EH / WASH Officer infrastructure - HeRoN (Roving) at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: EH / WASH Officer infrastructure - HeRoN (Roving)

Requisition ID: req37509
Location: Yola, Adamawa
Sector: Health
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No

Job Overview/Summary
HeRON Project Overview in Adamawa:

• Since 2020, the Health Resilience of the Northeast (HeRON) project has been working alongside states and local government authorities in Borno and Yobe, strengthening their capacity to effectively deliver quality integrated primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, and newborn and child health and nutrition services.
• In late 2022, HeRON conducted a health needs assessment in Adamawa state to ascertain the readiness of the health system to provide quality primary healthcare services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, and vulnerable host community members.
• In 2023, HeRON will expand to Adamawa state to support the State Government in implementing a resettlement plan for IDPs across selected LGAs from dependency on emergency humanitarian aid to independent and self-sufficient residents of Adamawa state, and support the IDPs, IDP returnees, and vulnerable host community members have improved access to quality primary health care and Nutrition services.

Scope of Work

• The EH/WASH Officer will report to the HeRoN manager Yola. S/he will be responsible for day-to-day management of EH and IPC activities in HeRON supported LGAs and health facilities, and on the job coaching and mentoring to MOH staffs involved in direct implementation of HeRON EH/WASH activities.
• S/he is overall responsible for ensuring that approved technical approaches to HeRON EH/WASH activity implementation are adhered to, maintaining program quality and donor compliances and policies. s/he will work collaboratively with USAID  EH/WASH Funded partners.

Major Responsibilities
Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy:

• He/ She will support the IMPACT-supported PHCCs will include the development of spending plans of the allocated investment funds as well as the engagement of the WDCs for participation and accountability.
• He/ She will collaborate with stakeholders to replicate similar support in the 24 non-IMPACT health facilities and make strategic investments in facility infrastructure improvements
• He/ She will provide technical assistance to the 14 LGAs to apply an integrated approach to supportive supervision covering areas of the PHC service package, including IPC, and monitoring progress on improvement plans
• He/ She will ensure water quality monitoring and testing at PHCCs in collaborate with LGHAs to monitor facilities with a functional and reticulated water supply while leveraging support from the USAID EH/WASH activity in Adamawa to undertake water testing, control, and treatment.
• He/ She will support Adamawa state MOH to train LGA and facility staff at the PHCC level on disability inclusiveness
• He/ She will advocate through impact -fund at selected PHCCs to carry out minor rehabilitation to provide rails and ramps for physical accessibility improvement at the facility and will continue to advocate for gender equity and social inclusion through community participation platform such as the WDCs and PHCC management committees
• He/ She advocacy with MOH and SPHCDA to Construct client waiting areas at selected PHCCs
• He/ She quarterly Advocacy Meeting on water availability and quality control standards to Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, and LGHA to improve water quality.
• He/ She advocacy and jointly work with SPHCDA to inspect Health Facilities for water quality Standards (Number of Facilities with good Quality of care processes)
• He/ She advocacy and technical support to MOH to develop spending plans for the 24 impact funded facilities to improve infrastructure development (installation of alternative power supply at the health facilities e.g., Solar panels and generators for day-to-day running of the HFs, building incinerators.
• He/ She will work in close coordination with the consortium partners to ensure that Health System strengthening initiatives related to EH/WASH are implemented according to the approved project work plans and in accordance with donor requirements
• He/ She will support the local government in collaboration with HeRoN partners to develop action plans to address identified capacity gaps at the local level to strengthen EH/WASH management at LGA and Facility level.
• He/ She advocate MoH to carry out minor rehabilitations to provide rails, and ramps for physical accessibility improvement at PHCCs
• He/ She capacity building of health facility staffs on disability inclusion (Disability-inclusion training)
• He/ She will collaborate with SPHCDA to conduct advocacy to the ministry of rural and water supply to improve water quality standards and availability at the health facilities
• He/ She will collaborate with SPHCDA to perform minor rehabilitation and restoration of WASH services at selected PHCCs through reticulating faulty water channels for improved infection prevention and control standards utilizing funding sources such as the PHC investment fund and impact funds.
• He/ She will advocate to SPHCDA will be undertaken to construct clients’ waiting areas for the promotion of clients’ dignity and safety
• He/ She will provide direction and monitor direct report in their implementation of the work plan and quality of activities, share relevant information and direction to improve quality and achieve timelines.
• Support in all logistical preparations for project activities, working in close collaboration with IRC Supply Chain and Finance teams.
• Support by contributing to the development of activity plans, reports, and other relevant documents.
• Use problem-solving and consensus-building skills to promote coordination among diverse interests and institutions
• Perform other tasks as requested by the supervisors

Coordination & Representation:

• Participate in technical Coordination meetings at the LGA and the State levels, as required.
• Facilitate the planning processes at LGA levels, to ensure an inclusive approach that engages stakeholders and communities to reflect WASH needs in the local context
• Represent the sector in WASH TWG meetings at state level
• Jointly planning with stakeholders and organizing community-level and facility-level meetings
• Participate at program coordination meetings with USAID EH/WASH funded partners

Key Working Relationships
Position Reports to:

• Line Manager: HeRON Manager Yola
• Indirect/Technical Reporting: HeRON Senior project manager, supply chain, finance and other consortium management team
• Position directly Supervises: EH/WASH Assistant
• Key Internal Contacts: EH Coordinator, Consortium management team and Supply Chain,

Key External Contacts:

• State primary health care development agency, local government health authority, WASH technical working group, USAID EH/WASH funded partners

Qualifications
Educational Qualifications:

• Graduate Degree in Environmental and Health related Sciences
• Post-graduate training added advantage

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience, of which 1 year in health system strengthening, or in humanitarian/development settings
• Experience in local governance, social accountability, public administration, institutional development, public-sector capacity building or related technical areas highly desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of WASH program implementation particularly in the Northeast
• Previous work experience with INGO, especially with project planning and reports writing, is an added advantage
• Have experience in general management (including financial and budget management, logistics management, etc.)
• Familiarity/ knowledge of operational contexts (Adamawa States)

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Background in WASH program implementation, and Health System strengthening
• Demonstrated experience managing advocacy initiatives in developing or conflict prone contexts.
• Demonstrated experience with capacity building of local organizations and government leaders to support their design and implementation of community driven advocacy campaigns

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Flexible, diplomatic and have ability and willingness live and work under pressure of workloads
• A mature person of high professional discipline and moral integrity, proactive and able to work under stress as the situation may dictate.
• Languages:  English. Knowledge of local languages is an added advantage

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to Travel: 30 % of time

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.