WATSAN MANAGER /EH MANAGER FOR KOREM PROJECT

Summary of Position

Planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring all logistics activities in the project related to Water, Health and Sanitation, according to MSF protocols and standards in order to ensure an optimal running of the project.

Essential Job Duties

• In collaboration with the Project Coordinator and the Logistics Coordinator, planning, elaborating and reviewing the annual budget for the Watsan activities in order to identify and give a response to the needs of the mission and the targeted population.
• Monitoring on a day-to-day basis the implementation of the Watsan activities in the project ensuring compliance of MSF standards, protocols and procedures, and reporting to the Project Coordinator on the development of the ongoing programs including the following:
• Designing, implementing and managing all Watsan interventions in the project. (including, but not limited to: water supply, excreta disposal, waste management, hygiene, and infection control
• Conducting routine Watsan assessments in collaboration with project medical teams to identify Watsan needs at project level and making recommendations for response activities to the line manager (e.g. Project/Field Coordinator, Watsan Coordinator/Referent/Focal Point). Ensuring the Watsan contribution to the development and planning of emergency response strategies and resources, in collaboration with the medical and logistical teams
• Ensuring availability, proper purchasing, and appropriate technical specifications of required materials and equipment through planning, organizing and overseeing the inventory of the Watsan stock
• In collaboration with the Project Coordinator, Logistics Coordinator and the HR Coordinator, participating in the planning and implementation of HR associated processes (recruitment, training, briefing/debriefing, evaluation, detection of potential, development and communication) of the staff under his/her responsibility in order to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required to correctly perform all logistics activities pertaining to his area
• Providing technical support to the medical team in identifying possible “risk factors” (e.g. behavioral practices, environmental sources of infection, and transmission routes) and offers solutions for infection control. Actively contributing to the integration of Watsan activities in the medical intervention offering project proposals and work plans.
• Ensuring proper collection and monitoring of Watsan data. Ensuring multidisciplinary data availability. Providing analysis of data and regular reporting of results (as requested by line management).

Context Specific Accountabilities

• The city of Korem has been suffering from a multifaceted socio-political environment throughout and following the conflict. The border regions between Amhara and Tigray are contentious and subject to restricted access. For approximately five years, the area has been plagued by internal displacements, traumatic events, inadequate healthcare provision, and a significant disruption of the national EPI-program.
• During the war, the healthcare system collapsed, and by October 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that only 9% of the healthcare facilities in the region remained functional. The SAM and GAM rates exceeded the acceptable threshold of > 15%.
• Korem and its surrounding areas are situated in a mountainous region, necessitating extensive travel by foot. The primary livelihood is agriculture and livestock herding. Poverty is prevalent. Religion, predominantly Christian Orthodox and to a lesser extent Islam, plays a significant role, including in shaping health-seeking behavior.
• In March 2023, MSF commenced its support to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Korem General Hospital with the objective of addressing health disparities within Korem and its surrounding catchment area. To support the MoH, MSF initiated assistance in emergency care, an Integrated Child Feeding Centre (ITFC) for malnourished children, a pediatric department, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and a CEmONC comprising two operational theatres.
• Furthermore, MSF is conducting various outreach activities with mobile clinics, resulting in the regular support of 11 Health Centres/Health Posts. For 2025, MSF has formulated a strategy to provide fixed and regular support to four Health Centres, aiming to assist the MoH in restoring the individual Health Centres to their operational status and independence, as they were prior to the conflict.
• The surrounding areas of Korem are continually affected by frequent emergencies, necessitating the project’s intervention or support in areas such as exploratory missions for assessments, emergency interventions or donations.
• The Environmental Health Manager will oversee two Environmental Health Supervisors, an Environmental Health Technician, and seven Environmental Health Agents. Their daily responsibilities will encompass a combination of Environmental Health tasks at Korem General Hospital, alongside with outreach activities.

Education:

Essential:

• Water Engineering, hygiene, and sanitation sector, preferably in Public Health Engineering or Environmental Health.

Desirable:

• Watsan in Emergencies Training within MSF is strongly recommended.

Experience:

Essential:

• Previous experience in technical aspects of water and sanitation works.
• Minimum of 6 months of hands on field emergency WHS professional experience in a humanitarian or international development setting

Desirable:

• Experience in or familiar with implementing and promoting the use of two or more of the following activities (water supply, excreta disposal, waste and waste water management, vector control, and dead bodies management) in two or more different contexts (conflicts, natural disasters, refugee/IDP camps, etc.).

Public Health background or experience

Language:

• English proficiency is essential
• Local languages (Amharic and Tigrinya) is desirable.