Yemen: Program Manager WASH

Jun 4, 2019 | Solidarites International
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Solidarités International is a non-profit organization working in areas of conflict and natural disasters. Its main aim is to provide quick and effective support for people in life-threatening situations by meeting their vital needs: water, food and shelter.

SI opened its mission in Yemen in 2017, establishing its coordination in Aden. With the support of the Emergency DESK, SI mission was able to quickly acquire operational capacity, which was first deployed in Lahj Governorate, for implementation of WASH and Food Security Programming. Over the course of 2018, SI expanded the geographical scope of its intervention, and established presence in Al Turbah and Al Mokha in Taizz Governorate. With the opening of Al Mokha base late 2018, SI was one of the first humanitarian actors to start operations on the “West Coast”, which are now covering the southern districts of Hodeidah Governorate, close to one of the main frontlines of the conflict. In Al Turbah, SI is now looking at expanding its programming to recovery-type of projects, as well as its outreach to the city of Taizz, which after Hodeidah has been the second main frontline of the war.

For the year 2019/20; the mission has a forecasted budget of about 8M Euros. It operates from Aden, where the coordination is based, and 2 operational field bases located in Al Turbah and Al Mokha. The mission is composed of 15 expatriates and about 100 national staffs and is funded by OFDA, CDC, YHPF, DutchMoFA and ECHO. SI Programming in Yemen focuses on addressing immediate food needs of communities at risk of famine, as well as providing timely response to displacements of population and AWD/Cholera outbreaks. Its portfolio is primarily composed of WASH Emergency projects, along with unconditional cash distribution. Strategic and institutional priorities for the mission in 2019/20 is to strengthen its Emergency Response capacity, and develop operational capacity in Taizz city. In parallel, and where feasible, SI is looking at implementing recovery-type of programming.

ABOUT THE JOB

The Yemeni mission is looking for a WASH program manager, based in Al Turbah with potentially regular field visits. SI is looking for a profile with strong technical engineering skills, and a proactive and solution-oriented mindset. The overall objective will be to lead the implementation of emergency and early-recovery WASH programs with a particular focus on hospitals and primary health centers, and the rehabilitation of centralized (in urban areas) and decentralized (in rural areas) water networks. Specifically, the WASH program manager will be responsible of the design, implementation and M&E of water rehabilitation activities, including but not limited to pressurized systems (solar-based or diesel generators), deep borehole rehabilitation, water network expansion (part of this type of activities will support the rehabilitation of the urban water network in Taizz city, which has been affected by the conflict); sanitation facilities, including latrines, bathing shelters and handwashing points; waste treatment and management systems, including but not limited to medical waste, blackwater, organic and inorganic waste.

Responsibilities and main activities:

The WASH program manager pilots WASH activities of the mission and ensures the quality and relevance of SI’s WASH programs under his/her supervision. He/she ensures the capacity building of the program team under his/her supervision. A special attention will be put on the capacity building of the WASH Project Manager Assistant (PMA) or Deputy WASH PM, the objective being to train him to be able to carry out manager responsibilities and duties. He/she provides support and advice to the logistics for the purchase of materials specific to its program activities. In collaboration with the administrative department, he/she contributes to the development of bill of quantities and technical designs, program budgets, budget follow up and proposal budgets for the program parts. He/she shares with the security focal points any information on the security context and any event which may have consequences on SI activities and team safety. An outstanding ability to manage heavy workload and constant operational stress is required for this highly challenging position. The WASH program manager will manage a team of 1 PMA, 2 Watsan Team Leaders, 1 HP Team Leader, 6 Watsan Officers and 1 HP Officer.

Specific Stake and Challenges:

Design, implementation and M&E of water rehabilitation activities, including but not limited to pressurized systems (solar-based or diesel generators), deep borehole rehabilitation, water network expansion (part of this type of activities will support the rehabilitation of the urban water network in Taizz city, which has been affected by the conflict). This activity will be implemented in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

  • Design, implementation and M&E of sanitation facilities, including latrines, bathing shelters and handwashing points. This activity will be implemented in health facilities.
  • Design, implementation and M&E of waste treatment and management systems, including but not limited to medical waste, blackwater, organic and inorganic waste. This activity will be implemented mainly in health facilities.
  • Capacity building of a particular staff to offer him the possibility to carry out manager responsibilities and duties.
  • Manage project’s implementation in insecure and hardly accessible areas.

Priorities for the 2/3 first months:

  • Rapid assessment in areas of intervention
  • Define a clear planning for the activities to be carried out, including but not limited to procurement and implementation plan.
  • BoQs and technical designs to launch the procurement of major activities.

Education and Experience

  • Mandatory Diploma in Civil Engineering or Hydraulic Engineering
  • Minimum of 2 years’ experience as emergency WASH Program Manager
  • Proven previous experience providing WASH services in health facilities, including waste management systems
  • Proven previous experience on rehabilitation of water networks, including solarization, borehole rehabilitation and network extension.
  • Proven previous experience in unstable environment (conflict / post conflict country)
  • Proven previous experience in capacity building is an asset
  • Experience in working in tense security context with strict security rules.
  • Experience in remote project management would be an asset.
  • Experience in team management.
  • Experience in delivering training and capacity building of staff.

Knowledge and Technical skills

  • Advanced technical knowledge on water and sanitation system and their design (mandatory knowledge in WASH in health facilities, waste treatment and management, and hydraulic engineering, i.e. water networks and pumping systems).
  • Advanced knowledge on soft component linked with hygiene promotion, waste management and Watsan.
  • Advanced knowledge of project cycle management, humanitarian world, donors
  • Knowledge of SI works, processes, ways of work and philosophy is an asset.
  • Advanced knowledge of delivering WASH services in emergency context is mandatory.
  • Good and proven writing and spoken English are required.
  • Arabic and/or French speaking is an asset.

Transferable skills

  • Good analytical and writing/editing skills.
  • Good communication and diplomatic skills.
  • Good organization skills.
  • Capacity to work under pressure in a tense security environment.
  • Good pedagogical skills.
  • Knowledge and experience of the Yemen or Middle-eastern countries is an asset.

Qualities

  • Willingness to build capacities, train and mentor.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Skill transfer ability highly appreciated.
  • Anticipation and self-organization capacities.
  • Great work and stress management capacities.
  • Willingness to work in complex and volatile environments.