Water and sanitation delegate

Purpose of position

To maximise the effectiveness of Red Cross and Red Crescent WatSan initiatives in the region under an integrated community risk management approach by providing technical support services to National Societies and PNS implementing WatSan programmes, either in country or remotely administered from Nairobi. Special emphasis will be placed in 2011/2012 on working closely with NS in Watsan components of the drought response.

Description of Duties

Reporting to the Health and Care Coordinator with a technical reporting line to the Watsan Senior Officer in Geneva, the WatSan Delegate is responsible for overall co-ordination of long term WatSan programmes in the region so that they are all aligned under the community risk management approach. He/she will help National Societies and community to understand how to, based on the identification of potential hazards, take actions to reduce vulnerability of their water and sanitation systems and protect their services against the damage caused by extreme events such as flooding and droughts. He/she will provide technical support and advice to the National Societies and the Patnering National Societies in the region while supporting every opportunity for WatSan capacity building.

He/ She will be responsible for the following specific tasks:

1. Work closely with National Societies at all levels where practical furthering the public health/WatSan agenda wherever possible, while assisting Country WatSan/Health Delegates and/or NS staff and volunteers to effectively implement WatSan Projects and Programmes.

2. Provide technical support to the National Societies and the Partnering National Societies counterparts to ensure timely and effective assessment, planning and implementation of the WatSan programs with a special focus on the capacity building aspect of the host National Societies.

3. Work closely with Country WatSan/Health Delegates and/or the NS during the assessment and project planning process while in close co-operation with Health, OD and DMC components both within the NS and Federation Delegation.

4. Monitor and evaluate country level WatSan projects to encourage project implementers to plan and carry out the following tasks to improve health and reduce vulnerability of the beneficiaries by:

4.1 Ensuring adequate safe water is available to all members of the community or target group
4.2 Ensuring water quality is tested regularly where appropriate
4.3 Ensure SPHERE standards are attained and maintained where appropriate
4.4 Ensure international and/or national WatSan standards are integrated and maintained
4.5 Ensure adequate sanitation facilities are available to all members of the community or target group to include excreta disposal and where appropriate bathing/laundry facilities
4.6 Ensure other sanitation needs are addressed where appropriate (vector control, waste water management, solid waste management, hazardous waste management)
4.7 Ensuring that the WatSan intervention responds to a preventive health approach, integrating elements of water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion as required, based on the assessment of risks and needs in the affected communities.

5. Support, develop and train (or arrange appropriate training) for Delegates and/or NS staff, in WatSan hardware/software and in project planning, budgeting, reporting and proposal writing to include management skills for developmental programes.

6. Liaise with and encourage the country Delegates and NS to engage effectively with Watsan players, ICRC, Government bodies at all levels, UN and international humanitarian organisations, NGOs, CBOs, community groups, beneficiaries and the private WatSan sector where appropriate. Ensure the liaison with ICRC, UN (WASH Cluster) and NGOs in the area of WatSan is effective as well at regional level.

7. Produce regular, timely and accurate financial and narrative technical reports for the Federation and for donors.

8. Ensure that the Health & Care agenda is holistic, and encompasses fully WatSan as part of public and preventative health.

9. Closely work with other officers in the Technical Support unit, to contribute to disaster preparedness, operation response, and recovery, for a holistic support in the unit.

10. Respect and follow the key Federation technical documents (Strategy 2020, WatSan policy, Global Water and Sanitation Initiative, Global Health Strategy, Framework for community resilience, etc.) and international strategies (Millenium Development Goal`s, Hyogo framework, etc.). Contribute actively to the IFRC global WatSan agenda.

11. Provide a contact point for support to bilateral PNS wanting to contribute to the establishment of WatSan programmes in the region. Assist in the conduct of external evaluation of bilateral WatSan, programs in the region.

12. Upon request from the Watsan Adviser and /or Head of the WatSan Unit at the Secretariat, and with approval from the Technical Support Unit, participate in global WatSan training, meetings and forums. Act as sounding board for global WatSan strategies, policies and tool development.

13. Document best practices and lessons learnt in WatSan programme implementation and share among the National Societies.

14. Co-ordinate activities with other Participating National Society and Bilateral Delegates.

Required Qualifications

Education:

1. University degree in Building and Civil or Water Engineering, Public/Environmental Health or equivalent academic qualifications
2. A post graduate qualification will be an added advantage.
3. Basic Delegates Training Course or equivalent knowledge

Experience:

1. Three years experience of a wide variety of WatSan roles and activities in developmental context, including management positions,
2. Three years experience of working for a humanitarian aid organisation in a developing country. Experience in the EA region would be an asset.
3. Experience of working in management or administration
4. Experience of planning and managing budgets
5. Experience of writing narrative and financial reports
6. Experience of working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement is preferred

Skills:

1. Skills in training, mentoring and developing staff
2. Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing, database)
3. Good skills in communication, facilitation and presentation is preferred
4. Valid international driving licence (manual gears)

Languages:

- Fluency in English and proficiency in French would be preferred .