WASH Advisor

Location

Field based position in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Starting Date & Initial Contract Details

June 2024. Full time, 12 months.

Role Overview

The WASH & Food Security Advisor provides technical advice and support to management and project staff, delivers training and ensures quality programming. On a day-to-day basis this involves developing, leading, monitoring and evaluating technical aspects of the country programme activities in WASH and Food Security. The role includes coordinating and networking at a senior level with national and regional authorities, clusters, and other NGOs, providing capacity building for national and international staff, championing best practice (international and Medair) in the programmes and contributing to the overall management of the country programme. The WASH & Food Security Advisor will advise on assessment and survey design, for existing and new project areas. Provide technical advice and ensure quality programming in WASH and some Food Security aspects of programmes. Provide capacity building for national and international Project Managers. The role Holder will be the Point of contact in the country programme for GSO sector Technical Advisors. Champion best practice (international and Medair) in the WASH programmes and contributing to the overall management of the country programme.

Project Overview

Medair Afghanistan is a complex and dynamic country programme due to instability related to politics and security. Medair has been operating in Afghanistan since 1996 and is currently multi-sectoral projects in health, nutrition, WASH, and food security in vulnerable communities in the Central Highlands and Southern Afghanistan.  

Our Culture

Key Activity Areas

Project Management

• Provide programme support and technical advice with an emphasis on WASH and disaster risk reduction including food security.
• Maintain an overview of the country WASH & Food Security programme(s) and of the regional context, with a view to strategically developing new projects in current sites and / or in surrounding regions.
• Ensure projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country, and international standards.
• Provide technical support in the sectoral (WASH, Food Security, BCC, DRR) including the evaluation and impact analysis of current projects and writing of donor proposals and reports within the required timeframes.
• Monitor the project quality outcomes and make necessary recommendations including corrective action related to changes to the project scope, project schedule and project costs in consultation with project and senior management.
• Participate in recruitment of staff for country programme, providing advice on technical skills and experience as requested.
• Define appropriate policies, guidelines, and protocols for the WASH aspects of Medair’s work in country, in consultation with other field project managers and in line with relevant government, Sphere and WHO guidelines!
• Carry out regular monitoring visits in conjunction with other field project managers, ensuring that project objectives are met within the stated timeframes and in accordance with recognised international standards!
• Supervise and monitor the development of reporting systems for data collection (qualitative and quantitative), analysis and follow-up and feedback to relevant staff, donors, partners, and other agencies.
• Maintain an oversight of WASH supplies ordered for the WASH projects, supporting the WASH and logistics staff in the coordination and quality control of WASH supplies.
• Provide input into the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability in all aspects of Projects.
• Develop new project design for WASH, BCC, Food Security and DRR components of projects, in consultation with wider senior management team.

Representation

• Develop and maintain relationships with UN, NGOs, donors, partners, and other stakeholders, with the objective of raising public awareness of Medair and ensuring good co-operation and partnerships.
• Seek out relevant networks or task groups on specific Sector -related humanitarian aid issues and actively participate, if possible
• Accompany donors on field trips, as requested, and ensure programme details are transmitted in a timely and professional manner.
• Represent Medair, as appropriate, at coordination, sector, and bilateral meetings, working groups, with national and / or local government departments and any other relevant meetings or events, facilitating supportive synergies and overall progress in the WASH sector and avoiding duplication with the work of other agencies.

Staff Management

• Participate in the recruitment of WASH, Food Security and DRR staff for the country programme, providing advice on technical skills and experience as requested.
• Ensure that all WASH staff are adequately trained and, if necessary, create possibilities for capacity building, mentoring, and coaching, within budget constraints. Plan and develop training material as required.
• Support line managers in inductions and appraisals of WASH staff, particularly with regard to technical skills.

Financial Management

• Work with the Projects Coordinator and relevant field project managers and GSO staff to plan and construct Sector budgets.
• Work with the Projects Coordinator to ensure the project expenditure is in line with approved budgets, advising on potential under / overspend and recommending appropriate corrective action.

Quality Management

• Promote and use the Medair e-library and other operating procedures, ensuring that all standardised formats are used, and guidelines are followed.
• Ensure WASH & Food security projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country, and international standards e.g. Sphere and CHS standards, WHO recommendations, etc. Follow the direction of the WASH Advisor at GSO regarding quality, strategy, and technical guidelines.
• Ensure sectoral integration, learning, sharing and adoption of best practices to ensure quality of projects in liaison with other sector advisors, and under advice of GSO WASH Advisor.
• Maintain a resource library for the WASH, BCC, Food Sec and DRR teams and keep up-to-date with the latest trends and updates within the sector. Ensure staff have access to necessary and appropriate information as required.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Aim to contribute towards team unity through respectful communication.

Qualifications

• BSc in Water / Environmental/Agriculture Engineering or Management or Civil Engineering or Hydrology / Geology
• Good English (spoken and written)

What is the ROC and why is it required?

Experience

• Relevant post-qualification professional experience, in a management position
• 2-year overseas experience in relief work with an NGO managing and coordinating WASH/FSL projects, preferably in an emergency context
• Experience of the humanitarian sector in an emergency context
• Project Management experience
• Excellent proposal and report writing skills (including ability to develop and report on log-frames and a knowledge of indicators and impact)
• Knowledge of Humanitarian Essentials, Sphere and HAP Standards, protection issues and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols
• Knowledge and experience of principles and design, monitoring, implementation, and evaluation of projects
• Good financial management skills (budget design and control)
• Excellent negotiation/advocacy skills within varying cultural and professional contexts, in particular regarding donors and government officials
• Excellent time management and an ability to meet goals.
• Commitment to best practice
• Advanced planning, assessment, and analytical skills
• Good report and proposal writing skills.
• Problem solving ability