Program Officer - WASH at Haske Humanitarian Aid Initiative

Job Summary

• The WASH Officer (WO) will be responsible for project implementation of project BAY State. The WO will be a member of PCO Program Team and report to Project Officer (PO).
• This position is central to the designing, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of WASH activities in HHAI Bauchi State operations.
• The officer will be responsible for building capacities of key community own resource persons to facilitate and implement sanitation and hygiene promotion activities in the community and institutions (schools and reception centers) to improve key sanitation and hygiene practices including safe disposal of human and animal waste, safe handling of drinking water, hand hygiene, solid waste management and menstrual hygiene management.
• The staff is also expected to be responsible for the entire process of management of the activities at the field. Furthermore, He/she will assist the PO regarding regular updates and progress of the project on project and strategic interventions.

Job Description / Principal Accountabilities
Overall Technical / Field Management:

• Plan, coordinate, facilitate and create reports of WASH training and workshops for community-based WASH staff e.g. hygiene promoters, teachers, WASH committee members among others.
• Provide technical support and supervision to WASH community-based staff to empower them to fulfil their tasks and improve their performance
• Coordinate with partners and stakeholders including UNHCR, county government, NGO and community partners to optimize WASH supports and resources in the project site through developing sounds relationship and synergies among the WASH programs in the region.
• Maintain day-to-day communication with UNHCR and key WASH partners in order to implement WASH activities in harmonized, efficient and equitable manners.
• Develop effective community engagement strategies and implement them with community-based WASH staff to promote community ownership in WASH-related service delivery
• Contribute to the development/establishment of WASH approaches, strategies and activities which fit in the context of the project site and in line with the directions of humanitarian assistance and guided by analysis of WASH sector needs and priorities.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other), verify compliance with approved allocation/organization rules, regulations and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.

Sanitation and Hygiene:

• Together with hygiene promoters, WASH committees and community leaders, conduct assessments to understand barriers and motivators for promoting key sanitation and hygiene practices and behaviors.
• Develop effective social and behavioral change intervention strategies for promoting key sanitation and hygiene practices and behaviors based on identified barriers and motivators.
• Support hygiene promoters to carry out these strategies through regular hygiene promotion activities and community dialogues to engage communities to foster their initiatives to improve their sanitation and hygiene
• Provide technical assistance for the community agents and beneficial communities on construction/installment of WASH related facilities e.g. toilet, hand washing facility, refuse-pit and dish rack, etc.
• Through strategic implementation of this project, he/she will directly work to contribute to the execution of HHAI overall mission and strategic plan goals for 2024.
• Coordinate with education partners and schools to implement School Led Total Sanitation (SLTS), star school awarding and any other activities to promote sanitation and hygiene among school-going children
• Conduct community awareness creation sessions on menstrual hygiene management. This includes dialogues with leaders, including religious leaders and any other trusted persons in the community
• Work together with incentive sanitation cleaners, market committees, and any other groups and individuals to remove the waste from residential and communal spaces, dispose the waste and manage existing disposal site properly. Develop a strategy for sustainable solid waste management service for the future implementation
• Develop sanitation marketing strategies with CBOs and private sectors for sanitation and hygiene and involve hygiene promoters in carrying out sanitation marketing activities.

Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Work with the health partners on how to interpret and use data and findings to guide targeted interventions and decision-making
• Work closely with the MEAL officer to conduct routine KAP surveys and latrine censuses.
• Timely development of monthly, quarterly semi-annual and annual performance reports and highlighting success stories arising from the field
• Represent the organization as required in inter-agency and government coordination meetings, and liaise with other organizations working in the operational area where appropriate.
• Carry out any other task as requested by the supervisor

Job Holder Entry Requirements
Knowledge (Education & Related Experience):

• University Degree in relevant field (Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Health). Masters will be an added advantage
• Minimum of 2 years of working experience, ideally in an INGO or well-acknowledged NGO, with experience working with government partners and project fund/grant management.
• Experience in all aspects of project management and possession of a PM certification will be an added advantage.

Skills (Special Training or Competence):

• Ability to observe and understand cultural and social contexts and reflect the understandings in programming
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills
• Strong community engagement and facilitation skills
• Ability to infuse positive energy to the team
• Attention to detail, keen at following procedures and meeting deadlines
• Ability to organize tasks simultaneously and prioritize work
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills working with cross-cultural and multi-diverse teams
• Ability to build strong working relationships for partnerships
• Standards of Professional Conduct especially on integrity, service, and accountability

Key Behaviors:

• Interpersonal and intercultural sensitivity.
• Social and receptive (active listener).
• High degree of integrity.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of the team, as the situation dictates.
• Pro-active and ready to take initiative.
• Ability to assimilate and handle a wide range of information efficiently and effectively.
• High level of stress tolerance and ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision.
• Willingness to undertake extensive field trip within PCO working area.

Key Relationships (excluding own line manager and staff)
Internal:

• Program Coordinator/State Coordinator
• Finance and Support Services team
• Various staff based in all HHAI core departments, as and when necessary (e.g. funding, PDA, MEAL, finance, PPA)

External:

• Partners
• Consultants
• Service Providers/Stakeholders (Other NGOs)
• Government agencies
• Community leaders/CBOs