WASH Officer - Hygiene & Sanitation at Kenya Red Cross Society

Reporting to:              

WASH Manager

Job Location:              

Baringo, West Pokot and Samburu

PURPOSE:

The role will be responsible and accountable for the effective planning, budgeting, implementing and evaluating integrated and sustainable community-based Water Sanitation and Hygiene activities. Other responsibilities include strengthening volunteer networks, building their capacity for large scale reach to supplement public health services.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support in development of hygiene promotion topics, hygiene sessions and IEC materials
• Develop materials to promote safe WASH practices, including appropriate use and maintenance of WASH facilities and services.
• Ensure that action is taken to mitigate priority water and sanitation related health risks.
• Provide technical support in preparation of divisional strategies, annual operational plan and budget.
• Develop a strategic community-based health plan and budget aligned to the Society’s strategic objectives as well as Government health policies and strategies.
• Conduct technical assessment to establish critical community-based sanitation and hygiene needs as well follow-up investigations of reported infectious diseases to determine source, contacts and carriers of disease.
• Develop strategies for integrating community-based health programmes through awareness and sensitization of hygiene and sanitation practices.
• Coordinate the support in establishment of emergency health facilities, and emergency trained personnel and volunteers capable of meeting area’s emergency needs.
• Integrate emergency health into other programmes and undertake joint planning and implementation with other health agencies at all levels
• In liaison with the Health, Nutrition and Social Services, support establishment of health facilities services to ensure improved access to emergency health services during disasters, large scale emergencies and disease outbreaks
• Building community partnerships, identification and building the capacity of volunteer community leaders to spearhead hygiene promotion and sanitation.
• Participate in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a community awareness campaigns aimed at equipping and strengthening staff, volunteers and communities with capacity to provide community-based sanitation and hygiene services.
• Prepare funding proposals and appeals for material assistance in line with the strategic plan by ensuring adherence to donor requirements.
• Implement strategies for strengthening collaborative partnerships and networks with stakeholders, donors, government agencies, the private sector and other players to ensure implementation of programmes that enhance organizational effectiveness
• Provide leadership to multidisciplinary teams to develop, implement and evaluate strategic management plans using participatory community methods, in order to improve performance standards and organisational effectiveness.
• Develop and implement lobby and advocacy programmes with a view to reform laws and policies that hamper the implementation of effective disaster management to ensure that KRCS is recognised as the leading player in the provision of humanitarian relief services
• Plan, monitor and evaluate the performance of programme staff against set targets and objectives, assess training needs and implementing development action plans aimed at building the capacity of individuals and multi-disciplinary teams 
• Represent the Society at meetings, conferences and workshops and other forums to articulate issues related to humanitarian relief services
• Prepare concept papers, periodic progress reports and annual reports showing achievements against planned targets as well as providing justification for performance variances and areas of improvement.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor of Arts in Public Health, Social Sciences or related fields.
• At least 2-year experience and understanding of Hygiene Promotion and community mobilization in relation to water and sanitation activities
• Experience implementing PHAST/CHAST or CLTS behaviour change methodologies

Technical Skills & Abilities:

• Computer skills.
• Demonstrate ability in supervision
• Experience in working with water projects