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Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

Company Catholic Reli...
Industry NGO/IGO/INGO
Category Public Health
Location Tamale
Job Status Full-time
Salary GH¢ 
Education Advanced Degr...
Experience 3 years
Job Expires Mar 09, 2016
Contact ...
 

Company Profile

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. CRS Ghana was established in 1958, a year after Ghana gained independence. In Ghana, CRS works with local partners to tackle poverty on several fronts including improving health and nutrition; increasing access to safe water and improved sanitation; promoting agriculture to enhance food security; and increasing financial assets through Savings and Internal Lending Communities. 

Job Description

  • Department: Programming
  • Unit: Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH)
  • Job Title:  Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) Specialist
  • Location:  Tamale
  • Band:  D
  • Report to:  Project Coordinator

Background 
CRS Ghana is seeking funding for the implementation of components of the UN Joint Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Disaster Prone Communities in Northern Ghana. The program will be implemented in 103 communities.

Primary Functions

  • The WASH specialist will be responsible for ensuring that the program related activities are technically sound and impact positively on the lives of the targeted beneficiaries. To achieve this, a high level of commitment and coordination with the Project Coordinator is required to strengthen the overall capacity of the Country Program by reviewing and providing feedback to strategic planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of water and sanitation system delivery projects, as well as improved hygiene knowledge and practice will be critical.    
  • This position does not only require a high technical level in water, sanitation and hygiene promotion but also leadership, coordination and mobilization skills and familiarity with community loans and lending schemes.

Key Job Responsibilities

Technical Support

  • Coordinate the water, sanitation and hygiene component of the Project and maintains overall responsibility for technical oversight of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities 
  • Provide technical oversight and coordination of both community and school-based WASH related components of the project
  • Assist the Project Coordinator in the planning, development and periodic appraisals of the Agency’s short and long term development programs and project proposals in compliance with the Agency’s standards and formats, and in accordance with identified needs
  • Lead in the development, revisions and implementation of CLTS, WASH in schools related tools, guidelines, materials and methodologies, to promote community problem solving and decision-making concerning health, hygiene and sanitation issues
  • Facilitate the production of simple technologies – tippy taps – and their use in target communities
  • Work closely with Field Officers to train, sustain the functioning of vibrant Sanitation Advocacy Groups (SAG) in targeted communities
  • Integrate public health concepts into water, sanitation and hygiene activities and ensure close collaboration with health, education and district assembly sub-sectors, including hygiene promotion and community mobilisation
  • Ensure that gender issues are considered in the design and implementation of projects, that WATSAN programming is consistent with the Sustainable Livelihood Approach and integrates environmental considerations.
  • Facilitate the roll-out of key  advocacy activities regarding the WASH(community and school-based) sectors within the NGO community and government departments 
  • Support the identification and participate in the negotiation of  contracts with contractors on gender friendly latrines and urinals and other WASH facilities  in line with UNICEF and WHO standards 
  • Support the Project Coordinator to represent CRS/Ghana at water and sanitation fora, and technical sessions.
  • Support the Project Coordinator to assess technical and human resource needs of Wat/San portfolio and make recommendations

Strategic & Program Development 

  • Lead the identification, research and development of new business opportunities in the WASH sector for CRS Ghana
  • Provide technical leadership to the development of CRS/Ghana's WASH in school sub-strategy as well as modified CLTS especially in communities with high level of poverty and resource constraints
  • Provide technical support in the development of sound innovative water and cost-effective, sanitation and hygiene programs and in their implementation. 
  • Coordinate with M&E Specialist, SILC/Nutrition Specialist and Community Mobilization Specialist to determine an optimal and timely implementation and monitoring strategies.
  • Ensures that the project strategies engage local stakeholders and develop local capacity for longer-term sustainability
  • Participate (where appropriate) in the  technical reviews of WASH related concepts and proposals and provide technical feedback and guidance for possible innovations
  • Assess opportunities for integrating Water and Sanitation with existing Health, Education, Microfinance, and Agricultural programs and develop concrete strategies for encouraging integration at the community level 
  • Support the Project Coordinator in managing all assigned CRS/Ghana's WATSAN programs, including budget and draft response to review comments, including Audit findings
  • Ensure that the strategic design of the Water and Sanitation program adheres to existing Government of Ghana policies (CWSA, WRC, etc)
  • Identify potential linkages with research and funding institutions in the WATSAN sector.
  • Support the PC and work with other colleagues to document and draw lessons learned from CRS' experience in the WASH sector and disseminate to partners and other CRS CPs and Agency support staff.

Coordination and Reporting 

  • Coordinate with the Project Coordinator to develop monthly WASH component activity plans for  the WASH staff 
  • Draft and submit bi-monthly reports to the WASH Program Manager highlighting progress made towards work plans 
  • Represent CRS at sectoral meetings and provide feedback to the WASH Program Manager

Key Working Relationships
CRS/Ghana's WASH Team, WASH and Health Program Managers, Head of Programs and Country Representative, Regional Technical Advisor for Emergency and WASH and WASH Sector representatives (government and NGOs)

List of responsibilities, professional and personal skills are considered indicative and not exhaustive; actual duties may differ or change depending on office and agency priorities at the time.

Required Skills or Experience

  • An advance University Degree in Civil Engineering and related field,  or Postgraduate/specialized training in water, hygiene and sanitation, water resources management or other related discipline.
  • Minimum of 3 years professional  experience in development projects preferably WASH in rural communities as well as Community-Led Total Sanitation methodologies
  • Proven experience in budgeting and budget management
  • Strong analytical and communication skills and ability to multi-task under pressure and yet remain effective and productive.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work with partners and lead a team
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, cultural sensitivity, ability to work with people, good judgment and commitment to the Agency's mission 
  • Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Internet, etc.)
  • Willingness to travel to field sites as required by the project

Desirable
Experience in health education, community mobilization, hygiene and sanitation campaigns will be an added advantage.

Competencies 

  • Set clear goals and  work  towards achieving them
  • Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
  • Manages financial resources with integrity
  • Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning

Agency-Wide Competencies
Upholds a Spirit of Service and Integrity

  • Cultivates Constructive and Collegial Relationships
  • Models Principled Stewardship
  • Promotes continuous learning and innovation 

 

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