Wash Coordinator -Bondo at Rafiki wa Maendeleo Trust

REPORTS TO: Programs Manager

SUPERVISES: WASH Staff

Vision: People believe in themselves and work together to build a vibrant and progressive community.

Mission: Empower people and build their capacities to create positive change for children and youth within their community.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Reporting to the Programs Manager, the WASH Coordinator is expected to provide technical and managerial leadership and expert assistance to guide, coordinate, manage and monitor the WASH portfolio of activities. S/he must interact with a range of partners involved in the sector, maintain oversight of the overall sector impacts and ensure the efficient use of resources.

The incumbent should have excellent leadership skills, initiative, and independent judgment in supporting the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of strategies and ORGANISATION programs. The WASH Coordinator is responsible for providing management and supervisory direction as well as technical guidance to the WASH staff, contractors, and grantees to ensure that programs adhere to the terms and conditions of partner agreements, and are achieving the development impact and results that are expected. The WASH Coordinator works collaboratively and proactively with other technical experts and support offices on program matters.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Project Implementation & Management
  • Play a key role in identifying and coordinating the various water, sanitation and hygiene-related activities and players.
  • Assist Programs Manager with developing annual WASH project plans and budgets for approval by the donors or Executive Director.
  • Assist in the development of a performance management plan for all program/project activities. Ensure project and/or sectoral assessments are carried out and participate in developing Statements of work, field trips, data analysis and dissemination of these assessments.
  • Perform Monitoring & Evaluation and regular evaluations of activities in collaboration with the WASH team. This includes review of program and financial reports.
  • Monitor and document development impacts and resolve implementation issues in an efficient and professional manner.
  • Oversee the management of contracts for the construction of water supply infrastructure (to be supervised by contracted firms acting as the engineers’ representative).
  • Ensure the monitoring for quality constructions in accordance with the conditions of the contract, specifications, drawings and Bills of Quantities. 
• Strategy Support
  • Lead efforts to assess and address institutional constraints impacting access and use of water in Rarieda and identify priority issues requiring institutional strengthening to assure consistent and sustainable supply of clean water.
  • Lead efforts in identifying key technical challenges in water and sanitation service provision and management of local community water companies and/or CBOs.
  • Design school based and community based water/sanitation/hygiene-related strategies, programs and activities to meet strategic objectives.
  • Compile, analyze, and disseminate, on a regular basis and as needed, reports detailing progress in achieving sector objectives along with commentary on issues and recommended solutions.
• Partnerships, networking and collaborations
  • Ensure strong partnerships between ORGANISATION, the government, contractors, business and corporate enterprises as well as with other relevant partners.
  • Represent the organization in any relevant stakeholders’ meetings.
  • Ensure that the organization upholds the government’s policies and procedures of providing quality programs as relates to WASH and general programs.
  • Support the Executive Director & ORGANISATION management in liaising with all relevant prime partners for the implementation of all ORGANISATION WASH programs interventions.
  • Develop, maintain and strengthen working relationships with key partners, including national ministries, local governments, international organizations and other donors, private sector, NGOs, universities and the media, to identify and implement efforts to increase synergy among the key stakeholders and promote collaborative planning, technical training and institutional strengthening toward long term sustainable solutions to WASH.
• Governance and Management
  • Ensure effective monitoring of all activities undertaken.
  • Oversee performance appraisal process of relevant staff members under your supervision.
  • Provide timely advice to the Executive Director and the Senior Management team, on issues likely to affect/impact project implementation.
  • Actively participate in the management and development of ORGANISATION as a whole as a member of the Senior Management Team.
  • Prepare reports as required. 
• ORGANISATION Values and Ethics
  • Share and instill the values of ORGANISATION to the M & E staff and the project beneficiaries.
  • Keep and maintain the name of ORGANISATION in high esteem and respect to the community. 
  • Other duties and responsibilities
  • Actively participate in the Psycho-Social Support Program for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children and build the community’s capacity to eventually run the program on their own.
  • Perform any other duties and responsibilities assigned by the management from time and which are related to the achievement of ORGANISATION’s mission and vision.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE

• This position requires a broad combination of technical, analytical, and managerial abilities combined with excellent communication skills. The incumbent should demonstrate a range of expertise in the area of management and the field of water and sanitation services.
• Education: Degree in environmental management, public health, engineering, public administration or related field is required.

Work Experience: 

• Minimum 5 years of demonstrated WASH management experience and 3 years’ experience in water supply, sanitation and hygiene programming.
• Working experience in the design and supervision of rural water supply systems and community-based water supply program implementation and operation.

Skills & Abilities: 

• The position requires a combination of managerial, technical, and analytical, abilities along with the demonstrated ability to manage resources, programs and people.
• Expertise in the areas of sustainability, systems-based approaches to development, WASH, and program design is desirable.

Job Knowledge: 

• Direct experience in the management of donor-funded projects required.
• Direct hands-on experience in WASH also highly valued.
• Knowledge of development programming and project management required as demonstrated through education and/or experience.
• Knowledge of water and sanitation sector development, including technology selection, institutional structures, community governance, financing, environmental sustainability, and social/cultural issues including gender consideration.
• Knowledge and experience working in Kenya’s water supply and sanitation issues in the context of devolution.

POSITION RELATIONSHIP IN THE ORGANISATION

• Within the Organization
• Supervisor
• Management Team
• Staff 
• Outside the Organization
• Government
• Local community members
• Local administration and leaders

AUTHORITY / DECISION MAKING

• The position involves making recommendations on policy and operational issues to the Human Resource and Management team for consideration, in addition to implementation of activities according to the operational and work plans.

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

• The position requires the incumbent to make field visits. The travels may be to remote places where adverse weather conditions and poor roads may make travel difficult.
• May periodically work long and odd hours to meet deadlines and/or respond to specific situations.