Ethiopia: Environmental Health (WASH) Advisor

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali Region. IRC is currently providing assistance to disaster-affected and high-risk communities in the Oromia; Tigray; Gambella; Benishangul-Gumuz; Somali and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regions, and to refugees in thirteen refugee camps across the country. IRC is implementing emergency water and sanitation activities, education, child protection and youth program activities , conducting agricultural activities, working with pastoralists on improving animal health, raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, family planning, and polio, and conducting community-based activities to reduce morbidity and mortality among children under five.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

The Environmental Health (EH) sector in Ethiopia is focused on water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in refugee camps in Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Tigray and Somali regions, and rural communities in Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, SNNPR, Somali and Oromia regions. Projects started in 2000 in the Somali region and expanded to include refugee camps and drought and AWD-affected rural communities. The current projects aim to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality from diarrheal diseases amongst refugees and disaster-affected populations.

The IRC, together with their partners Save the Children UK and Islamic Relief, is currently developing a project that will work to improve basic services over a large part of the Somali Region, and will involve a significant scope of water and sanitation infrastructure construction, and hygiene promotion activities. The IRC seeks an Environmental Health Advisor (expatriate) for its Somali Region EH program, to be based in Jijiga Town, and work 100% on this project.

SCOPE

The Environmental Health (WASH) Advisor provides leadership and management of all WASH aspects of the Basic Services program. He/She will work with each of the partner organizations involved in the project, and will be responsible to advise on and monitor technical quality, ensuring completion of activities to a high quality within the project period. Experience in the particular context of WASH in pastoral communities will be essential in this role. Understanding of, and experience in, Disaster Risk Management and Natural Resource Management is also required.

Key responsibilities include: WASH project implementation and management, in particular managing construction of water system infrastructure, as well as practical monitoring and evaluation, effective operational processes, and strong representation and coordination with partners.In addition, lead the Disaster Risk Management component of the project, and Rangeland Management activities.

This position works alongside the Health and Education Advisors, and reports to the Project Director (also based in Jijiga) on day-to-day project management, and to the EH Coordinatorin Addis Ababa for technical issues.The position is based in Jijiga Town, but with frequent travel throughout the region for management, support, monitoring and evaluation of program activities.

Major/key responsibilities

Technical oversight • Advise partners on all technical aspects of project implementation, ensuring a unified and effective approach to achieving project impact. • Organize technical training for project staff as required to enable them to implement the project strategy and activities effectively • Prepare or review all technical designs&BoQs for a variety of water and sanitation interventions, including electromechanical equipment specifications, construction Ensure that effective engagement is maintained with communities and with local government partners, to ensure responsive and sustainable programming. • Specifications and tenders.

Project monitoring • Oversee the WASH components of the project in the Somali region, with a focus on keeping activities on track for completion. • Lead the NRM and DRM components of the project, coordinating with other sector leads as required. • Develop detailed activity and budget plans for the project, and monitor progress against plans ensuring that objectives and indicators are achieved.Prepare monthly field reports incorporating activity and financial progress for project work across the Somali region.

Coordination & representation • Build links with WASH stakeholders to share knowledge, experience and ideas. • Represent the project to local communities, government departments, international agencies, local partners and donors as required. • Attend relevant meetings as required. • Ensure regular communication with Addis Ababa-based EH Unit technical staff for feedback, updates and guidance as required.

Operations (HR, Logistics and Finance) • Identify training needs and ensure that members of the project team receive appropriate training(including mentoring, on-the-job sessions as well as formal trainings). • Ensure that high priority purchases are monitored and prioritized by the logistics team • Ensure that tenders are prepared in accordance with the projects logistics requirements • Monitor and ensure spending against plan, and analyze monthly financial reports

Requirements • BSc in Water Resources Engineering or similar field. • Minimum 5 years of EH (WASH, Watsan) experience with an NGO. • Previous experience with pastoralist communities essential, preferably in the Somali context. • Knowledge and experience in Rangeland Management in dry land environments strongly preferred. • Proven practical experience inproject implementation, particularly engineering activities. • Comfortable to work and travel in a remote environment. • Ability to work and adapt under pressure. • Excellent oral and written communication skills. • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills. • Computer literate (word processors, spreadsheet, database, CAD and statistical packages, etc)

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