Coordinator, Global WASH cluster RRT

Background

Solidarités International is a French humanitarian organization which provides aid and assistance to victims of war or natural disaster. For over 30 years the association has focused on meeting three vital needs - water, food and shelter - by carrying out emergency programmes followed by longer-term reconstruction projects. Whilst fully respecting the assisted populations’ customs and culture, Solidarités International’s programmes are implemented through the joint expertise of around 180 expatriates and 1500 local managerial staff and employees. Solidarités International is currently present in Africa (Central African Republic, Southern Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Liberia, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire), in Asia (Afghanistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan) and in Haiti.

Outline of position

Approximately 50% of the time will be spent on emergency deployment. The length of each deployment will be limited to 2 months, however during non-mission period RRT members will primarily be based in Clichy-la-Garenne and work closely on WASH cluster priority issues. The time in Clichy-la-Garenne will be equally divided between specific tasks allocated from the global WASH cluster, including supporting emergency preparedness missions in the Regions and assisting in building SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL’s internal capacity for emergency water/sanitation/hygiene response and cluster support.

Emergency deployment (field)

The Rapid Response Team (RRT) members will be deployed within 48 hours in an emergency to support the WASH sector response in the very first days of any emergency response for which additional surge capacity is required. Emergency field deployments will normally be up to 6-8 weeks duration. Coordinators will support the response in the areas of:
• WASH Cluster Coordination at national or sub-national levels
• Development of WASH sector emergency response strategy c) Technical support (i.e. hygiene, sanitation, water)
• Needs Assessment and Information analysis

Tasks and responsibilties

Global WASH Cluster (Clichy, with travel to Geneva) The global WASH cluster strategy (2011-2015) reflects agreed priorities. The RRT member would play a key role in the advancement of, and support to, progress in these areas, including capacity building and promotion of the tools and approaches adopted by the collective. The allocation of specific roles and tasks will seek to match the person’s interests and skills with project requirements and will be agreed with the Global WASH Cluster Coordinator. SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (Clichy) Up to 25 % of the postholder’s time will be engaged in supporting SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL’s cluster based capacity building strategy for national and international staff. This will include contributing to the improvementt of internal procedures and tools to incorporate outputs from the global WASH cluster strategy and work plan, as they become available. It will also require the participation in training and providing technical support to SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL staff.

Key responsibilities

• Within 48 hours of a joint UNICEF/SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL decision, deploy to the location appropriate to the emergency and, under the direction of the Head of Office of UNICEF, establish and or support the WASH cluster initiative as appropriate.
• Coordinate the WASH cluster agencies in formulating an effective coordinated sector response, including; contact WASH cluster participants, establish and promote links with national / local authorities, coordinate initial rapid assessments, analyze and prioritise needs, develop appropriate WASH strategies and action plans that compliment national norms / policies / approaches and which cater to and incorporate all cross-cutting issues as appropriate, coordinate execution of collective efforts of cluster agencies and foster and support communication between cluster agencies, other clusters and national / local authorities, contribute to WASH cluster advocacy position on key issues such as access and funding, promote and ensure inter-cluster coordination and synergy.
• Monitor continuing development of, and changing circumstances within, the emergency and recommend changes to implementation approaches of the WASH cluster agencies. Formulate collaborative and cohesive inter-agency and inter-sectoral contingency plans to address changing circumstances.
• Maintain records, ensure and maintain documentation of all collective decisions and recommendations, provide cluster based update to the cluster lead agency as required.
• Prepare comprehensive handover notes or fully brief successor
• Facilitate evaluation of the collective WASH cluster response and functionality of the coordination forum, including information management and analysis.
• Undertake tasks associated with the global WASH cluster strategy (2011-2015) as assigned by the Global WASH Cluster Deputy Coordinator.
• Contribute to SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL’s technical capacity in the WASH sector through promotion of cluster based tools, guidance and resources, enhancing internal agency standards, systems, procedures, tools and agreed upon best practice approaches for emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction and emergency response, including recognized sectoral humanitarian standards, the Red Cross and NGO Code of Conduct.
• Participate in the training and ongoing technical support of SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL’s staff in relation to its humanitarian WASH activities.
• Liaise closely with the other RRT and IM members and UNICEF to ensure complementarity and standardisation of approach and share learning in order to enhance the effectiveness of the emergency deployments. CANDIDATE PROFILE Experience:
• Significant experience in WASH sector, humanitarian preparedness, response, and poverty reduction and well developed understanding of the challenges and opportunities for community participation in emergency response.
• Experience with natural and complex political emergencies in diverse cultural and climatic settings
• Experience in program design, management, monitoring and evaluation, donor relations, security and protection considerations
• Experience in liaison with a broad range of stakeholders, including international donors, UN agencies and INGOs, national authorities, national/local partner agencies and emergency affected communities
• Excellent training, coaching and mentoring skills
• High level of writing and communication skills

The hosted member will be one of a team of 9 WASH professionals from numerous host organisations partnering UNICEF and participating in the global WASH cluster, each with complementary capacities to support a range of diffe rent needs in the field.

Competencies

• WASH cluster co-ordination support (capacity for national or hub level)
• Development of response strategies, flash appeals/proposals etc with the WASH cluster agencies to support sector advocacy, coherence and fund raising efforts
• Technical Support (hygiene promotion, sanitation, water) e.g. leading WASH cluster technical working groups
• Rapid needs assessment

Key capabilities

• Team building
• Networking
• Leadership skills and conflict management
• Self awareness
• Interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Resilience, stress tolerance and ability to cope with change
• Community orientation
• Data analysis for planning and monitoring
• Proactive problem solving
• Operational decision-making
• Strong organisational skills and capacity to self-manage

Education

Master's degree, or relevant combination of qualifications and experience, in hygiene, water and sanitation or associated disciplines.

Languages

English fluency and a second relevant language (i.e. French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese). French will be considered as an asset.

Other requirements

Candidates must be physically capable and medically fit to work and travel and will be required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination by a licensed physician before being contracted. Solidarités International are looking for men and women with a strong commitment towards humanitarian relief and disaster operations. It is of utmost priority that candidates understand, respect and act in the sprit of the mandate and core values of SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL. The candidate must possess a high level of professional and personal maturity together with an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, managers and external partners, such as UN organisations, NGOs, recipient governments and host populations. Candidates must be able to interact with sensitivity and display respect for diversity and gender in multi-cultural environments. A capacity for working under pressure is essential, as work is often in difficult and demanding conditions, where the focus frequently shifts due to changes in priority. The candidate is expected to have excellent analytical and communicative skills, show initiative and take both a hands-on and an analytical approach to tasks and problems.