Global WASH cluster rapid assessment coordinator

Oxfam Purpose

To work with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering 

Team Purpose

The purpose of the Rapid Assessment Team (RAT) is to fill the critical need for timely, systematic, rapid and thorough water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs assessments of the entire affected population at the beginning of large rapid onset emergencies.

Job Purpose

Contribute to the production of a comprehensive, coordinated WASH needs assessment for use by the WASH cluster and other key stakeholders in emergency WASH responses.

Reporting Lines

- Post holder reports to: Oxfam based supervisor and while in the field, to the designated assessment team leader.
- Staff reporting to this post: Will manage locally recruited members of the assessment team

Key Activities

While on deployment

- Work in collaboration with two RAT team colleagues to ensure a consistent and coherent approach to emergency WASH assessments.
- Liaise with the Wash Cluster Coordinator, national authorities, national and international NGOs and Oxfam International field teams to ensure that assessments are effectively coordinated.
- Carry out WASH assessments and ensure that findings are analysed, recorded, reported and communicated to key stakeholders to facilitate the coordination of the WASH response. If appropriate, contribute to follow up assessments to consolidate data from the initial assessment.
- Recruit, train and supervise local staff to assist with the assessments
- Manage and report on budgets required for the assessments
- Ensure that communities are consulted and in particular, that the needs and opinions of the most vulnerable are taken in to account in the assessment recommendations.
- Ensure that cross cutting issues (gender, protection, HIV mainstreaming, disaster risk reduction and accountability to beneficiaries) are addressed as part of the assessment. 

While not on deployment

- Build capacity of WASH sector staff and host governments where appropriate to carry out assessments
- Establish and maintain a data base for risk prone countries of demographic information, national geographical, administrative and logistical infrastructure, national WASH capacity and key contacts
- Work with Rapid Response Team members to refine assessment protocols and tools to improve information management
- Maintain up to date understanding of cost effective technology and remote sensing options which could enhance the efficiency of WASH assessments.
- Capture the learning from emergency assessments and response and incorporate in future initiatives.
- Contribute to improving assessments in challenging contexts e.g. urban emergencies, chronic drought scenarios, contexts where access to communities is limited
- Undertake tasks as assigned by supervisor, including those included in the global WASH Cluster Strategic Plan for 2011- 2013
- Provide narrative and financial reports as appropriate on deployments and proactive tasks

Skills and Competence

- Degree or Diploma in Water/Sanitation, Civil Engineering, Public Health, or in a Community/Social Development field
- Strong leadership and coordination skills
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills
- Experience of collecting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data
- Good communication skills
- Ability to work under stressful conditions, meet deadlines and travel extensively at short notice to support field operations or capacity building
- Extensive and recent experience of working with disaster-related WASH interventions, including at field level.
- Fluency in spoken and written English
- High degree of computer literacy and data analysis.
- Familiarity with international standards and the Red Cross Code of Conduct and a commitment to adhere to Oxfam's protocols and Code of Conduct 

Desired Skills

- Post graduate degree in relevant discipline
- Capacity build skills
- Knowledge of French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Arabic