 7 years’ experience is required.
- Professional experience in Emergency WASH projects implementation including assessment of water resources, designing and implementing of different technology options on water supply, hygiene and sanitation.
- Good understanding of standards and requirements in emergency situations.
- Experience with supervision, monitoring, coaching and training of staff and partner organizations.
- Good understanding of standards and requirements in emergency situations.
- Strong personal integrity and commitment to accountability.
- Proactive and takes initiatives without the need for prompting by others.
- Willing to travel to and stay in hardship areas.
- Proficiency in oral and written English
- Good understanding of budgets and financial management; working with local partners and Knowledge of Excel, Word, etc. is an advantage
- Ability to speak Afan Oromo
Behavioural Competencies
- Working with others, in a team environment, receiving and providing feedback, contributing to the team’s success, and managing conflicts if it occurs
- Supporting: Attention to details and ability/willingness to guide and support others
- Self-Management–by demonstrating Integrity and credibility, leading by example, committed, knowledgeable and confident on the job functions
- Ability to work independently without the need for prompting from others
Others
- Ability to engage, seek and provide clarity and deliver on issues that are not always clear
- Previous experience working on issue of older persons a strong advantage
