Uganda: WASH Officer

Oct 24, 2016 | UN High Commissioner for Refugees
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UNHCR works to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having fled violence, persecution, war or disaster at home. Since 1950, they have faced multiple crises on multiple continents, and provided vital assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people, many of whom have nobody left to turn to. UNHCR helps to save lives and build better futures for millions forced from home.

The WASH Officer will be based in Adjumani. He/she will also work very closely with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation to ensure that local laws are applicable to the designed projects for the camps. The WASH Officer will support the Sector Lead in the development of WASH strategies for the camps including the upcoming challenges of the management of the infrastructure systems on completion.  

In order to ensure wider reach out to the refugees and ensure their close involvement in the delivery and management of the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) services, the incumbent will need to establish an appropriate consultative and monitoring framework which would draw the experience and expertise of a wide range of actors both internally and externally.

The WASH officer will be responsible for provision of professional technical support and guidance on activities within the areas of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH). Furthermore, the incumbent is required to play a lead role in formulating appropriate project proposals and assistance activities that should be incorporated into the relevant operation programmes of UNHCR. The WASH Officer will receive the technical backup and support from the Regional WASH Officer and/or the Senior WASH Officer in HQ.

Accountability

  • WASH services provided to refugee and other persons of concern to UNHCR are based on UNHCR and /or internationally recognised and most up-to-date standards and policies.
  • Sound technical support and advice are provided to the operations in the field of WASH.
  • Viable monitoring and evaluation system is in place for data collection, analysis and interpretation to serve as evidence base for planning and interventions.

Responsibility

  • Provide technical assistance to UNHCR offices and programmes in the development, integration and mainstreaming of appropriate and cost effective WASH programmes.
  • Undertake needs and resource assessments with Governments and partners in order to prioritize needs and activities in provision of services to refugees and others persons of concern to UNHCR.
  • Support operations in Uganda to define the level and scope of UNHCR involvement, expressed in terms of overall and operational objectives during emergency situations as well as in care and maintenance and repatriation/reintegration programmes.
  • Support operation in Uganda to participate in review and analysis of relevant project proposal and budgetary submissions presented by UNHCR partners.
  • Ensure that project plan and proposal submitted to UNHCR for funding adhere to internationally accepted standard.
  • Maintain and update WASH contingency plan for potential epidemics, refugee and returnee movement.
  • Work in a multi-sectorial and coordinated approach in co-operation with Governments, UN agencies, non-Governmental organizations (NGO's) and other humanitarian partners.
  • Work closely with UNHCR programme, field and protection staff to identify priority WASH and key data requirements for programme planning and monitoring to ensure that minimum UNHCR and international standards are being met.
  • Use community-based approaches, including clear involvement of refugees in the hygiene promotion and others sector that are related to WASH.
  • Ensure regular update and share information within UNHCR as well as with relevant Government, UN and NGO counterparts and donor communities.
  • Monitor and evaluate country-level WASH programmes against standard UNHCR and international indicator to ensure that programmes are evidence-based and implemented in a comprehensive and cost effective manner.
  • Make provisions for the installation of WASH services in any new camp or camp extension identified for the settlement of refugees.
  • Facilitate capacity strengthening activities of UNHCR and its implementing/operational partners to address key areas of WASH importance to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.
  • Build the capacity and competence of UNHCR's Public Health and WASH staff.
  • Ensure WASH is adequately addressed in in-house capacity building activities of the agency such as emergency and operations training.
  • Prepare, in close coordination with partners and relevant government entities, Operation and Maintenance plans of the infrastructure systems.
  • Prepare, in close coordination with partners and relevant government entities, solid waste management plans.
  • Provide other duties as required.

Authority

  • Provide guidance and recommendations on WASH programmes in Uganda.
  • Represent UNHCR in WASH meetings.
  • Provide technical monitoring of activities.

Qualifications and Experience

  • University degree in Water and Sanitation Engineering/Water Resources Development and/or postgraduate degree in one of the Civil Engineering disciplines (Water Supply and/or Hydrology) or Sanitation/Hygiene Engineering.
  • Minimum 8 years (6 years with advanced university degree) of relevant work experience.
  • At least 3 years of this experience should be in a capacity directly relevant to the current position in an international humanitarian organisation dealing with large scale emergencies or displaced/refugee situations.
  • Ability to coordinate a range of diverse actors and activities to achieve a common objective in the area of WASH.
  • Demonstrated experience in organising and conducting training activities and information campaigns in the areas of environmental sanitation, natural resources management, water quality, bore-hole drilling, vector control and appropriate technologies are important elements for this post.
  • Proven technical expertise in the area of WASH assessment including surveys, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and coordination is required.
  • Exposure to UNHCR mandate, its priorities and principles.
  • Knowledge of and experience with local partner agencies with a capacity to provide formal and informal training.
  • Proficiency in basic computer software such as MS Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, water modelling software, GIS.
  • Excellent knowledge of English.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience and professional training in one of irrigation, site planning, or shelter with a good understanding of the main issues in the other two sectors. To this end, an advanced degree and additional training in one or more of the above sectors would be useful.
  • Applied knowledge in UNHCR programme management, project formulation, programme cycles and reporting standards.
  • Previous exposure to cluster approach, preferably both at the global policy level and at field level.
  • Expertise in planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting on humanitarian operations.
  • Knowledge of additional UN languages such as Arabic.

Operational Context 

Experience and professional training in one of irrigation, site planning, or shelter with a good understanding of the main issues in the other two sectors. To this end, an advanced degree and additional training in one or more of the above sectors would be useful.

The Government of Uganda (GoU) is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. It is also party to the 1969 OAU Convention. The GoU has domesticated its international obligation in the Refugee Act of 2006 and the Refugee Regulations of 2010. Their generous policy for refugees allows for freedom of movement, access to services at the same level as the nationals and, for those who do not have capacity to manage on their own, an allocation of land in refugee settlements which are similar to rural Uganda villages, where refugees can conduct farming activities. The corner stone of the refugee policy in Uganda and the peaceful co-existence with the host communities is the shared use of available resources. The Uganda operation does not have camps, but rather settlements. The operational implication of this is that programme management becomes more close to a rural developmental programme rather than a typical refugee camp management. As such longer term vision and creative linkages with developmental actors are required to ensure that the settlements are developed with a multiyear vision and linked more strongly with the district structures.

Uganda's refugee population stands at one of the highest points in its history with over 665,000 refugees in the country as of beginning of October 2016. About 60% of the refugee population is from South Sudan.  The renewed clashes broke out on 11th July 2016 in the South Sudanese capital, Juba resulting in a new influx of more than 100,000. All the refugees are settled in West Nile under the leadership  of UNHCR Sub-office Adjumani. The refugees reside in four refugee  settlements in  Adjumani, Bibibidi, Rhino and Lobule including transit /collection centres in Elegu, Parolinya, Kerua and Kuluba.  UNHCR takes care of its mandate and provides assistance especially for basic services through its implementing partners.

  • Very basic infrastructure as well and recreational facilities;
  • Limited health facilities available locally;
  • Malaria and other epidemics disease outbreaks are common in the operational area;
  • Although the operation is a family duty station, education is substandard and most of the schools are supported by humanitarian organizations as part of the support to refugees and host community;
  • Hot and dry desert environment with extreme daily temperature fluctuations;
  • Due to limited facilities in both Pakelle and Adjumani, office has established well organized guest house facilities where all international professional staff reside
  • Located in the remote West Nile district of Adjumani about 6-8 hours¿ drive away from Kampala , UNHCR has presence in Pakelle considered to be under a low security level (Security level II). Pakelle is a very peaceful town board with very low crime level reported. UNHCR's presence, a few other UN agencies and  many implementing partners gave it prominence as a humanitarian hub of INGOs / NGOs/ CBOs to provide emergency humanitarian refugee protection and assistance
  • Although English is the only essential language, knowledge of another UN language, like Arabic would be an asset since most of the refugees speak it