WASH Assistant - Mandera at Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The post holder(s) will provide necessary support to the WASH Officer in implementation of quality WASH programme-WASH constructions, NFIs, Hygiene promotion and Upscaling WASH’em services in communities targeted by Save the Children in the region of Garissa/Wajir/Mandera/Tana River. The post is specifically oriented towards the WASH emergency response in the context of the crisis Elnino preparedness, and special attention will be made ​​on the integration of the WASH sector in other core sector of Save the Children such as nutrition, food security, health, education and child protection.

Reports to: WASH Officer

Staff directly reporting to this post: N/A 

Role Dimensions: Water supply, storage and Sanitation, Hygiene promotion, Construction, Capacity Building, NFI distribution, distribution of water treatment chemicals.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Program design and implementation 

• Assist the WASH Officer in follow-up and evaluation of activities related to the construction of WASH infrastructures in the communities, such as: 
  • Supervision of construction or rehabilitation of WASH facilities (animal troughs, tank platforms, elevated tower tanks, reticulation systems, borehole equipping & solarization).  
  • Hold project sites meeting with the contractors, community representatives to provide feedback on the projects.
• Planning, organizing and follow up of Hygiene promotion for community including leading in distribution of WASH NFI to target communities: items include Jerricans, Buckets, Soap, PUR, Aquatabs etc. 
• Assist the WASH Officer in maintaining WASH documentation and support in documenting success stories from the communities served. 
• Assist the WASH Officer in the general supervision of contractors, ensuring the safety of construction sites and community participation. 
• Assist the WASH Officer in validating the progress and quality of work of the contractors and make the connection with the administration and logistics to ensure their payments. 
• Assist the WASH Officer in planning for field logistics for project monitoring and supervision.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning 

• Assist the WASH Officer in verifying that WASH infrastructure construction and rehabilitation works done by contractor are carried out according to quality standards established by Save the Children through quality checklists  
• Plan and be responsible for the weekly reporting of data in order to follow up the standard project and strategic indicators (number of beneficiaries, number and type of activities completed. 

Reporting 

• Writing daily report to WASH Officer, and verbal reports whenever necessary. 

Integration, coordination and transversal aspects 

• Support the WASH Officer in ensuring that construction works is integrated with hygiene promotion and community participation component, to ensure sustainability of the infrastructure built.  
• Coordinate WASH construction activities with other sectors of Save the Children, to integrate activities in the same geographical area and for the same beneficiaries. 
• Ensure the integration of gender, child protection, HIV, environment and other crosscutting issues to the design, implementation and development of WASH construction activities, and ensure that activities consider the needs of specific groups and individuals, especially children, the elderly and disabled. 
   

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition: 

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity: 

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 

• A degree or diploma in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Public Health and sanitation. 
• Professional experience of 2 years minimum in the field of WASH infrastructure construction in humanitarian or development context. 
• Experience of project management, implementing integrated Health and WASH projects within agreed timescales and budget limitations .
• Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability in an emergency integrated Health and WASH context. 
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation .
• Some experience of representation and ability to represent Save the Children effectively in external forums. Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of the Save the Children’s mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support .
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports .
• Excellent communication skills .
• Strong influencing skills .
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy .
• A high level of written and spoken English .
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances. 
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of Save the Children’s mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support .
• Ability to speak and communicate in English/Kiswahili/Somali.