Afghanistan: WASH Advisor

Aug 20, 2020 | Première Urgence
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Première Urgence is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organisation. Afghan Mission is the oldest PUI mission with the first medical intervention launched in 1980 just after the Soviet invasion. Since then, Afghanistan has mostly been in conflict, with national armed groups and international forces that is causing mass casualties and massive movements of population within or out of the country. According to IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), the total number of displaced population for the period 2012-2019 that currently live in host communities reached 4,350,900 individuals. The same time, the country has witnessed a strong wave of returnees from abroad at 3,451,510 people. This latter figure is expected to grow further in 2020 as large numbers of Afghans have fled the COVID-19 outbreak from neighboring countries (mainly from Iran). The high number of returns put additional pressure on host communities, fragile livelihoods and public services that are already strained by conflict and economic underperformance.

The achievements realized in the years following 2001 invasion are now jeopardized by the intensification of conflict and violence and fragile governance. Indeed, due to the increase of the attacks, casualties, displacements and consequently, of the acute needs, the United Nations reclassified Afghanistan conflict from a protracted to an active one. Armed groups are threatening the Government of Afghanistan that struggles to impose its vision of development despite continuous extended military, financial and political support, nationally and internationally.

As Afghanistan continues to face an extremely complex humanitarian challenges, the country remains one of the world’s largest refugee crisis. According to the World Bank data, by end of 2018, the number of Afghans refugees stood at close to 2.7mln, following only the Syrian crisis.

In the current context, with elevated pressure on aid organizations by different actors, fragmentized conflict that happens to a large extent away from urban centers, the capacity to deliver aid to those in need is particularly challenging. Access to remote areas is volatile, with military offensive and/or threats, expulsion by armed groups that cause agencies to suspend their operations at times. Health actors are particularly at risk as attacks on health facilities and staff continue to happen across the country with a visible intensity in areas where PUI operates.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic advanced the crisis even further. Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) expects now 14mln of Afghans, or 37% of the country’s population, in need for assistance. This figure is revised upward from 9.4mln estimated earlier in 2020 and from 6.3mln in 2019.

Our Action in the Field

PUI orients its programs on addressing the fundamental needs of the Afghan populations through provision of assistance based on humanitarian principles and aligned with the concept of do no harm. Indeed, neutrality and impartiality are the key in order to enable humanitarian access to the affected communities, in particular in remote areas and territories contested or under control of the armed groups. PUI interventions are implemented in a coordinated manner and must demonstrate strong support and co-ownership of the stakeholders and beneficiaries. Grass root approach and engagement of communities is possible as the Agency maintains acceptance and relationships locally for years, and involves stakeholders in all stages of its actions from design of activities to community-based feedback mechanism and other accountability instruments.

Over the past 40 years of response in Afghanistan, PUI has delivered health and nutrition assistance with aim to reduce morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations. The Organization contributed to the reconstruction of the health system and expansion of access to quality health services across 11 provinces altogether.

Until now, health remains PUI strong expertise in the country and the entry point to implement the integrated approach that combines primary health care, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, hygiene and sanitation, and increasingly psychosocial support. Since 2013, PUI has started interventions on emergency preparedness and trauma services to conflict-affected populations. As Afghanistan became the world’s deadliest conflict in 2018 with 59% annual increase in terrorism-related deaths, it is indeed crucial to maintain capacity to respond to mass casualties and/or populations displaced suddenly.

In terms of geographical coverage, PUI increasingly orients its operations to remote areas and territories contested or under the control of the armed groups.

Programmatic Objectives for 2019-2021:

In the period of 2019-2021, PUI has remained aligned with the efforts to date, and continues ensuring access to quality health services through both mobile and static facilities. The Agency also increasingly prioritizes the needs related to mental health not only among vulnerable populations at large but also among humanitarian community exposed to traumatic events in their daily work. Other active sectors of interventions involve nutrition, WaSH, mainstreamed protection and cash-based assistance. PUI considers further expansion to complementary areas for instance food security and livelihoods.

Responsibilities

WaSH Advisor will be working under the direct management of Deputy Head of Mission for Programs (DHoMP). S/he will work closely with program implementation teams with objective to ensure the technical quality and standardization of all PUI WaSH activities in Afghanistan. S/he will take active part in the development of new grant applications proposing most relevant or/and innovative solutions and approach with regard to water and sanitation. S/he will represent PUI at different technical meetings and forum, manly WaSH cluster and its sub-groups.

The successful candidate will be based in Jalalabad and travel frequently to Coordination Office in Kabul.

Main Activities

  • Technical support and oversight – S/he will provide the technical support and guidance to the program implementation team, as well as will ensure the quality of all PUI activities related to WaSH taking into account national, international, and internal standards. S/he will also develop PUI internal capacity on WaSH related matters through standalone training, training on the job and mentoring with a focus around WaSH and Health.
  • Strategy – S/he will support the DHoMP in the design and inclusion of WaSH activities in PUI programs and strategy in Afghanistan
  • Representation – S/he will liaise with stakeholders in Afghanistan working in the WaSH sector including but not limited to WaSH Cluster and its technical working groups, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, and ensure the effective coordination as well as visibility of PUI WaSH activities

Required Profile

Education

  • Bachelor’s or Master degree in a field related to civil and/or environmental engineering, hydraulics, hydrogeology or a related degree

Professional Experiences

  • Minimum of 3 years’ experience in and knowledge of engineering and construction practices, particularly in the field of WaSH
  • Minimum of 2 years’ experience in work with NGOs
  • Knowledge of the WaSH sector related standards

Transversal Skills

  • Strong Knowledge of engineering and construction practices
  • Good training and mentoring skills
  • Strong planning and analysis skills
  • Strong computer skills essential, including ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel, database management software, statistical packages, GIS.
  • Strong writing skills

Languages

Excellent command in writing and editing documents in English

Conditions

Remuneration   

  • Employed with a Fixed-Term Contract – 12 months
  • Starting Date : 01 October 2020
  • Monthly gross income: from 1 980 up to 2 310 Euros depending on the experience in International Solidarity + 50 Euros per semester seniority with PUI

Supported

  • Cost covered: Round-trip transportation to and from home / mission, visas, vaccines…
  • INSURANCE including medical coverage and complementary healthcare, 24/24 assistance and repatriation
  • Housing: in collective accommodation.
  • Daily living expenses: (« Per diem »)

Vacation

  • Break policy: every 2 months + break allowance
  • Paid leave policy: 5 weeks of paid leaves per year + return ticket every 6 months