Jordan: Regional WASH Advisor

Oct 30, 2018 | Oxfam
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Oxfam is an international confederation of 20 ngos working with partners in over 90 countries to end the injustices that cause poverty.

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty in MENA.

Oxfam is undergoing a significant transformation worldwide to reflect and adapt to our fast changing world. We need creative and agile leaders who can enable us to achieve our strategic vision and at the same time enable us to develop and deliver programmes whilst we embrace the change.

In MENA Region, Oxfam works in development, humanitarian, and campaigning, with a large part of the current transformation focused on a more joined-up approach by following the LRRD approach that focuses on supporting emergency humanitarian interventions alongside long term needs of improving policy, governance and resilience that builds on our experience in humanitarian and non-emergency WaSH and economic justice sectors. Oxfam ensures that humanitarian programmes in the region are of an acceptable quality, meet minimum standards, and integrate key cross-cutting themes: gender, protection, conflict- sensitivity. Oxfam ensures that scale-up for emergency response in the region is properly planned and supported by professional and experienced staff; Oxfam facilitates appropriate capacity building for WaSH staff and partners in the MENA region to ensure quality, integrated WaSH programmes are delivered in a timely manner.

This role is part of a new regional structure (platform) delivering support to consolidate Oxfam’s position as a leading WaSH agency by promoting quality programming and delivery in both emergency and development settings. Build on and develop further innovation and learning across the region, strengthening the technical capacity of country teams and partners to design and implement quality WaSH programmes, and ensuring that MENA country programmes are prepared to meet WaSH needs in category 2 and 3 disasters in a timely and effective way, and provide support to Oxfam in category 1 situations in the 11 countries where it is currently present. Oxfam is looking for a Regional WASH Advisor to be based in Amman. The candidates’ eligibility to work in Amman may determine the final location of this position.

DIMENSIONS:

  • Set main objectives in relation to the timeframe and quality of work in tandem with country programme strategy;
  • Diverse and complex problem solving. Requiring professional knowledge, field experience and an understanding of both development and humanitarian work in a complex security environment;
  • Impact and influence will be within their own team. Planning will be initially short-term, but provision must be made for medium to long-term interventions;
  • Influences the development of WASH strategy and ensures and supports operational implementation;
  • Providing specialist technical advice and support remotely and via field trip/work to management and colleagues in the MENA Region;
  • Supervising resources within defined boundaries or a specialist area, which may include people, assets and/or budgets;
  • The role requires the ability to analyse and communicate complex information at a simpler level to a wider audience;
  • The role is variable with well-defined targets and/or minimum standards, and is both proactive and reactive;
  • In-depth knowledge of the principles underlying the key purpose and role is required in order to make decisions affecting the team, which may impact more widely on the programme;
  • Develops solutions to diverse and complex problems within organisational policy;
  • Influence managers, staff, partners and volunteers in Oxfam and develop effective networks with external bodies.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities Strategy:

  • Contribute as the strategic lead on thinking for WaSH programmes in the region, and work closely with the regional team to develop and implement activities in line with Oxfam’s 2020 vision;
  • Work collaboratively with countries to develop methodologies and models of best practice for working effectively in fragile and conflict affected states, especially in the transition from emergencies to development and in building resilience;
  • Support CDs and other senior managers by providing strategic advice on WaSH issues in relation to emergency preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and Wash governance and resilience
  • Provide integrated and coherent support to country programmes;
  • Support scenario planning, which will inform regional, and country level contingency and preparedness plans.

Programme Support:

  • Develop relationships with country teams and provide direct high quality advisory support to a number of programmes. The range of support will include programme design and development, technical advice, mentoring and capacity building, tool development and testing, research, and fundraising;
  • Work collaboratively with Oxfam affiliates, OI GHT PHE & PHP Advisors, OGB teams including PSIT, to put our programme strategy into practice and develop and share learning, knowledge and evidence;
  • When required, assist with the start-up of new humanitarian response programmes and provide ongoing support to programme managers and the WaSH team as required throughout programme implementation;
  • Provide support to country WaSH team to develop or reviewing concept notes, funding proposals, donor reports and technical reports, as required;
  • Identify tools, best practices and methodologies to improve the management and governance of WaSH infrastructure at community level and contribute to better community cohesion;
  • Facilitate the recruitment and training of country WaSH Coordinators, public health engineers and public health promoters. This may involve coordinating the mobilisation of HSP’s and providing support with the production of job descriptions, work schedules, training plans and performance appraisals; and develop an internal cadre of Wash expertise for rapid deployment/secondment as required.
  • Contribute to monitoring the effectiveness of activities and the continuing level of humanitarian need in the region;
  • In certain cases, be deployed during the first phase of a large-scale emergency response as an acting senior WaSH coordinator.

Programme Quality and Learning:

  • Assist WaSH programmes in developing proper systems for the collection and analysis of programme information and data;
  • Participate, as requested, in learning events associated with WaSH programmes (learning reviews, real-time evaluations, project evaluations etc.);
  • Produce knowledge sharing products for publication to promote Oxfam’s regional WaSH work both internally and externally;
  • Actively encourage a MENA WaSH Community of Practice (CoP). Organise a regional WaSH forum on a yearly basis;
  • Document cases of best practice in the region, and promote information-sharing and learning across country programmes and the regional platform.

Representation and Networking:

  • Act as the WaSH MENA regional focal point for global WaSH initiatives, coordinating between HQ and countries in the region
  • Represent Oxfam as the WaSH focal point for MENA region in external WaSH coordination forums and other events with government officials, UN, donors, and other NGOs.
  • Represent Oxfam as the WaSH focal point for MENA region at regional forums addressing water policy and governance related issues and engage with external agencies on this e.g. DFID, EU, WaterAid and others.

Technical Advice:

  • Act as a resource person for WASH staff in the region on hardware and software technical questions, in particular related to innovation, R&D, and new technologies and approaches;
  • Promote the integration of key cross-cutting issues in public health programming including: protection, gender, and conflict-sensitivity;
  • Promote adherence by WaSH staff and programmes to relevant standards and guidelines, including Sphere, Core Humanitarian Standards, NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct and Oxfam’s global emergency guidelines and protocols.

Capacity-Building:

  • Manage capacity building in the field of WaSH in the region in close coordination with countries and the RPMs;
  • Proactively identify WASH staff with potential in the region and contribute to their development through coaching, mentoring, organising secondments and other development opportunities;
  • Provide training in WaSH programming for Oxfam staff & partners when required. Assessments:
  • Carry out WaSH assessments, at short notice, during emergency situations. This will include a broad overview of public health risks as well as an in-depth assessment of need in relation to water, sanitation, and hygiene;
  • Provide assessment reports with key recommendations for the design and implementation of water, sanitation, and hygiene activities;
  • ·• Build the capacity of Oxfam staff and partners in conducting assessments on public health / WaSH issues.
  • Conduct assessments that take into consideration sustainable long-term needs and approaches in areas experiencing protracted or cyclical crises

Skills and experience

Essential

  • Masters degree or higher in water and sanitation, engineering, or public health. Equivalent technical experience and training can substitute for qualifications but not vice versa;
  • Experience of WaSH programming in multiple developing countries, including significant experience in complex emergency contexts, and good experience in Water Governance
  • Experience of WaSH programming in camps, urban and rural settings
  • Experience in integrated WaSH programming (combining water and sanitation with public health promotion), and a demonstrated understanding of community mobilisation approaches and methodologies;
  • Diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills: demonstrated ability to use a range of styles and work with a diverse range of people;
  • Ability to work well under pressure and in response to rapidly changing needs;
  • Experience in delivering training, developing staff and partner capacity, and in organising coaching/mentoring activities for WaSH staff;
  • Experience in assessment and designing response in both rapid and slow-onset emergencies, in both urban and rural contexts;
  • Demonstrated experience of integrating gender and protection issues into WaSH activities;
  • Awareness of the different WaSH modalities such as the use of market assessments (PCMMA), cash transfers, and vouchers – knowledge of ICT in humanitarian programming desirable.
  • Good written and spoken English
  • Willingness to travel up to 40% of the time;

Desirable

  • Preferably a range of INGO experience
  • Regional/multi country experience
  • Experience in the MENA region
  • Good written and spoken Arabic (highly desirable)