WASH Head of Department

To guarantee the quality, relevance and scaling up of WASH program of the mission, in conformity with ACF and international standards and national policies.

Skills and resources needed to perform the function:

• Degree in Engineering, Geology, Hydrology, Social Sciences or equivalent
• Humanitarian experience in water and sanitation — Good analytical skills-Good human relations — Training experience — Computer knowledge (Word — Excel) —
• Team management skills — capacity to organize work and supervise partners
• Experience in problems linked with humanitarian and developmental crises
• Good analytical and reporting (in English) capacity
• At ease with communication and representation in technical and non-technical Fora
• Computer Knowledge necessary: Word, Excel, Power Point

Mission 1: Contribute to defining the country strategy as well as the strategy and positioning of the WASH technical department

The WASH Coordinator/HoD is responsible for:

• understanding of the humanitarian situation regarding WASH and the context of intervention by the field teams, and its continuous, systematic and thorough monitoring and analysis of the WASH humanitarian situation
• production and quality of the mission sectoral strategy document in line with ACF international and national frameworks
• contributing to the mission strategy and the ACF sectoral strategy
• accounting for DRM in WASH strategy and projects, including participation in drafting the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP)
• integrating the WASH sector with the other technical sectors (FSL, MHPSS, H&N)
• monitoring the implementation, revision, and accountability of the WASH mission strategy
• contributing to the technical and operational advocacy strategies of the mission, the region, and headquarters (in line with the advocacy objectives defined in ACF reference documentation)
• identifying the themes for sectoral advocacy specific to the mission, in collaboration with the Deputy Country Director

Mission 2: Coordinate the identification of needs and the formulation of project proposals

The WASH Coordinator/HoD is responsible for:

• Coordinating the identification of WASH humanitarian needs
• Formulating and implementing feasibility studies of WASH projects as needed (public health, technical, socio-economic, cultural and environmental aspects)
• Involving the logistics and Finance departments in the design/review of WASH projects
• Contributing to seeking donors for his/her sector, holding technical discussions, and exchanging information with these donors
• Participating in donor visits whenever requested by the Deputy Country Director or the Field Coordinator
• Identification of potential areas within the WASH sector for integrating it with the health and nutrition, food security and livelihoods
• Producing the WASH sections of project proposals in accordance with donor formats and deadlines

Mission 3: Oversee the implementation of, and ensure reporting on, programs/projects

The WASH Coordinator/HoD is responsible for:

• Validation of the key stages and methodologies of the projects being undertaken (timetable, systematic KAP survey (baseline/final), technical studies, calls for tender, specifications, community approach, external evaluations…)
• Providing technical support (direct and at a distance) to the PM, whilst alerting or sharing information with the Field Coordinator
• Ensuring that monitoring and evaluation systems are in place and that their results are integrated to guarantee improvement of the projects
• Timely validation of the WASH parts of reports, internally and to funding agencies, as well as project amendments, with team contributions

Mission4: Guarantee the quality and accountability of projects

The WASH Coordinator/HoD is responsible for:

• Ensuring technical program conformity with international and national rules, guidelines and standards, and the ACF framework documents and technical works
• Building the overall standard of project implementation to maximize their impact (cf DAC criteria of OECD)
• Ensuring, by use of ACF specific monitoring (project quality, field visits, external audit…), that norms, national, and international standards of technical quality (inc. SPHERE and WHO) are respected
• Issuing and following up technical recommendations
• Promoting external and internal evaluations of projects, in line with the ACF evaluation policy
• Promoting transparency and ethical standards in projects by highlighting complaints& feedback mechanisms, particularly in respect of the beneficiary population
• O Promoting safety measures for both staff and the wider population in the implementation of WASH projects (work sites), in collaboration with the PM and the Logistics Department

Mission 5: Ensure the active participation of ACF in national sectoral coordination and technical forums and develop sectoral partnerships

The WASH Coordinator/HoD is responsible for:

• Representing ACF in sectoral coordination at national and sub-national levels (sectoral and/or cluster) and with the technical authorities
• Interaction with regional sectoral coordination mechanisms (inc. RECA)
• The ACF contribution to the various action plans in the WASH sector (Consolidated Appeal Process, Flash Appeal, Inter-Agency Contingency Plan, Hyogo & Sendai Framework for Action, national sectoral strategy etc)
• Internal and external technical communications concerning WASH projects (in liaison with the Deputy Country Director/Field Coordinator)
• Promotion of sectoral partnerships (civil society, NGOs, authorities, private sector. .) and capacity building

Mission 6: Team management

The WASH Coordinator/HoD is responsible for:

• the functional and/or hierarchical management of WASH personnel
• evaluation of the technical performance of WASH teams (PM, Deputy Head of Department, Specialists)
• developing WASH competencies and capacity building throughout the mission and partners.

Mission 7: Promote capitalization, technical development, research and innovation within the WASH Department

The WASH Coordinator/HoD is responsible for:

• Consolidation and transmission to headquarters of capitalization within the WASH sector at the mission level (technical developments, pilot projects, innovative or little documented approaches, operational approaches which may serve as a reference for the ACF network, successes and failures, contextual analyses etc)
• Supervision of capitalization duties undertaken by PMs and the WASH Department
• Sharing experience with actors in the WASH sector at country and regional levels
• Maintaining continuity in respect of the WASH expertise and the history of the mission
• Applying new approaches proposed by Headquarters or at mission level
• Reporting to Headquarters on technical development and research requirements and on the implementation of projects (notably in response to calls for internal and external research projects)
• Supervision of research projects
• Exploring the modalities of scientific and technical partnerships (laboratories, universities, private sector)
• Developing his/her technical skills in line with the evolution of the sector

Mission 8: Compliance with ACF Values & Principles, Gender Equality, Child Protection Sensitivity, and Safeguarding Policies

The WASH Coordinator/HoD is responsible for:

• Demonstrate compliance with ACF Values: helping people in need, without discrimination, ensuring transparency, neutrality, independence, and professionalism.
• Read and ensure full understanding of ACF’s Gender, Child Protection, and other safeguarding policies.
• Implement all work-related activities through a gender inclusion and child protection lens.
• Help build an inclusive office environment where people do not feel disadvantaged or judged according to their gender or limited due to manageable disabilities.