Zonal Project Coordinator (WASH, Health, Livelihood, Environment, and National Society Capacity Building)

General Objective:

Ethiopia is currently facing escalating humanitarian crises, including droughts, floods, conflicts, and disease outbreaks. The Somali region is particularly affected by these droughts and flooding disasters. This project aims to enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities in the Somali region, with a focus on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Livelihood, Health, and National Society Capacity building.

The Zonal Branch Project Coordinator will oversee an integrated intervention that addresses both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term resilience building for pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. The project will prioritize the following objectives: Improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services, strengthening sustainable livelihoods through effective water management, building community capacity, facilitating mobilization, and enhancing health systems.

The role involves coordinating activities that mitigate the challenges posed by climate change through innovative solutions.

Reports to:

• Regional Project Coordinator

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)

• Oversee rehabilitation and construction of water supply systems (e.g., boreholes, pipelines, water schemes) to ensure sustainable access to clean water for the target communities.
• Lead sanitation and hygiene promotion campaigns, including latrine construction, waste management, and community-led total sanitation initiatives.
• Coordinate distribution of WASH Non Food Items (NFIs) (e.g., hygiene kits, water purification tablets) and ensure compliance with SPHERE standards.
• Monitor water quality and functionality of rehabilitated water schemes, ensuring long-term sustainability.
• Integrate climate-resilient water management practices (e.g.,water-efficient irrigation, rainwater harvesting ).

2. Health Integration

• Collaborate with local health authorities and ERCS health teams to address disease prevention (e.g., cholera, malaria) and maternal/child health needs.
• Link WASH interventions to health outcomes (e.g., reducing waterborne diseases through clean water access).
• Facilitate the CBHFA trainings for health extension workers, woreda health officers, and ERCS volunteers to reach the community through health education and promotion
• Support emergency health responses, including health facility rehabilitations and referrals.
• Support for enhancing public health functions, such as surveillance, with an emphasis on climate-sensitive disease prevention and management, as well as health outreach services, including nutrition screening and management for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

3. Livelihood and Environmental Sustainability

• Under the supervision of the ERCS Regional Branch, the Zonal Branch Project Coordinator will provide technical expertise in improving livelihoods, disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation, and environmental protection for local communities. This role will ensure that all initiatives align with environmental sustainability goals.
• Plan and implement climate-resilient livelihood activities (crop production, livestock and range land management, irrigation systems) to enhance food security and income generation.
• Conduct comprehensive training activities in agriculture, green entrepreneurship, and financial literacy to empower communities and enhance their livelihoods and business opportunities.
• Promote environmental sustainability through agroforestry, soil conservation, and renewable energy solutions through provision of technical support.

4. Stakeholder Coordination

• Map and engage stakeholders (government offices, NGOs, UN agencies, private sector, community) to align interventions with zonal plans/strategies.
• Represent ERCS in zonal coordination platforms, joint assessments, and sectoral meetings (WASH, health, agriculture etc).
• Advocate for vulnerable communities’ integration, climate adaptation, and gender-responsive programming.

5. Capacity Building & Mainstreaming

• Strengthen ERCS zonal branch and local institutions through training in project management, DRM, protection and community engagement.
• Mainstream cross-cutting issues: gender equality, protection, DRR, climate change, and disability inclusion across all sectors.
• Mentor community committees and project staff to ensure participatory and inclusive implementation.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Develop M&E tools to track WASH coverage, health impacts, livelihood improvements, and environmental outcomes.
• Prepare detailed reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) for ERCS and the partner (NLRC), including success stories and lessons learned.
• Ensure data accuracy and use findings to adapt programs for greater impact.

7. Operational and Financial Management

• Oversee day-to-day implementation: beneficiary selection, input distribution (seeds, livestock, WASH supplies), and infrastructure construction & rehabilitation.
• Manage project budgets, procurement, and compliance with organizational/donor guidelines.
• Ensure adherence to “Do No Harm” principles and community accountability mechanisms.

8. National Society Capacity Building

• Under the supervision of the zonal branch office, work on constructing and renovating the branch office rooms to enhance institutional resilience in disaster preparedness and response.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing platforms for best practices in WASH, health, and livelihood interventions.

Job Requirements

• Education: MSc/BSc in WASH, Public Health, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Livestock Management, or related fields.

Experience:

• 5 years (MSc) or 7 years (BSc) in managing multi-sectoral humanitarian projects (WASH, Health, Livelihood, Natural Resource Management).
• Proven experience in water infrastructure rehabilitation, health promotion, and agricultural/livelihood programs.

Skills:

• Technical expertise in climate-smart agriculture, WASH standards (SPHERE) and health protocols.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, KOBO) and project management software.
• Fluency in English and local languages.
• Travel: ≥50% time spent in field locations.

Core Competencies

• Ability to integrate WASH, health, livelihood, and environmental interventions for holistic impact.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles, gender equality, and community-driven development.
• Strong management in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.