WASH Officer (Sanitation & Hygiene) Kakuma, Kenya (Kenyan National Only at Norwegian Refugee Council

The NRC East Africa & Yemen mission is an expanding programme. NRC
started its operations in Kenya in the refugee camps in Dadaab in February 2007. NRC has WASH, Shelter, Education, Food Security and Livelihood and Information Counselling and Legal Assistant programmes implemented in the refugee camps in Dadaab and Kakuma.
All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and beliefs shall guide our actions and relationships.

The Project Officer is responsible for coordination of Sanitation & Hygiene activities in the assigned locations. The Officer ensure effective planning and quality implementation of the sanitation and hygiene activities in Kalobeyei settlement camp . The WASH Officer will assist the WASH Project Coordinator in providing technical support in the development of NRC’s sanitation programming for both sanitation and maintenance of sanitation facilities. He/she will also work closely with the other Project Officers and Assistants in the field to ensure timely delivery of quality Sanitation construction, and will assist the Project Coordinator in overall planning and design of (future) projects. He/she will also stand in for the WASH Project Coordinator in abscencia and provide program support as required. The WASH officer report to WASH Project Coordinator in Kakuma.

Duties and responsibilities

• Promote safe WASH practices, including appropriate use and maintenance of WASH facilities and services specifically Latrines and Hand washing facilities.
• Oversee the construction and rehabilitation of latrines, drainage and other relevant Sanitation facilities ensuring that the constructions are of the highest quality and as per specified technical drawings.
• Facilitate community involvement in the design and delivery of essential WASH services and facilities.
• Participate in the requests for project materials; undertake technical verification of project materials upon delivery, and organize for branding where necessary and call for distribution to the beneficiaries.
• Undertake technical inspection of sanitary installations including latrines, pits, drainage systems and dome slab/lid construction.
• Initiate CLTS activities in the community in liaison with relevant stakeholders
• Advice on quality control of all Sanitation activities – travel regularly to all the NRC construction sites assessing construction and M&E procedures.
• Development of rapid response and contingency plans.
• Assess and advise on capacity building needs within the team to ensure effective developments of the quality standards for the Sanitation activities.
• Carry out informal and formal training sessions (according to identified needs) and evaluate the impacts of this training.
• To assist and participate in community mobilization.
• Enable effective dialogue with the affected community to allow the agency to be held to account for the quality of the WASH programme.
• Help identify needs for non-food items relevant to hygiene, participate in the choice of items, targeting strategy, promotion of effective use, and post-distribution monitoring.
• Provide timely feedback on activity progress and advice on any challenges.
• Help plan and carry out needs assessments, baseline studies and periodic studies, and feedback findings to the stakeholders.
• Plan activities to reduce WASH-related risks.
• Collate data from the WASH Assistants and prepare regular reports on activities and WASH conditions for monitoring.
• Coordinate with the other Officers and Health Lead IP to ensure that the various aspects of the WASH response are integrated.
• Liaise with community leaders and other sectors and agencies working locally in order to coordinate within the WASH sector and between sectors such as health and shelter.
• To represent NRC in co-ordination meetings with the other IPs, section and block leaders and other stakeholders.
• Preparation of the project reports in a timely manner, guidelines and other strategic documentation.
• Recruit and train incentive workers (Hygiene Promoters, Sanitation workers etc) including performance appraisal.
• Organize day-to-day logistics, administration, and personnel activities in the assigned camp.
• Advice the project coordinator on available stock and plan for restocking upon depletion of stock.
• Supervise sanitation activities in line with relevant standards, codes of conduct, and humanitarian principles.
• Use participatory approaches throughout the programme cycle, in training, and in the use of tool kits and other materials.
• Supervise Sanitation activities and resources so that they are implemented and handed over or ended in a way that promotes local capacities and sustainable operations.
• Take account of gender, protection, HIV, the environment, and other important cross-cutting concerns in programme design, implementation, and reporting; carry out activities in a way that reflects the needs of specific groups and individuals e.g. elderly people, minority groups, children, and people with disabilities.
• Carry out any other assignment as may be required by the WASH Project Coordinator.

Qualifications

• Technical background in Public Health. Qualifications in Public Health, Environmental Health, Civil engineering or water and Environmental engineering or similar relevant discipline.
• Proven practical experience in the planning and execution of WASH Programmes of at least 3 years’ experience in a humanitarian and development programme preferably with an INGO.
• Experience in undertaking sanitation in a relief programme is essential.
• Proven ability to use MS Office software (especially Word and Excel) is essential. Experience with other computer programs such as SAP 2000 and Microsoft Project would be an advantage.
• Experience in implementation of technical works in Public health engineering is an added advantage.
• Ability to initiate, develop, plan and implement an integrated programme.
• Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to explain and present technical information
• Possession of strong administrative and management skills with a willingness to follow relevant policies and procedures
• Experience in capacity building and training of staff and target groups
• Political and cultural awareness and experience of working where insecurity is a major issue
• Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is essential
• Ability to work independently in a result oriented multi-tasking and multi-cultural environment and manage conflicting priorities.
• Understanding of international health and development and relief issues
• Sensitivity to the needs and priorities of disadvantaged populations (minority groups etc) Demonstrated experience of integrating gender and diversity issues into WASH Programming

Personal qualities

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organisational and team working skills
• Good cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Highly approachable, trustworthy and confidential
• Knowledge of the NGO operations and the dynamics of the humanitarian sector is a plus
• Excellent communication skills
• Proven presentation, training and facilitation skills.