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Job Title:   WASH Technical Officer

Organisation: International Lifeline Fund (ILF)

Duty Station:  Otuke, Uganda

Reports to: WASH Engineer and Senior WASH Officer

About US:

International Lifeline Fund is a non-profit international humanitarian organization with its head office in Washington D.C and a local presence in Sub-Saharan Africa, as we continue to expand to other countries in Africa, including Haiti in the Caribbean Islands where we have impacted thousands of lives through our work. Our team works with local partners and communities to improve the quality of life of the underprivileged by exponentially expanding access to clean water and energy solutions. We strive for a world in which no one suffers from a lack of access to clean water and energy. Lifeline works in two sectors: Energy and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in both the development and humanitarian contexts.

Job Summary: The WASH Technical Officer is responsible for maintaining the technical integrity and operational efficiency of WASH infrastructure and implementing social behavior change activities in rural communities within Otuke District. This involves technical supervision of WASH infrastructure, training communities, empowering and supervising community leaders, and monitoring activity progress. The ideal candidate must be proactive and eager to learn, an organized and effective communicator, and embrace a participatory approach to promoting behavior change that respects rural communities’ dignity and challenges in adopting new healthy behaviors.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

General Program Development and Implementation Activities

• Technical Supervision of any Lifeline WASH hardware activities, such as drilling, rehabilitation of handpump-equipped (U2) deep boreholes, drainable VIP latrines, and other rural water infrastructure as needed.
• Participating in program design and planning and carrying out baseline assessments of WASH conditions in selected communities and new program locations.
• Undertaking needs assessment and data collection in selected communities/institutions (e.g., population, latrine coverage, number of water sources).
• Facilitating community mobilization (e.g., working with local leaders to ensure community participation and engaging local beneficiaries in the mobilization/training process).
• Participating in and documenting training activities for new communities utilizing participatory methods.
• Assisting in the design of training methodologies/approaches such as CLTS+, CHAST, WSC, VSLA methods, etc.
• Undertaking research into new methodologies/approaches relating to the WASH sector.
• Undertaking field monitoring of the quality of all works implemented within the project scope and participating in implementing the project impact survey and evaluation.
• Collecting and keeping records and documenting the deliverables in liaison with the M&E department.
• Advocating for and supporting the mainstreaming of EverFlow, Lifeline’s rural waterpoint Operation and Maintenance service to the selected communities for clean water access.
• Undertaking any other tasks that may be delegated by the WASH Engineer/Senior WASH Officer/Senior WASH Programme Manager that is in keeping with the scope of the role.

Specific Program Activities

• Identifying activists/stakeholders/contractors within communities to become members of the Water and Sanitation Committees (WSCs).
• Taking part in the training and monitoring activities. Providing support to health assistants, Community Development Officers, VHTs, etc., when required.
• Proposing to the WASH Engineer and Senior WASH Officer the list of materials needed every week, updating them about the assets and equipment used in WASH activities, and ensuring that the materials are kept in good working condition.
• Preparing weekly reports to provide relevant information to the WASH Engineer and Senior WASH Officer, including outcomes of the past week and proposed ideas for the coming week.
• Presenting detailed reports on field progress, trainings & other activities, assessments, and evaluations to the WASH Engineer and Senior WASH Officer.
• Referring to their supervisor(s) for any other relevant issue affecting their work.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant must hold a relevant Higher Diploma in Engineering (Water, Civil, Environmental, etc.) or Bachelor’s Degree in Social/Development, Public Health, SWASA, Development Studies, Social Science, Environmental Health Science, or any discipline related to Water, Hygiene, and Sanitation from a recognized Institution/University.
• Conversant with Microsoft Office and smartphone-based apps such as mWater.
• Ability and flexibility to handle periods with high levels of pressure.
• At least two years of humanitarian work, preferably with an international NGO or any other national organism related to health, community work, and sanitation.
• Sound understanding of community development approaches to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene promotion project work such as CLTS, CLTS+, PHAST, CHAST, VSLA, etc.
• Experience in software such as EPANET, Prokons, ArcMap, Google Earth, and GIS, a bonus.

Professional Attributes

• Sound report writing skills.
• Strong verbal communication skills in English, Luo, and Kiswahili as an added advantage.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.

Personal Attributes

• Flexibility, adaptability, and willingness to take on several tasks and learn to apply new WASH Technologies/ methodologies/approaches in community settings.
• Ability to quickly understand local cultural and customary norms.
• Comfortable and capable of adapting to new work priorities and changing situations to advance Lifeline’s goals and objectives.
• Humble: appreciates the dignity and constraints of rural communities in changing behaviors and communicates humility and respect in listening and speaking to community members, including in training.
• A commitment to Lifeline’s values.
• Having prior work experience in Lifeline’s areas of operation is an added advantage.

How to Apply:

Please send a copy of your cover letter, resume, and academic credentials to Lifeline’s office by e-mail using the information below. The deadline for submission is March 15, 2024 by the end of the business day. Only successful candidates will be contacted. E-mail to: hr@lifelinefund.org with the subject line “WASH Technical Officer.”

NB: Note that this position is only open to nationals. Any kind of lobbying will lead to automatic disqualification. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Lifeline provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Lifeline complies with all applicable local laws governing non-discrimination in employment.

WORKING AT LIFELINE: Lifeline offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal and global network of experts. For more information on our work, please visit our website www.lifelinefund.org

Deadline: 15th March 2024

NB: Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Any kind of lobbying will lead to automatic disqualification.

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