Project Coordinator

Job Purpose

The main purpose of the job is to provide quality support to the implementation of WAE projects in line with Climate Resilient (CR) priorities identified in the country program plans by linking with the WAE country strategy. The position is expected to provide technical advice and facilitation in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of a project or projects assigned. The role includes but not limited to facilitating community mobilization; capacity building to the WASH sectors (water, education and health); introduce appropriate sanitation techniques/technologies and ensuring appropriate documentation is available for strategic and policy influencing work. Project Managers will oversee a particular project/number of projects dependent on the size of the project and portfolio it covers.

Technical Assistance:   

• Build the capacity of local government, partners and community by providing CR WASH, hygiene and sanitation technical support.

• Encourage WASH stakeholders to reflect critically on their hygiene and sanitation policies and practices.

• Provide appropriate advice to ensure adherence with national, regional and WaterAid’s policies and recommended practices, especially regarding the health and safety for construction site and WaterAid Quality Monitoring Policies.

• Provide technical support in all phases of the program cycle, from appraisal, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation through regular field visits, training-based capacity building, and desk-based feedback.

• Provide advice regarding hygiene and sanitation approaches adoption and innovation of sanitation and hygiene technologies by considering to the local context.

• Ensure implementation of planned WASH activities as per proposal. Conduct construction/implementation quality control of WASH facilities, facilitate preparation of sanitation business plan and take part in operation and maintenance.

• Provide technical support in implementing and other promotional approach based on the local context. 

Planning and Reporting: 

• Take part in project plan and personal work planning, implementation and review processes to maximize the effectiveness of WAE’s initiatives and supporting the Government/community.

• Plan, direct and control the operation of activities assigned.

• Guide and supervise the implementation of activities.

• Take part in planning, community mobilization and other stakeholders’ engagement in the planning process. 

• Prepare monthly, quarterly and interim reports to the Head of program on hygiene and sanitation/ activities.

• In addition to this contribute to WAE reports to government and donors and provide periodic progress updates for organizational use.

• In collaboration with local government actively participate in periodic evaluation and facilitate final evaluation.

Project Management:

• Participate in the design and development of new projects.

• Responsible for setting the technical standards to be adhered to by all implementing staff and partners.

• Leadership in ensuring that the technical quality of our programs is high and consistent with national and sector best practice and WaterAid’s program frameworks and quality standards. 

• Drive project activities that deliver model CR WASH services in communities, districts, towns, schools and health facilities and engagement of key WASH stakeholders for scale-up and replicability.

• Targeted support to WaterAid project teams as well as to key partners to ensure quality implementation, learning and adaptation as required

• The development and promotion of best practice guidance on CR WASH in the country and, when called on, develop and manage programs of research and capacity development as well as facilitate learning from within WAE and externally to build on and improve our practice and policy interventions.

• Prepare and produce technical program reports for dissemination to various stakeholders. 

• Develop practical tools for evaluation and monitoring the technical program.

• Develop operating business plan for the technical area in collaboration with the other technical leads and departments.

WASH Sector Systems Strengthening:

• Critically analyses of the WASH and related blockages at Woreda level

• Provide support to strengthen the WASH sector.

• Champion the programmatic approach in the Woreda for its success, package and document for others to learn and influence.

• Provide the necessary technical support to key WASH and related structures in the Woreda and town.

• Promote Woreda Wide programmatic approach in the Woreda, Zone and Region.

• Support the strengthening of the GO-NGO forum in line with the Team Charter.

• Organize a dialogue forum for WASH stakeholders.

Advocacy and Communication:

• Policy influencing by analysing the existing CR WASH sector policies and policy environment, governance and institutional bottlenecks, systems of management, risk allocation and coordination systems around WASH sector programs. Recommend corrective actions to be taken to improve efficiency and effectiveness of CR WASH sector programs to ensure adequate focus on SDG 6 agenda. 

• Provide technical advice on WAR's policy influencing and advocacy strategies that aim to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of the sector to deliver sustainable WASH services for all.

• Generate evidence and advocate for the conditions necessary for strengthened institutions, policies, and sector performance at national and sub-national levels. 

• Provide sector leadership and acting as a recognized authority in sector debates on WASH sector governance.

• Provide leadership and guidance in shaping national WASH in Public Health sector planning processes, and bottlenecks preventing the development of an effective and functioning WASH sector in collaboration with the International Programs Department

• Work with the Programme Quality & Innovation, MEAL and Policy and Advocacy teams to generate data, generate success stories, videos and case studies required to shape advocacy, campaigns and influencing activities targeted at improving WASH access and Hygiene in the assigned region.

• Support the Policy and Advocacy teams in conducting WASH advocacy campaigns & activities at the state, local government and community levels focused on improving WASH access and behaviour change.

• In collaboration with the Communications for Development Officer, create linkages and improve use of the media at the state to inform and shape conversations on WASH service delivery in the districts.

• Work with the Policy and Advocacy team on strengthening and engaging project & sector coordination platforms.

Project and Financial Monitoring:

• Perform the duties of hygiene and sanitation, which include but are not limited to monitoring and reviewing the performance with the government/partner/community/donor.

• Monitor the project properties, share timely physical and financial expenditure against the planned activity, reviewing quarterly updates, bi-annual reports and reviewing budgets and take necessary action. 

Networking: 

• Coordinate with stakeholders, development partners and networks particularly those relevant to the WASH sector and represent WAE in policy forums locally and at zonal level and accordingly.

• Collaborate with others to generate quality evidence on WASH in local context and other stakeholders work as well as in the sector more broadly. 

Resource Mobilization: 

• Play an active role in local fund raising at community/National level by being exemplary to other staff in collaboration with local government programmatic approach team. 

• Work closely with other WASH stockholders in the community at project level. 

Safeguarding, Safety, and Security:

• Creating and maintaining an environment which upholds WaterAid’s Global Code of Conduct and associated safeguarding and child protection policies.

• Creating and maintaining an environment which consistently upholds WaterAid’s Health, Safety & Security Policy.

• Ensures that Safeguarding, Child Protection, and Gender Equality policies are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team

• Ensures that comprehensive health, safety and security measures (e.g. risk management plans, local security protocols) have been put in place when designing programmes / project and are consistently upheld during their implementation. 

• Ensures that any partner agencies that WaterAid works with are adopting the same health, safety and security standards (as defined in any applicable WaterAid health, safety and security policies), and arrange for capacity building support where gaps or weaknesses are identified.

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding, Child Protection and Gender policies and Code of Conduct (CoC).

• Adheres to any local security protocols that have been put in place when working in the office, travelling to the field or undertaking project / programme activities.

• Immediately reports any health, safety and security incidents or near-misses that occur on WaterAid duty to their line manager, Security Focal Point or CD.

• Behaves and acts in a manner that does not put colleagues or anyone that interacts with WaterAid in immediate danger or harm’s way.

Others

• Perform any other duty as may be assigned by supervisor or designee from time to time.
• Participate and contribute to committees and task forces e.g., Procurement Committee.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• BSc degree or higher in Engineering, Water Resources, Development Studies, Environmental Studies, Public Health, or other WASH related disciplines.

• Minimum relevant experience of 7 years for MSc and 9 years for BSc with a thorough understanding of WASH in a complex, international development organization especially in development and resilience sectors, of which at least two (2) years would ideally be in community-based projects funded by local or international organizations in the area of WASH, climate change, public health, environmental health or community health management performing a programme/project management role. 

• Relevant experience on WASH technical advisory roles, direct implementation of projects, and partnership management.

• Proven experience in WASH, Water resources management (governance/ management/ engineering aspects), and climate sectors.

• Competency in WaterAid’s common approaches to work including partnerships, convening, inclusion, systems strengthening, creating behavioral change, and mainstreaming gender and inclusion of youth.

• Strong competence in the use of IT tools. Proficiency in the use of Microsoft suite of computer Applications-Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.

• Demonstrable understanding of development program management approaches and WASH Issues in Ethiopia.

• Good understanding of government WASH policy. 

• Familiar with the national hygiene and sanitation strategy and promotional approach.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to convey complex information clearly and persuasively.

• Strong time management and organisational skills.

• Good problem-solving skills.

• Commitment to WaterAid’s values, culture, and ways of working that reflects these.

Desirable

• Experience working with a wide range of partners implementing a grant funded project and in managing partnerships with such organizations.

• Prior experience working in the WASH sector would be a distinct advantage.

Behavioural competencies

• Personal integrity, proactivity, result oriented, concern for impact, development oriented and understanding others.
• Presentation, report writing, planning and organising skills.
• Communicate technical/ issues to non-technical audiences.
• Accountability and teamwork.
• Problem solving, decision making skills.

• Commitment to values and working styles of WAE.

• Good interpersonal and communication skills.

• Firm belief in teamwork, equity and inclusiveness, gender equality, sensitivity, participatory.

• Ability to adapt to the local environment and understand and respect community values.