Hygiene and Sanitation Officer

IR/INT/EXT/VN/021.24

           May 24, 2024

Job Title:                     Hygiene and Sanitation Officer

Reports to:                  Senior Emergency WASH Officer                        

Duty Station:               Afar Regional State, Zone-2 (Abala), and Zone -4 (Ewa) Woreda

Required:                    Two (2), One each Zone

Duration:                     8 months

Salary:                        As per the organizations scale

Introduction

Islamic Relief is an international relief and development charity founded in 1984 with its headquarters in Birmingham, UK. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities - regardless of race, religion or gender. The office officially started operation in Ethiopia in 2004. Islamic Relief Ethiopia (IRE) is operational in the Somali Regional State with a base office in Jigjiga, Hargelle, Elkere, Bare, GG and Dekasuftu, Afar Regional State; Ewa, Awra and Gulina; Oromia regional State, West Harergeye, Chiro and Meayso Woredas,Borena zone,Yabello,Dubluk,Dire and Elewaye woredas and an additional operational office in Addis Ababa. For more information please visit our website: http://www.islamic-relief.org/work-with-us

Job Summary

The post holder will provide strategic guidance and leadership in the planning and implementation of emergency and resilience water, sanitation, and Hygiene promotion activities to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable population affected by the conflict and drought. The work may involve data gathering and management, community consultation, need assessment, training, and providing knowledge and means to maintain the health and personal hygiene of vulnerable affected populations. S/he leads and participates in hygiene campaigns, and door-to-door hygiene promotion. S/he prepares written material and clear and adapted messages for the rights holders. S/he distributes hygiene items and is able to prepare hygiene promotion plans. S/he will lead the design, monitoring, and evaluation of Islamic Relief’s emergency-related sanitation and hygiene components. S/he will provide technical support to the field teams and represent Islamic Relief in the Regional and Zonal hygiene and sanitation forum and clusters. Hygiene and sanitation officers may support other WaSH activities as well and will be building the capacity of local communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Assessment and Programme Design In collaboration with other members of the project team and the WASH Leader, participate in design and management assessments and baseline studies in order to identify WASH-related health risks and priorities.
• Collect, record and interpret qualitative and quantitative data Use assessment data to design participatory public health promotion interventions appropriate for the local context and culture with involvement of all groups of community.
• Access and analyse resources and capacities of IRE contractors/partners that could be useful for visual and other Public health promotion activities acceptable to all stakeholders.

Program planning and reporting:

• Assist the Senior Emergency WASH Officer in developing work plans and program activities with consultation of the WASH Team Leader in the hub.
• Contribute to weekly project team review and planning meetings and ensure both hygiene and sanitation promotion and public health eduaction review and plan together as one team.
• Reflect on programme experience to contribute to Public Health /WASH learning review Contribute to the design and development of country WASH strategy according to local context.
• Participate and help sustain planned engagements with Local and central government authorities on the role of WASH/hygiene and sanitation promotion as a humanitarian cause.
• Provide weekly reports (including data collection, and key achievements for the week) and submit them to the designated project manager as per the agreed timeline

Program Implementation:

• In consultation with the senior Emergency WASH Officer in the hub Implement hygiene and sanitation promotion activities in WASH emergencies e.g. baseline data collection, designing the implementation of IEC campaigns through popular Media, identification, selection, and capacity building of community-based hygiene volunteers, working with logistics team on targeting, delivery, and monitoring of NFI distributions, design, implementation and monitoring public health promotion activities at community level with innovative ideas context relevant.
• Take leadership at the field level on the integration of Public Health promotion activities with other relevant sectors.
• Implement interventions for specific target groups, e.g. women, men, children, youth groups, religious leaders, and community leaders.
• Provide support and capacity in the development of behaviour change communication strategy and guide the development and production of Media activities acceptable to all stakeholders.
• In collaboration with the Senior Emergency WASH Officer and WASH coordinator closely work and support the work of local and National institutions, such as schools, water boards, councils, and Municipalities ensuring appropriate WASH/hygiene and sanitation promotion activities are implemented
• Implement Post distribution monitoring according to the agreed sampling frame and best approach applicable to the context
• Supervise others to monitor and report against key WASH-related diseases.
• Contribute to safe programming by analysing risks, and contributing in setting up risk prevention, mitigation and management measures to ensure all stakeholders can safely take part to IRE’s activities
• Contribute to IRE humanitarian approach by embedding community engagement, safe programming, and local humanitarian leadership principles in own tasks
• Working in coordination and collaboration with the PHE/P counterpart always to ensure maximizing the impact of all WASH activities

Staff Management

• Provide day-to-day management to hygiene and sanitation promoters and community mobilizers including performance management with the support of the Senior Emergency WASH Officer.
• Conduct training needs assessment of hygiene and sanitation promotion and suggest areas of improvement to the Senior Emergency WASH Officer and Coordinator for support in designing relevant capacity building schedules, e.g. job training, coaching, and short weekly training on defined topics.
• Able to take leadership of the project team when called upon.

Logistics and Finance

• Work with logistics to ensure timely procurement and distribution of NFIs with the support of the Senior Emergency WASH Officer.
• Work closely with Finance and Senior Emergency WASH Officer in monitoring hygiene and sanitation promotion budget expenditures level.

Coordination

• Working together with other governmental and non-government bodies and WASH team members support in ensuring hygiene & sanitation is integrated in all the sector activities.
• Ensure coordination with regional, zonal and woreda water, health & education sectors in all aspects of project activities implementation including attending relevant meetings that may be organized from time to time.
• Identify and establish good relationships with all key stakeholders in the sector at woreda level, particularly with woreda health officials and other administrative and community structures and ensure their engagement in programme implementation and management.
• Develop good relations with other NGOs, development and UN agencies etc working in the sector at woreda level and where possible forge alliances to influence key actors when necessary.

Reporting

• To submit biweekly and/or monthly program activity plans to the Senior Emergency WASH Officer.
• Submit biweekly and/or monthly activity reports to the Senior Emergency WASH Officer.
• Report progress of the work possible problems or conflicts during the activities
• Report the use of materials and possible improvement.      

Monitoring and Evaluation

• In consultation with Senior Emergency WASH Officer, conduct regular monitoring of program activities to determine the success of interventions and recommend changes where or as necessary.
• Support in baseline and evaluation Knowledge, Practices, and Coverage (KPC) surveys by the CMs.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

§ Working in consultations with the hygiene and sanitation promotors, Water Technician, and the WASH Team.

External

·      Liaise with woreda water, health, and education bureaus as necessary.

·      Support Project Officer Capacity building for Water Management Committees, Hygiene and Sanitation volunteers, and woreda water, health, and education relevant Government staff. 

Personal Specification

Formal Education/Qualification and Work Experience

• University Degree – Rural Sanitation, Environmental Health Science, Public Health, Health Education and Promotion, Community Health or related field relevant to the position is preferable, with a minimum of 4 years relevant experience at this level with International Agencies or NGO’s.
• Knowledge of one or more of the following: public health, health or hygiene promotion, community development, education, community mobilization.

Skills and Competences

• Design, communication, and presentation skills.
• Excellent knowledge of area of work and increasingly contribute to team planning.
• Successfully manages conflicting priorities.
• Strong influencing and networking
• Takes responsibility for own work and delegated project/processes (including some leadership).
• Anticipates problems and regularly provides solutions
• Excellent ability to speak and communicate with good spoken and written English skills.
• Fluency in Afar language is Mandatory.
• Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word and databases).
• Ability to work in stressful conditions, with limited access to services, sometimes insecure and limited movements.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and in a highly results oriented work culture.
• Knowledge, skill and experience in participatory methods for community development and mobilization.
• Team-working skills.
• Attention to detail and excellent numeracy.
• Good communication skills
• Good leadership skill

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunity

Islamic Relief and Islamic Relief staff considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and people at risk to be paramount to the organization. And must adhere the principle of ‘do no harm and leave no one behind.’ It is critical we do not expose communities or staff we work with to the risk of harm through our interventions.  Islamic Relief have a number of related policies which also describe standards in behavior expected from the organization, its staff and representatives towards each other and those we serve. Islamic Relief is committed to responding swiftly, appropriately and constructively to any and all information children, young people and people at risk have disclosed.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. We participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and child abuse during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment before signing the contract agreement.

Islamic Relief believes everyone has the right to be safe, respected and valued regardless of who they are or their circumstances, and an equal employment opportunity to all candidates and qualified applicants, we do not discriminate on the base of age, sex, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability status and diversity.

Islamic Relief has a zero tolerance towards all forms of violence, sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

IRE highly encourage female applicants to apply for this position. Our organization is committed to promoting gender equality and diversity in the workplace. IRE believe in creating an inclusive working environment where all individuals, regardless of their gender, have equal opportunities for professional growth and development.

IRE value the contributions and unique perspectives that women and persons with disability bring to our organization and are committed to providing a supportive, working environment. IRE believe that by promoting gender equality, we can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of our programs.

If you are a qualified female candidate with a passion to join our team, we encourage you to submit your application. IRE look forward to considering your candidacy and working together to make a difference in the lives of those in need.

How to Apply:

Application Procedures

·      Interested candidates are required to submit a complete Job application form stated with the duty station that you are applying for with all required supporting documents (updated CV, copy of credentials and testimonials) through eth.recruitment2@islamic-relief.org.et

·      You can access the Job Application Form with this link: http://www.islamic-relief.org.et/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Employment-Application-form-1.docx. Failure to follow the instructions will invalidate your application.

·      Closing date for the application is May 31, 2024.

·      Due to the high volume of application, we regret that we will be able to contact only the shortlisted candidates.

Disclaimers: The Islamic relief does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including the application, interview, offer and contract stages.