Syria: WASH Sector Working Group Coordinator

Aug 21, 2018 | Solidarites International
View Original

SI, which has been present in Syria since 2013 is dedicated to work on recently opened and challenging areas to provide lifesaving activities to the population affected by the conflict. Main current activities are related to emergency wash (water distribution and rehabilitation) and distribution of essential NFI (winterization) and cash.

The mission is expanding through a major consortium with 4 partners led by SI. The LEARN consortium ( Linking Assistance and Relief in Northeast Syria ) will support equitable and safe access to essential basic services including WASH, Shelter and Health, for the most vulnerable populations affected by conflict and displacement in Northeast Syria.

The Coordination team is based in Amman (Jordan) with 12 expatriates. The North West operation is managed from Amman with currently 5 expatriates and the operational base is located in Azaz (Aleppo governorate) with approximately 60 Syrian staff members.

In the Northeast, the mission faces a large scale up, developing a sub-coordination and increasing operational volume as well as number of staff on its 2 bases through a Shelter, WASH, NFI/Winterization support to displaced population and host communities.

The total financial volume of the mission will increase to 13.5 million EUR from the end of 2018. The mission will reach a number of 60 expatriates and 340 national employees.

ABOUT THE JOB

The WASH Sector Working Group coordinator (WSWGC) for Northeast Syria ( NES) will be seconded by Solidarités International (SI), and will be a full time position. She/He will sit within SI office in NES. The position will be expected to travel to field locations as needed and based on SI security plans (at least 50% of the time).

The position-holder will be responsible for supporting sector coordination of WASH humanitarian actors in Northeast Syria in collaboration with the Whole-of-Syria (WoS) WASH sector coordinators and the Northeast Syria NGO Forum. The purpose of this position is to provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by Shelter & NFI and WASH actors in Northeast Syria

The position-holder will be stationed in Kobane and Amuda, but will be expected to travel regularly within Northeast Syria in addition to occasional travel outside Northeast Syria to support relevant Whole-of-Syria initiatives.

The position-holder will be employed and hosted by SI in Northeast Syria and will report directly to SI local management. However, the position-holder will be accountable to WASH partners in Northeast Syria. It should be noted that the position-holder will not be directly involved in the delivery of SI projects.

Reports to: SI Field coordinator (with functional line to the Whole-of-Syria WASH sector coordinators)

Supervision of: WSWG Information Management Officer and WSWG coordinator assistant.

THE MAIN CHALLENGES OF THE POSITION ARE:

  • Focal point at North East Syria level for emergency response interventions through coordination with the WoS cluster focal points, identify gaps and needs and leading on resource mobilization.
  • Provide WASH technical leadership on quality standards and indicators within the WASH cluster response.
  • Provide inputs into response, preparedness and contingency plans with inputs from the focal points.
  • Identify areas for upskilling and capacity building of WASH agencies and contribute to capacity building activities.
  • Act as the WASH members’ liaison and adviser for inputs into funding mechanisms, including HPF allocations and fast track funding appeals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The WSWGC will work impartially, serving the needs of all members of the WASH WG and should work closely with the Whole of Syria Cluster Coordinator and NES Forum, as appropriate. He/She will be responsible for:

  • Be committed to putting aside a given organization’s interests and work on behalf of all the WG members equally;
  • Inclusion of key partners with specific attention to UN agencies based in NES, national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and stabilization actors;
  • Establishment and maintenance of appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms. This includes organizing regular multi-lateral and bilateral meetings, developing meeting agendas, sending minutes and following up/supporting the progress on action points, in collaboration with the WoS Sector Coordinators and the NES Forum Coordinator;
  • Ensuring adapted information management monitoring in collaboration with the WoS and NES NGO Forum Information Management functions to maintain 4Ws planning, reporting and information sharing as required.
  • Ensuring adapted reporting in collaboration with the WoS Sector Coordinators and NES NGO Forum. This includes draft reports and briefing notes on the situation and developments in the context and needs for the use by the WoS WASH sector and the NES INGO Forum.
  • Ensuring needs assessment and analysis in collaboration with the WoS Sector Coordinators and NES NGO Forum; this includes relevant contributions to multi-sector assessments.
  • Ensuring the application of appropriate standards. In collaboration with the WoS Sector Coordinators and relevant technical leads in the sector to discuss, develop, and share relevant technical standards and guidelines for best practice. This includes working with the WoS coordinators to develop and promote common or rationalized approaches between coordination hubs.
  • Undertaking the planning and strategy development including an active leadership on the HNO and HRP definition for Northeast Syria.
  • Ensuring appropriate attention to priority cross-cutting issues such as Protection, Age, Gender, Disability and Environment in the WASH response in Northeast Syria.
  • Coordinating cluster-wide emergency preparedness to ensure a WASH emergency preparedness and response plans is defined and operational with NGO partners.
  • Ensuring a cluster agreed framework and appropriate mechanisms for accountability to affected populations and emphasizing participatory and community-based approaches
  • Undertaking training and capacity building in collaboration with the WoS Sector Coordinators and relevant technical leads in the sector to facilitate technical training and capacity building.
  • Actively contributing to Inter-Sector coordination. The position-holder will be responsible for actively participating in other relevant coordination mechanisms in Northeast Syria. The position-holder will work in collaboration with the WoS Sector Coordinators and NES INGO Forum Coordinator to ensure adequate and appropriate liaison and coordination with the other WG/Sector and Coordination fora in Northeast Syria to ensure/facilitate contextual analysis, needs assessments and access to beneficiaries and sites/structures.
  • The position-holder will be expected to participate in SI strategic planning and information-sharing initiatives, as required: the incumbent will be involved in some security aspects related to staff safety and security.

LIVING CONDITIONS :

She/He will live in the NES SI guesthouse(s) in an area where living conditions are comfortable with some opportunities and places to socialize.

YOUR PROFILE

  • Technical ability in the WASH sector with minimum 5 years of experience of project implementation in humanitarian response WASH including water distribution, construction and rehabilitation of WASH facilities, Waste management and hygiene promotion.
  • Experience in the Cluster approach;
  • Personal and professional integrity in all interactions;
  • Ability to work with diverse stakeholders to develop consensus;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the international humanitarian response and coordination mechanisms, and humanitarian reform;
  • Have an understanding of humanitarian funding mechanisms (HPF, CERF, CHF and Flash Appeals processes);
  • Understanding of humanitarian principles and how to apply these;
  • Ability to develop a cluster strategy and to clarify complex strategies for operational implementation;
  • Understand the links between emergency response, recovery, and the transition to development;
  • Handling insecure environments;
  • Strong level of autonomy:
  • Fluency in English, both written and verbal;
  • Fluency in Arabic is an advantage, but not essential.

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A salaried post: ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCE from 4000 euros gross per month, plus 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly, and a monthly Per Diem of 700 USD.

Social and medical cover: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

Vacation: during the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 10-day break during the 3rd and the 9th month (with 500 euros allocated by Solidarités). He or she will also be entitled to go back to his or her home country for a 14-day period after six months spent on the mission (Solidarités will cover travel costs).

For further information about Solidarités International, please consult our website: http://www.solidarites.org/en/