Job Title: WASH and Construction Coordinator - Somalia Duration: 12 months
Job Location: Based in Nairobi with regular visits to Mogadishu for internal and stakeholder meetings, and occasional trips to project sites - Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Baidoa (approx. 40%) for supervision.
Reports to: Deputy Programme Director, Somalia (DPD)
Direct Reports: Two Engineers and one WASH project officer
Job Summary: This role oversees Concern’s WASH hardware, software (hygiene and sanitation promotion) and other construction works in the Resilience and Durable Solutions sector programmes (which may include e.g. market shelter, road rehabilitations…etc.). The coordinator will provide technical oversight and support, quality control in the design, monitoring and reporting on WASH projects; including maintaining and improving systems and structures required for effective and timely implementation. S/he will take lead in development of the Country WASH strategy in collaboration with PD and DPD, guided by Concern Global WASH strategy. She/he will lead capacity-building efforts for staff and relevant focal points from partners in coordination with local Government per identified needs. The coordinator will represent Concern at external meetings and coordinate effectively with relevant Government line ministries, Clusters, Consortia and Donors at request of line manager or Programme Director, and maintain relationships with WASH system strengthening partners such as Agenda for change.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership and Quality Assurance:
Develop and continuously review WASH and Construction strategies, manuals, programme approaches and quality standards to appropriately address priority needs and accommodate shifting and/or emerging field context and opportunities in consultation with HQ team.
Ensure a creative, integrated, multi sectoral and holistic approach to WASH programme interventions; assist Concern’s team in finding ways to integrate/link and combine hardware and software components as suitable for emergency, durable solutions and resilience programming respectively.
Develop strategies and plans that contribute to raising the profile of Concern as an expert organization in the WASH and Construction sector
Ensure compliance with Concern’s engineering and WASH standards and operating procedures (SoPs), all relevant Government regulations and industry standards and guidelines, and with SPHERE Standards.
Project Implementation and Technical Oversight:
Lead implementation of WASH and Construction activities as outlined in approved proposals and work plans – be they standalone or part of integrated programmes - in compliance with donor and internal guidelines and requirements
Lead effective project management of all WASH & Construction activities using relevant tools and support to respective programme teams ensuring accountable, timely implementation and achievement of activities/milestones.
Conduct regular team meetings and interaction with local partners to remain updated on progress towards agreed implementation milestones, challenges encountered; provide feedback on programme quality and technical backstopping; identify capacity gaps and conduct technical capacity strengthening. Document, file and appropriately share minutes of such meetings.
Conduct regular reviews on progress of implementation plans and challenges to ensure timely information flow to respective Programme coordinators/managers with support of Deputy PD.
Lead and support development of Terms of References, BoQs, designs/drawings, scopes of works and technical specifications for WASH and construction-related contracts and consultancies; and review technical reports to ensure quality.
Provide technical support to local partners on relevant activities under their direct implementation.
Develop contingency plans with Programme coordinators/managers to enable timely response to serious environmental health outbreaks (including WASH hardware and software aspects).e.g. AWD/Cholera, Covid-19.
Together with Logistics, lead preparation of all documentation (tendering and contract) related to procurement of works and services contracts; ensure timely collaboration with and sign- off from HQ Advisors as appropriate
Staff Management and Capacity Building:
Support timely recruitment of WASH staff (Engineers and WASH officers) in coordination with DPD and induct, train, mentor and supervise and manage their performance.
Identify capacity-building needs for WASH team and implementation partners on WASH hardware and software elements e.g. hardware design and BoQs, hygiene promotion supervision of hardware and software activities, WASH system strengthening etc., and lead roll out of capacity building plan to address those needs through on job support, workshops and site visits.
Develop, document and roll out written protocols, operating procedures and technical training materials for programme staff and partners, to strengthen Concern’s WASH and construction sector interventions.
Support application of Concern’s Code of Conduct and Associated Policies and the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) by ensuring direct/indirect reports are aware and adhering.
Project Development and Reporting:
Lead in developing WASH and Construction inputs for concept notes, proposals, and budgets in consultation with PD, DPD, Coordinators/Managers, Grants Manager, Finance and Logistics teams, as stand-alone or part of an integrated programme.
Collaborate closely with Programme Coordinators/Managers to undertake needs assessments that capture priorities of targeted communities especially the most vulnerable people within them.
Ensure that cross cutting issues including gender equity, conflict sensitivity, DRR and protection are mainstreamed into WASH hardware and software components
Prepare (inputs to) quality reports for internal and donor purposes and share timely with Grants Manager; clearly capturing status against agreed work plans and logframe indicators, plus challenges encountered/overcome related to progress or quality issues.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning:
Ensure that a strong monitoring and evaluation system is in place for WASH activities (hardware and software) and that data from key indicators is collected, analysed and utilized on an ongoing basis
Collaborate with MEAL team to advise on and apply SMART logframe indicators, assessment and monitoring tools (quantitative/qualitative) for WASH and construction interventions.
Conduct regular site/field monitoring visits (where/when security permits); provide feedback and recommendations to direct team and relevant Programme Coordinator/Managers, highlighting clearly and following up on any remedial actions required.
Provide timely guidance and response on WASH feedback channeled through Concern Complaints Response Mechanism
Lead learning sessions with WASH team and document lessons and case studies, and support initiatives to improve quality of WASH and construction components as part of broader programming and learning.
Review approaches to accommodate shifting and/or emerging field contexts and trends, and propose relevant innovative interventions in terms of infrastructure/construction as well as key aspects of behaviour change and hygiene promotion work.
Coordination and Representation
Represent Concern in relevant forums and meetings organized by the Ministry, Grant Agent or Donor. i.e. WASH Cluster, Consortia; provide timely information arising and feedback from meetings to relevant program teams
Prepare and regularly update the 4W Matrix for Somalia/Somaliland and upload on sharepoint.
Ensure effective coordination and collaboration with key stakeholders (Government Representatives, Community Leads, other agencies implementing in the area/sector) for non-duplication of efforts etc. in collaboration with relevant program coordinators/managers.
Others
Responding To Emergencies Participate and contribute as necessary towards Concern’s Emergency response as and when necessary.
Program Participant Protection Policy:
To adhere to the standards of conduct outlined in the Program Participant Protection Policy and Concern Code of Conduct
To support and promote the standards outlined in the Program Participant Protection Policy and Concern Code of Conduct to their team, partner organizations and beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment
To contribute to the establishment of preventive measures to reduce the potential for abuse in Concern program (as per P4 section 6)
Accountability
Promote and ensure compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) commitments and quality criteria
Ensure that all staff are familiar with the principles underpinning accountability, safeguarding and Concern's Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) and ensure that information about Concern's commitments on accountability and safeguarding are disseminated among programme participants and communities
Ensure that the Complaint Response Mechanisms (CRM) is functional, effectively implemented and accessible in all programmes' locations, enabling safe reporting of both programmatic and sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns
Ensure that complaints are welcomed, managed and responded to in a timely, fair and appropriate manner; ensure that sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns, are handled with utmost confidentiality and that the safety of the complainants and those affected is prioritised at all stages.
Job Specification:
Essential:
Degree in WASH or Construction related discipline (Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Environmental Health, Hydrology, Geology, Mechanical Engineering, Public health etc.)
At least 5 years hands on WASH
