Venezuela: WASH Coordinator

Nov 29, 2019 | International Medical Corps
View Original

International Medical Corps is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.

Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in areas worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at high risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

Program Background 

International Medical Corps has appointed a country representative since March 2019 who is actively participating in coordination meetings with working groups to discuss key issues, including health; Nutrition; mental health and psychosocial support; protection; and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). International Medical Corps has been a key collaborator in meetings with UN agencies, including the Pan American Health Organization, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Children’s Fund, as well as with local organizations and donors. 

International Medical Corps has submitted projects to several donors to address critical needs, including: (1) lack of specialized doctors and health personnel; (2) lack of maintenance for medical equipment; (3) lack of medicines and medical supplies; (4) lack of water treatment, food and potable water; (5) lack of medical waste management services; 5) lack of food supplies to address malnutrition; 6) lack of Protection services.

Additionally, as of September 3, 2019, International Medical Corps is one of the few international non-governmental organizations registered as a Civil Association non-profit organization in Venezuela and authorized to provide humanitarian services. International Medical Corps continues to work with IFRC, PAHO, UNICEF other international actors, and local non-profit organizations. By launching efforts with local organizations, International Medical Corps will prioritize not only reaching those most in need, but also building the capacity of the local organizations to provide services for the long-term. International Medical Corps has already identified local partners. International Medical Corps has shipped medicines and medical supplies with a value of more than $500,000 to Caracas, with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). International Medical Corps provided medications and medical supplies directly to IFRC and Venezuelan Red Cross (VRC), who support 20 inpatient health facilities and 16 outpatient clinics in Caracas.

International Medical Corps (IMC) is now coordinating with international and local partners in Venezuela and is prepared to deliver a multi-sectoral response to meet the urgent health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in health facilities, protection and nutrition needs of families and communities. Activities will focus on providing essential services with a focus on reaching vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant and lactating women, elderly people and service evaluations. International Medical Corps, will target 22 health facilities that provides outpatient services in 11 states and will provide MMU services in 7 states and 117 communities. At the health facility level, services will include provision of pharmaceutical supplies, health and reproductive health services, capacity building, consultations, mental health services, WASH including hygiene promotion, MH, PSS service and last but not least nutrition services. International Medical Corps will work with 2 local partner at health facility level and MMU. These two are FUDEP and Fundación Nativo. As for the Protection / GBV services, IMC will support 3 women centers through partnering with 2 additional local subs – FUNDANA and Fundacion Habla.

Job Summary

The WASH Coordinator's role is to lead and provide technical support for planning and smooth operation of WASH activities in any defined context. This includes the active involvement in developing and rolling out the country WASH strategy based on the specific context, assessments/needs identified, program implementation of multiple WASH projects and fundraising. In addition, the WASH Coordinator will support with the overall building of capacity of local staff and stakeholders in WASH.

Main Responsibilities 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation. The tasks listed are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

  • The individual will plan and implement WASH projects, foster internal and external networks with stakeholders and donors; provide technical support to the development of funding proposals. The WASH Coordinator will manage, lead and provide direction to the WASH team in line with Country priorities. In addition, where required, the Coordinator will support the program team in obtaining the required government permissions and positively engage with institutional and private donors as well as IMC HQ. Moreover, the Coordinator will ensure project monitoring, regular reviews, preparation of donor reports, capturing learnings and is able to close the project and implement exit plans. 

Assessment

  • Provide WASH sectoral leadership and technical support to rapid needs assessments in emergency and development contexts and their analysis and ensure their linkage to activity plans and budgets. 
  • Conduct initial joint multi sector rapid assessment to depict the current humanitarian situation in collaboration with other sectoral staff and affected population; translate the needs into priorities and formulate immediate interventions activities and required resources.
  • Assess in-country resources and capacities (human, material and financial) for WASH program roll out as per agreed objectives. In addition, evaluate the strengths/gaps in the capacities. 

Program Design

  • Formulate the overall aims and objectives of WASH response program through a clear WASH strategy for senior Country Management.
  • Design an appropriate overall response to the country specific needs, taking into account the needs of the community; the current levels of in country WASH capacity and the overlapping of WASH and other IMC sectors.
  • Select and design from array of appreciate technologies for water systems for the given context, including source selection (ground water, surface water), abstraction, storage, treatment and distribution for new systems and/or the rehabilitation of old Water systems. 
  • Select and design the most appropriate form of sanitation system (to include excreta disposal, vector control, solid waste disposal, drainage) taking full account of local conditions, resources, customs and cultural norms. 
  • Select and design, in collaboration with other actors a suitable hygiene promotion program that suits the local context and would be widely accepted by beneficiaries. 
  • Ensure and advocate/lobby that WASH program design is considering Health, gender, protection, DRR, operation and maintenance and sustainability.
  • Contribute to ensuring that the response is funded through external donors, and manage (HR, admin, implementation) all aspects of WASH interventions.
  • Ensure Sphere standards both qualitative and quantitative are considered through the program cycle and are well documented.
  • Develop concept papers, letters of intent, proposals and budgets related to the above.  

Management and Implementation

  • Plan, lead and manage WASH program in a phased and prioritized manner in full consultation and co-ordination with International Medical Corps’ staff and other agencies both governmental and non-governmental. 
  • Work closely with Human Resources team for planning and hiring of the WASH team. 
  • Build the WASH team capacity to respond to the emergency and development phases. 
  • Train and supervise WASH staff and volunteers. This may involve the writing of work schedules, training plans and appraisals.
  • Ensure gender and protection is considered throughout the project cycle with women being enabled to influence decision- making around WASH challenges.
  • Ensure WASH program implantation is linked to health, DRR, gender, child protection and nutrition.
  • Design and develop appropriate supervisory, monitoring and evaluation systems for WASH interventions.
  • Work closely with program support functions (logistics and finance departments) for WASH program supplies and activities planning.

Information and Co-ordination

  • Provide regular updates and technical guidance to team on progress, priorities and challenges – verbally and in writing. 
  • Represent International Medical Corps to governmental and non-governmental groups as needed and agreed with the supervisor
  • Represent International Medical Corps in WASH and relevant Cluster activities. 
  • Other duties as assigned. 

Code of Conduct

It is our shared responsibility and obligation to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse, Trafficking in Persons, Child Safeguarding and any suggested violation to our Code of Conduct, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment.  If you see, hear or are made aware of any suggested activities then you have an obligation to report.

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of bachelor's degree in water and sanitation engineering, civil engineering, or relevant technical WASH specialization

Experience

  • At least five years of work experience with designing and implementing water and sanitation systems in IDPs, refugee and migrant contexts, maintaining sanitation systems, and implementing hygiene promotion programs, including 2 years in a humanitarian setting; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
  • Ability and good understanding of WASH sector and its hardware and software components 
  • Demonstrated analytical, motivational, communication, project conceptualization and planning skills;
  • Experience in developing WASH strategy, clear and realistic activity planning; overseeing implementation, tracking the progress, reporting against the agreed indicators and managing project budget 
  • Experience in emergency and early recovery phases, including assessments and the design and delivery of effective water supply and hygiene promotion interventions in humanitarian and development contexts.
  • Experience and understanding of key intuitional donors’ policies, guidelines and strategies e.g. USAid, OFDA, ECHO, DFID and UN
  • Demonstrated experience in WASH proposal development and preparation of internal and donor reports.

Competencies

  • Ability to effectively present information (both written and verbally) and respond appropriately to questions from senior managers in the field and HQ, counterparts, senior government
  • Demonstrated knowledge of linking WASH activities with other humanitarian sectors
  • Ability to understand gender related challenges within the beneficiary groups
  • Demonstrated experience of working closely with support functions (finance and logistics) on activity and procurement planning.

Other

  • Fluency in English and Spanish written and spoken

Equal Opportunities

International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex , sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.