Myanmar: WASH Coordinator

Jul 12, 2020 | Solidarités International
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Solidarités International has been in Myanmar since 2008. For the first 3 years, SI worked in the Delta in response to the devastating Cyclone Nargis. In 2011, SI expanded to 3 new regions (Dry Zone, Rakhine, and Chin State) focusing on Livelihoods, Food Security, Shelter, and WASH. In January 2012 SI expanded to Kachin State to respond to an emergency situation created by the displacement of Kachin population affected by the armed conflict.

In 2020, the mission is made of 18 international staff and 317 national staff, who are working from the following locations:

2 regional operational bases(with 2 Field Coordinators):

  • Rakhine State - Sittwe regional base, with two areas of intervention in Pauktaw, and Sittwe Townships. Sittwe regional base is composed of 254 national staffs and 9 expatriates.
  • Kachin State - Bhamo regional base, with a sub-base in Lwegel. Bhamo regional base is composed of 47 national staffs and 3 expatriates.
  • 1 coordination:Each base is directly supported by the Coordination team in Yangon, composed of 16 national staffs and 6 internationals.

In 2020, the mission works on 10 donors’ contracts, for an approximatively financial volume of 6.7 million euros. The main financials partners of the mission are: OFDA, DFID/HARP, ECHO, CIAA, UN agencies.

About the Job

Water supply, sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (HP) are the major emergency WASH expertise needed for this job.

As the head of the WASH department, you will:

  • Be the lead on the WASH strategy for the mission
  • Guarantee the relevancy and the quality of the WASH projects
  • Proactively attend meeting with external bodies
  • Manage your team: provide supervision, guidance, capacity building.

More specifically, you will be responsible for :

Strategic orientation

  • Propose and develop a sector-based strategy in accordance with SI’s policies and priorities for the intervention country.
  • Propose and organize diagnostic missions in the field of WASH.
  • Support the Head of Mission in the monitoring and analysis of the WASH sector and the analysis of donors’ strategies for WASH activities

Relevance and quality of projects

  • Propose and organize evaluation missions
  • Support the program supervisor/s in setting up a technical approach and assessing the financial, human, and logistical elements of programs to be implemented.
  • Approve the technical approaches of and aspects of projects with WASH activities
  • Ensure that all WASH programs are implemented respecting Solidarités International annual operational strategy, technical requirements, and the criteria stipulated by financial backers.
  • Develop the WASH team capacities with techniques and new methodologies

Coordination, technical support and operational monitoring

  • With the coordination team, take part in the monthly review of programs (budgetary, operational, logistical…)
  • Supervise and support the WASH   program managers, monitor and evaluate WASH  activities implemented
  • Anticipate difficulties relating to how WASH activities are carried out and facilitate the resolution of problems linked to WASH programs
  • In coordination with the WASH PM, propose the reorientation of WASH activities according to changing context and indicators

Capitalization

  • Ensure that Solidarités International’s capitalization tools are correctly used and disseminated throughout HQ (technical unit and desks)
  • Form a network of WASH experts, develop technical partnerships with others actors in this sector of the intervention zone and regularly keep the technical unit in HQ informed of this
  • Ensure that handover reports are written by all program managers before the end of their contract and that these are sent to headquarters

Personnel management             

  • Welcome and brief expatriates working on WASH programs
  • Identify training requirements within the WASH team and the resources available in the work area
  • Implement technical training in line with operational needs identified by training requirements
  • Lead workshops, coordination meetings and/or technical exchange programs
  • Evaluate and assess the performance of collaborators under his/her direct supervision

Reporting / communication / representation

  • Support the HoM with fundraising and the negotiation of project proposals relating to his/her activity
  • Take part in the development/writing/review of WASH project proposals together with the WASH PMs and the Reporting Officer
  • In conjunction with the HoM, establish and maintain a communication network and good relations with local/government authorities, financial donors’ representatives, UN agencies and other international agencies

The level of representation is very important on the mission, as it involves: participating in the monthly WaSH cluster in Yangon; leadingthe MHM Working Group in Yangon; participating in the Strategic Advisory group of WASH Cluster; attending regular meetings with donors when required; and attending regular coordination meetings with other WASH actors and partner NGOs.

Please note that this is an expatriate position.

Your Priorities for the First Few Months

  • Contribute to the development of SI’ strategy by proposing a sector-based strategy in the field of Water supply, Sanitation and HP with special attention to integrated approach with FSL programs and market based approach;
  • Identify the training needs of SI WASH teams in both bases and Local Partners and will organize technical training as needed;
  • Guarantee the quality and suitability of proposed technical approaches and ensures the appropriateness of WASH activities and general SI objectives to the needs of the local populations;
  • Contribute to the process of capitalization and the improvement of Solidarités International methods and techniques in the field of WASH.

Your Teams

  • You’ll be part of the program team, which is led by a Deputy Country Director for Programs (DCD-P);
  • You’ll also work on a regular basis with the support services team, which includes a finance department, an HR department and a logistics department.
  • You’ll be under the direct management of the DCD-P, who has been working with SI for a while now.

You will have a functional link with (remote management):

  • 3 WASH PMs and 1 Deputy Field Co in Rakhine
  • 1 WASH PM in Kachin.

You will closely work with the FSL and MEAL Managers and the reporting officer of the mission, based in YGN, under the line management of the DCD-P. You’ll also be in touch regularly with your desk in HQ, whose members are here to provide frameworks, support and guidance.

Main skills needed:

  • Proven experience as Head of WASH department mandatory
  • Degree in a WASH-related sector, Engineering, Environment and/or Geology.
  • Strong knowledge of project cycle management, project design and proposal writing
  • Good technical knowledge on water supply and sanitation: faecal sludge management, water distribution systems.
  • Excellent technical knowledge on HP: behaviour change approach, community-led change
  • Experience in social water management, participatory methods and community engagement in tensed community context is mandatory.
  • Experience in an emergency context appreciated
  • Excellent people skills, excellent representation skills.
  • High level of fluency in English needed

SI Will Offer You:

Salaried position

  • Salary : According to experience, starting from EUR 2640 gross per month (EUR 2400 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly)

Monthly Per Diem: USD 700

SI covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate's country of residence and the mission.

Break policy

  • 1 break of 7 working days every 3 months + USD 850 allowance (for each break).
  • 1 day off per worked month.
  • These days off, as well as the breaks, are not deducted from the paid leaves that are paid every months with your salary: they are offered by SI.

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.

Living Conditions

The Myanmar team is a stable one, as many expatriates and national staff that have been with us for several years in a row. The atmosphere is excellent: there is a real feeling of belonging and solidarity. All are strongly committed to support the Myanmar most vulnerable people.

Security is considered very good in Yangon and in most parts of Myanmar. No restrictions for circulation or curfew are in place in Yangon but travel authorizations (TA) must be obtained for travelling to other sites, and to SI main field bases.

The climate is hot and wet tropical. It can be cold on the bases during December – February period

At the time of writing, Myanmar mission is adapting its way of working and living to minimize the exposure to COVID19, in constant monitoring and adaptation to the context evolution. This include social distancing, teleworking and strict hygienic rules as handwashing etc.

Application Process

Please send us your CV AND Cover letter in English. Yes, we do read those. We do not need a 3 pages-long letter that details everything you’ve done so far though – that’s what your CV is for!

However we would really like to know why you are interested in this mission / SI. A few paragraphs are completely acceptable, and we are ok with bullet points.

Please bear in mind that we receive a high volume of applications, which means it can take us a few weeks to get in touch with you.

If you are shortlisted, please not that SI’s recruitment process usually includes: an HR interview, reference checks, written test, technical interview.

Please note that the vacancy may close before the deadline.

If you haven’t made up your mind yet, check our website.