MissionTechnical Referent WATSAN at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

Main Purpose

Leading the WatSan activities in the mission, providing technical guidance and ensuring the correct implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the overall content of all WatSan programs in the country, its national policies, guidelines, and  common practices, in accordance with MSF protocols, standards and policies in order to optimize the mission’s response to the needs of the target population and ensure an optimal running of the projects. 

Accountabilities

• In collaboration with the Country Management Team (CMT), and the WatSan Advisor, elaborating the WatSan strategies and activities for the country and /or mission, ensuring compliance with essential WatSan requirements, in order to prioritize objectives and plan activities accordingly 
• In collaboration with medical teams, conducting assessments, identifying WatSan needs, and based on findings, recommending appropriate responses to CMT. Contributing to the development of project proposals and/or work plans, when WatSan is integrated in medical interventions 
• Being responsible at mission level for the supervision and monitoring of the WatSan activities, ensuring that the works are done following MSF protocols, national policies and state regulations and project specifications. 
• Validating the technicity of the WatSan projects in the mission, participating in the planning, project design and development and ensuring compliance with the local legislation and practices. 
• Planning and organizing, in collaboration with the Logistics Coordinator, the purchase of required materials and equipment, in order to ensure appropriate technical specifications, stock management and timely deliveries 
• Developing community participation strategies related to the improvement of WatSan practices, engaging local authorities or other non-governmental actors, in order to improve the standard of living conditions of the target population 
• Coordinating the implementation of WatSan reporting systems, project standards and indicators (both qualitative and financial) in order to ensure the expected quality, terms and costs and to early detect/report potential deviations and propose solutions, in collaboration with the Medical, Logistical and the Financial Coordinators 
• Identifying, collaborating and providing main support in the WatSan technical representatives of the national interlocutors like ministries or national suppliers. Preparing all WatSan technical content in the national and international tenders and participating in the selection committee. 
• Planning and supervising, in close coordination with the HR Co, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication) of the staff under his/her hierarchical supervision in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required 
• Writing the WatSan part of SitRep, monthly WatSan reports, collaborating with other members of CMT for quarterly reports 

Operational support 

• Technical referent in terms of Water, Hygiene and Sanitation, Planetary Health, and Biosecurity in the fields where he/she intervenes. 
• Elaborates the national policies, guidelines, and standardization of a common practice in his/her area of specialization and validates budgets and all the means for the preparation of any technical activity related to the domain.  
• In liaison with the coordination teams and field managers, assesses the needs and determine the activities to be carried out and the necessary resources (financial, human, material) by setting the priorities of the projects.  
• Assists in defining and sizing the facilities to be built according to the assessed needs. 
• Ensures consistency between activities and MSF standards. 
• Communicates with representatives of the different Wash organizations: NGOs, UN, and Government. Ensures good coordination with other actors and implements advocacy actions decided in coordination. 
• Participate in any relevant WASH Sectorial meeting at the field or national level (National Ebola Task Force, Dagahaley, Mombasa, Coordination meetings, etc) 
• Following up and reporting on the works' progress and technical aspects of the work, participating in monthly reports at the coordination level according to guidelines  
• Participate in the exploration missions to identify WASH needs and draft the proposal/intervention strategy 
• Participates in the EPREP wash and support Supply Kenya Intersection department (SKID) team for technical validation, inventories, etc. 

Biosecurity/IPC: 

• In collaboration with the medical department, in case of any epidemic context change, revise the IPC measures for MSF projects (Covid, Cholera, Ebola possibly) and possibly MoH structures. 
• Give training following MSF OCG-defined protocols and policies. 

HR 

• Coach/Give support to the Log manager/Watsan manager/ wash supervisors (especially first missions) and plan any Wash-relevant training. 
• Participates in defining objectives and evaluating the Watsan manager and wash supervisors. 
• Validation and proposal of the HR setup according to the evolution of the mission and the activity and the need for skills. 

Planetary Health 

• Ensuring all types of waste generated in the mission are treated in an Eco-friendly manner. 
• Acting as the lead person for supporting and implementing the organization's ambition for planetary health in the country. 

Requirements

Education 

• Degree in Engineering or an equivalent relevant training 

Experience 

• Previous MSF experience as a Watsan required, preferably in low-income countries 

Languages  

• English and Swahili 

Knowledge 

• Computer literacy (word, excel, PowerPoint) 
• Fully conversant with NEMA acts regulations. 
• Proficiency in one technical drawing applications 

Competencies 

• People Management  Development L2 
• Results  Quality Orientation L3 
• Teamwork  Cooperation L3 
• Analytical Thinking L2 
• Behavioural Flexibility L3