Cameroon: Environmental Health Coordinator

Dec 12, 2018 | International Rescue Committee
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The International Rescue Committee is a global humanitarian aid, relief, and development nongovernmental organization. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers emergency aid and long-term assistance to refugees and those displaced by war, persecution, or natural disaster.

The main objectives of the role include building the capacity of national staff and partners involved in the implementation, design, development, and management of Environmental Health (EH) projects of IRC Cameroon through ongoing contextual analysis. In line with IRC's emphasis on integrated programming, the EH coordinator will work with coordinators from other sectors to actively pursue integrated programming opportunities and ensure timely, effective, and efficient implementation of the program as well as high quality of all components of the sector. As EH Coordinator s/he will report to the Deputy Director of Programs.

The Environmental Health (EH) Coordinator is responsible for all water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion WASH) projects within IRC Cameroon’s Environmental Health program. In addition, in accordance with IRC’s focus on integrated programming, the EH coordinator will work together with coordinators from the other sectors to ensure timely, effective and high quality implementation of EH activities within IRC’s integrated programs. The EH Coordinator will lead IRCs response in the North West and South West of Cameroon, far North of Cameroon working in collaboration with the country program (CP) Sector Coordinators, Finance Controller, Grant Manager, Deputy Director of Operations and the Country Director. The successful candidate will be confident, eloquent and organized, able to represent IRC to partners including beneficiaries and donors as well as handle sensitive, complex issues in a diplomatic way that puts the needs of beneficiaries first.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership and Coordination

  • Developing EH Country strategy in coordination with Deputy Director of Programs
  • Designing, development and management of IRC’s environmental health program
  • Oversight of all contractors and partners engaged in the implementation of EH projects and representation of IRC in Cameroon in all WASH and EH forums
  • Maintain close links and collaboration with other sectors and in particular Health, Protection, Gender, WPE and ERD.
  • Ensure that the emergency WASH activities are implemented in a timely and professional manner (as per SPHERE and IRC Standards) and in line with beneficiary needs.
  • Actively participate in external coordination meetings including NGO coordination and sectoral groups, serving as the IRC focal point and ensuring sharing of information internally with the country program

Program Quality

  • Provide technical and management leadership to the Cameroon EH program in accordance with best practice and IRC policy.
  • Represents IRC in external WASH forums and is the key WASH focal point in the WASH Sector/cluster for IRC Cameroon.
  • Review and evaluation of programs to assist in enhancing program delivery and quality
  • Based on assessments and strategy; draft technical proposals and budgets to enable programs meet the immediate needs of the affected community. Hence he/she will Support EH proposal development and lead program development.
  • Leads, or contributes to, development of country sector strategic direction and plans
  • Contribute to integrated multi-sectorial programming
  • Participate in any inter sectorial assessment process, including analysis and planning.
  • Ensure that WASH activities meet stated objectives within the timeframe;
  • Work closely with the Feedback Mechanism Officer to ensure the respect of client responsiveness SOPs in all EH intervention areas;
  • Provide technical support to the Feedback Mechanism Officer and the M&E Manager for the development and implementation of the CP's M&E and feedback mechanism systems;
  • Collaborate closely with the CP's Protection Mainstreaming Officer to ensure EH programming meet humanitarian standards, mainstream protection, align with IRC’s Outcomes and Evidence Framework, and respond to community and monitoring feedback.
  • Develop technical designs and approaches for all WASH activities
  • Provide regular reports, document results and maintain detailed records

Staff Management and Development

  • Ensure effective, open communication and professional relationships among team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing follow-up and support to enable staff to perform successfully in their positions.
  • Ensure timely completion and quality of timesheet, work plans, leave, and staff training/development activities.
  • Participate in the recruitment of staff according to the authorized EH organization chart.
  • Assume responsibility to speak with staff regularly regarding their performance, expectations, and objectives
  • Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reports

  • Prepare technical proposals and budgets to enable programs required to meet the immediate needs of the affected community.
  • Responsible for EH budget development and management. 
  • Ensure appropriate and timely spending of grants to achieve program goals, grant reporting contributions, use and distribution of supplies and resources
  • Select and implement appropriate monitoring and evaluations systems; analyzing results to ensure and enhance program effectiveness and quality
  • Ensure regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives; provide technical support and guidance;
  • Prepare and submit quality donor reports timely as per the donor requirements.
  • Responsible for ensuring that monitoring and data collection/analysis of all WASH indicators are in line with  the approved monitoring framework, using all the correct monitoring tools and at the frequency prescribed
  • Regularly monitor and review projects and provide correct feedback to EH staff.

Coordination and Representation

  • Maintains effective coordination and networking with internal as well as external stakeholders,
  • Work closely and coordinates with other sectors and program support to ensure that EH projects are supported and implemented timely 

Represent the EH department in internal and external Coordination meetings.

Other

  • Any other tasks assigned by the supervisor
  • Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to the EH Coordinator, and when liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs
  • Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

KEY RELATIONSHIPS: 

Position Reports to: Deputy Director of Programs  

Position directly supervises: EH Managers

Other Internal and/or external contacts

Internal:  Sector Coordinators, Finance, HR and Supply Chain Departments; EH TA.

External: local and international NGOs, UN Agencies, coordinating bodies, sector group leads, local administrative authorities

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Master's degree (or equivalent experience) in engineering, environmental science or public health (MPH) or related discipline; specialization in Water, sanitation and hygiene preferred
  • A minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in the management of water, sanitation and hygiene promotion projects in emergency and development contexts
  • At least 5 years of international humanitarian management experience, ideally in Africa, including field base management and/or supervision of program support services (administration, finance, supply chain and security).
  • Ability to think strategically and solve daily problems at the same time.
  • Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
  • Demonstrated systems and process analysis skills and experience in developing strong monitoring and evaluation systems.
  • Strong management skills, project planning, budget management and reporting, and monitoring and evaluation
  • Excellent understanding of environmental health issues in emergencies and knowledge of emergencies standard (Sphere)
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment and effective in representation and liaison. Able to plan, prioritize and manage multiple tasks under pressure and deliver tangible benefits to a team
  • Knowledge and / or experience in conflict management, protection, or other related discipline
  • Excellent professional approach, enhanced skills and proven ability to build staff capacity
  • Proficiency in English and French required
  • Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel; AutoCAD and preferred GIS