WASH Officer- Afder

About Swiss Church Aid(HEKS/EPER)

HEKS/EPER is the aid organization of the Protestant Churches of Switzerland and has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland. HEKS/EPER works towards a more humane and more equitable world, assisting people and communities to overcome economic, social, or humanitarian disparities to gain autonomy and to live with dignity both in Switzerland and abroad. HEKS/EPER engages in development cooperation, humanitarian aid and church cooperation and works in more than 30 countries and runs around 200 projects world-wide. HEKS/EPER is a member of the ACT Alliance. In Ethiopia, HEKS/EPER has projects with focus on Humanitarian Aid (WASH, shelter/NFIs, food security and protection), Natural Resource Management, and Inclusive Markets for Smallholder Pastoralists & Farmers. HEKS/EPER is promoting the Triple Nexus approach throughout its interventions and collaborates with local organizations that have technical and sectorial expertise in health, Education in Emergencies, and protection.

Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) is looking for a qualified and committed WASH officer for an integrated emergency response for complex drought, flood and conflicts-affected communities in Afder zone in Somali region. The project provides WASH, agriculture, protection, and multi-purpose cash assistance interventions to natural disasters and conflict-stricken communities in Somali region.

The position holder will be responsible mainly for the management and supervision of the humanitarian WASH activities including planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring and reporting. He/she also establishes and maintains relationships with community, local government and Kebele leaders to identify priority needs, target beneficiaries, and carry joint monitoring of the project outputs.

Key areas of responsibilities

The WASH Officer will be the key technical person to ensure that the WASH activities are implemented as per the project plan and sector standards. He/She will be responsible to

Develop detailed work plan and implement the project as specified in the work plan,

Carry out detail design of WASH supply schemes and associated structures.

Identify design alternatives, ensure designs are to the standard and make sure compliance with national and humanitarian standards.

Prepare/revise BOQs, technical specifications and drawings, review tenders and payment certificates as deemed necessary

Support and lead implementation of sanitation and hygiene promotion activities.

Keep track of and monitor and follow up the progress of construction/rehabilitation activities, promptly identifying any current or potentialchallenges.

Write technical reports, regularly provide report to the Field Office Coordinator and HEKS/EPER Country Office WASH team on the project progresses and other relevant issues on monthly and /or weekly basis as required.

Establish and maintain transparent, functional working relationships with local government at woreda level and with the communities and NGOs operating in the project area,

Regularly participate in zone and woreda level WASH cluster meetings and other coordination forums as necessary

Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Full-time contract on a 12-month basis, with possibility for extension depending on availability of funding and performance.

MSc Degree in water supply and environmental engineering, Water Resources engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, or related fields.

At least 6 years of relevant experience in an NGO setting.

Demonstrated experience in implementing humanitarian WASH projects.

Fluency in Somali and English language is required.

Literacy of technical software (AUTOCAD, WATERCAD, etc.).

Desirable Qualities, Skill, and Competences

Understanding of financial requirements of projects and ability to prepare and manage budgets.

Good level IT skills and computer literacy

Accountable and responsive within areas of responsibilities.

Ability to generate timely and quality reports.

Gender sensitive and experience with inclusive approach (work with people with disabilities, extreme poor families, minorities, and other marginalized groups)

Ability to understand the cultural context of the rural community and use that culture as an input for community mobilization.

Good communication and coordination skill, preferably with the community and woreda line department

Willingness to works in remote and volatile security contexts, ability to work with minimum supervision

Commitments to Swiss Church Aid/HEKS organizational values

Passionate, strongly dedicated and highly committed to work for the improvement of the poor community.

• Candidate will be expected to comply with HEKS/EPERs policies, standards, and procedures.