WASH Associate -Fugnido, Ethiopia

Job Description

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The WASH Associate works under the overall supervision of a more senior WASH colleague, Technical Coordinator, Programme Officer or the Head of Office. S/he provides assistance in the development, guidance and oversight of the implementation of WASH strategies for refugee settlements.

The incumbent will support WASH related activities in the refugee settlements working closely with the multi-functional teams including colleagues from protection, health, settlement planning, field and others.

The WASH Associate provides technical guidance, works with partners and other external stakeholders, reviews ongoing activities and generally contributes to improving WASH service delivery to persons of concern (POC) to adequate levels at each site in accordance with the UNHCR WASH Manual and Technical Guidelines, and applicable UNHCR and/or national standards.

S/he will follow a rights-based and community focused approach to programme design and implementation. The incumbent will follow the five principles for protection, accountability and WASH as outlined in UNHCR¿s WASH Manual.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks.

In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

– Provide technical guidance and support to partners on all WASH-related issues to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and environmental sound WASH interventions.

– Liaise with implementing partners, operating partners and relevant governmental and non-governmental counterparts.

– Review regularly the quantity and quality of water and sanitation services offered in the Area of Responsibility (AoR) and maintain the records of WASH performance indicators for all locations.

– Support the review of performance, undertake field verifications, monitor development and support the evaluation of activities and approaches adopted by partners in WASH and related sectors, reporting the results to the supervisor for sharing with other technical units.

– Provide technical assistance (TA) to partners and help to enhance capacity building of partners.

– Promote community involvement and participation in all the different stages of the WASH project cycle.

– Build and maintain close relationships with other sectors, particularly site planning, health and community service, to locate, plan, implement and monitor WASH activities.

– Provide timely inputs to ensure that regular and accurate reports that analyse the challenges encountered in providing WASH services for beneficiaries are prepared and circulated.

– May participate in the preparation of all reports for management, boards, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, monthly, annual reports etc. in a timely manner.

– Contribute to providing technical inputs during strategic and operational planning cycles of UNHCR within the AoR.

– Assist in the communication of WASH related issues as well as of the needs and issues of other sectors through reliable regular field presence.

– Provide regular updates and track progress, prepare summaries and follow-up documents in correspondence.

– Participate in WASH sector, infrastructure coordination, camp coordination and cross-cutting sector meetings e.g. health, environment, as required by the supervisor.

– Compile documents and reports related to WASH activities and construction under the AoR.

– Record feedback from UNHCR camp management, field and community services colleagues on issues with water availability, access, quality, sanitation situation, and ensure follow-up.

– Support the management in provision of WASH facilities required (UNHCR managed and supported areas), including activities such as technical design, cost estimations of technical activities, development of bill of quantities for construction of all associated WASH works, and all operational and maintenance considerations.

– Provide project management support for UNHCR WASH activities employing typical PM tools for design control, procurement, implementation and monitoring, and contract administration including evaluations to support progress certificates.

– Promote and participate in the establishment of a complaint mechanism/system to improve the WASH accountability toward refugees; report all issues, communications and resolutions employed.

– Establish and follow master and detailed chronograms, reporting to the sector any issue resulting in delays or extra costs.

– Coordinate and supervise UNHCR partners’ construction and maintenance of WASH in UNHCR managed and supported areas.

– Assist in negotiations with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.

– Provide inputs for country operations plan and other submissions and reports.

– Monitor WASH activities in the AoR on behalf of UNHCR and make recommendations to the supervisor and the UNHCR management team.

– Provide data inputs for the WASH monitoring system.

– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience /

• Degree Level For G6 – 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.

Field(s) of Education

Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Agriculture
• Civil Engineering
• Environment
• Natural Resources Management
• Hydrology
• Project management
• Public Health
• Community Dvpt/Social Work
• Social Sciences
• Urban Planning
• Architecture
• Water resource development
• Water/Sanitation Mgmt (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

• Experience in area of WASH including surveys, programme implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and coordination.

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of water and wastewater hydraulics and physical, chemical and biological properties; solid waste management practices, vector control and hygiene promotion/awareness raising strategies.
• Knowledge and understanding of relationship between water, wastewater, solid waste and vector control to public health indicators, and value of hygiene promotion/awareness raising and behaviour change methodologies.

Functional Skills

• IT-Computer Literacy
• IT-Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• PH- Public Health
• Epidemiology
• SP-Vector Control Systems Management
• WA-WASH Assessment: Survey planning, implementation and oversight WA-WASH-related Technologies (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

• Previous WASH experience and technical background.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational health and safety considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The WASH Associate will be working on WASH programme as a member of the Field Unit, reporting directly to the Head of Field Office. The Incumbent will be based in the UNHCR Field-Office Fugnido to support the provision of WASH services to approximately 60,000 South Sudanese refugees settled in two refugee camps around Fugnido. S/he will contribute to planning, design, implementation, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and quality assurance of WASH programme activities in line with agreed standards, strategies, and guidelines. The incumbent will undertake routine follow up, supervision and monitoring the implementation of WASH related activities in all field locations, while working closely in a multi-functional team and multi-sectoral approaches with field colleagues from relevant sectors and Partners to ensure an effective and sustainable WASH services delivery to Persons UNHCR Serves.

The WASH Associate provides technical guidance, works with partners and other external stakeholders, reviews ongoing activities and generally contributes to improving WASH service delivery to all persons we serve to adequate levels at each site in accordance with the UNHCR WASH Manual and Technical Guidelines, and applicable UNHCR and/or national standards. S/he will follow rights-based and community-focused approaches to programme design and implementation. The incumbent will follow the five principles for protection, accountability and WASH as outlined in UNHCR’s WASH Manual.

Living and Working Conditions:

Fugnido is a non-family duty station. Only very basic services are available at the duty station, such as banking and a public hospital with a limited service provision, mainly due to the frequent disruption of electricity or water distribution. No entertainments are present, apart from few local bars and social life is limited.  Medical facilities of a higher standard are available in Gambella town (2 hours driving).  The Incumbent will live in UNHCR compound. Food items are not easily available in local market and are normally brought from Gambella. The office has a canteen where staff can subscribe and have their daily meals: food supplies are purchased in Gambella every two weeks.

The diversity of topography in Ethiopia has resulted in a wide variety of climate in the country. The climate in Fugnido is classified as tropical. The hottest season of the region is in March/April and temperatures may rise up to 45 °C, followed by a long rainy season. Road network within the region is often affected by the heavy rainfall during the rainy season. The average annual temperature in Fugnido is 27.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1,148 mm. Remoteness, isolation, and lack of entertainment in social life are the factors to be also considered prior to applying.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Geographic Information Systems (GIS), PH- Public Health Epidemiology, SP-Vector Control Systems Management, WA-WASH Assessment: Survey planning, implementation and oversight, WA-WASH-related Technologies

Certifications

Agriculture – Other, Architecture – Other, Civil Engineering – Other, Community Development/Social Work – Other, Environment – Other, Hydrology – Other, Natural Resources Management – Other, Project Management – Other, Public Health – Other, Social Sciences – Other, Urban Planning – Other, Water/Sanitation – Other, Water Resources Development – Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness

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