Project Coordinator at United Purpose (UP)

United Purpose (UP) is an international development organisation that works to sustainably reduce poverty and improve the lives of some of the world's poorest communities. Established in 1976, the organisation has nine country programmes in Africa, Asia & South America.

In Nigeria, UP has been working for almost two decades with local partners and rural communities in the country’s South East. We implement projects funded by major international donors that aim to address gender inequalities and rights abuses, improve sanitation and access to water, foster accountability, preserve vital ecosystems and develop sustainable livelihoods.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Coordinator - Sustainable Rural drinking Water Initiative in Nigeria (SURWIN) Project

Location: Benue

Job Description

• We are looking for a dynamic, proactive and results-oriented Project Coordinator to lead the implementation of the Sustainable Rural Drinking Water Initiative in Nigeria (SURWIN) Project in Benue State Nigeria.
• The project is aimed at improving the health of rural populations in Benue State by providing access to year-round sources of safe drinking water, and promoting improved hygiene and sanitation practices. It is looking at professionalizing water point maintenance services by strengthening the capacities of local technicians (LAMs) collaborating with WASH institutions to monitor the performances of these service providers and building capacities of participating communities to ensure transparent financial management of water infrastructures.
• The Project Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of the SURWIN Project including timely implementation of project activities, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, team management, monitoring and evaluation, financial planning and management, and communication with stakeholders at the all levels.
• The position requires familiarity with the context in which the project is being implemented, experience in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems, knowledge of the roles of Local Area Mechanics, ability to collaborate with Village Level Operations and Maintenance (VLOM) units of LGAs, state and national as well as knowledge of the national Roadmap for Water Quality Management and Guidelines for Rural Drinking Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance. The role requires a capacity for critical thinking and adaptation based on learnings and findings during the implementation period. The Project Manager will report to the Country Director and is expected to coordinate closely with the Global WASH Advisory team.
• The project is aiming at promoting preventive maintenance and Service Level Agreement to move from one-shot repairs to a more planned approach of sustainable access to water. It will imply collaborating closely with Local Area Mechanics (LAMs) to promote their services but also ensuring the quality of service provided. It will also imply working with WASH units (VLOM units) at the state and LGA level to improve monitoring of performances of LAMs and follow-up of conditions of water points and evolution of functionality. The project will still reinforce the capacities of communities to improve transparency and to have the capacity to pay service providers, we will be moving from a CBM (Community-Based Management) approach only.
• Plan, design and ensure delivery of project activities in line with the Project scope of work and Self Help Africa Operations Guideline.
• Coordinate with project stakeholders at all levels including community partners, local government, private sector actors, state and national government, Vitol, Head Office and other stakeholders.
• Monitor and ensure planned activities are implemented as per the project’s design and budget allocations.
• Provide strategic and technical support including in terms of M&E capacities to field teams, community partners, and other stakeholders to ensure on-time implementation of project activities
• Ensuring quality of delivery: proper evaluation of needs, proper rehabilitation of water points, proper organization of workshops and implementation of what will be agreed during the workshop, promotion of preventative approach and support to stakeholders for professional maintenance services
• Coordinate the development/identification of training modules SBCC (Social Behavior Change Communication), (Information, Education and Communication) and promotional materials.
• Coordinate and provide support to the MEAL team for the tracking and monitoring of progress, data collection, database administration, documentation of the project’s impacts and results, and M&E-related coordination at all levels as required.
• Engage with the Global Advisory team and other WASH Project Managers for cross-learning and support.
• Conduct regular visits to fields, documentation on field activities including project’s impacts and results, and submit reports to the line manager timely.
• Ensure health safety and security measures during facilitation of activities at all levels
• Other duties as assigned by the line manager and HO management.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Planning, Implementation, and Budget Management:

• Prepare and implement activity plans keeping coherent links with the project scope of work and budget.
• Develop participatory assessment tools to inform implementation and training strategies.
• Maintain progress tracking of field-level activities and adopt a contextual strategic approach to meet the set targets along with field teams.
• Review of the project scope of work regularly and update in accordance with learnings, stakeholder input and consultation with the project team
• Ensure that there is budgetary compliance with the grant agreement and both SHA and Donor financial and procurement policies.
• Ensure organisational and donor visibility during the implementation of activities.

Networking and Coordination:

• Conduct in-person outreach with potential partners, project stakeholders, community leaders, and others representing the organisation, the project, its activities and goals.
• Provide strategic and technical support to field teams in building and maintaining cohesive coordination with the local government authorities, States and national government’s line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and community partners.
• Coordinate with international partners including donors, Head Office and other WASH Project Managers.
• Represent the project team for SHA in external forums

Strengthening and Capacity Building of Local Technicians and WASHCOM Groups:

• Support Project stakeholders at all levels, and the WASH Unit in developing a training guide to facilitate WASH activities in the communities.
• Tailor SBCC and IEC materials to local and project contexts in coordination with stakeholders at all levels.
• Provide technical support to field teams in designing and conducting capacity-building activities for Local Technicians and WASHCOMs as per the capacity development plan.

Knowledge Management, Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation:

• Provide support and work with the MEAL Coordinator in tracking of activity progress, and timely collection of quantitative and qualitative information from the fields through coordination with field teams, and other counterparts, when required.
• Review data and learnings from project implementation, analyse findings, and make recommendations for adaptation and refinement of the project scope of work.
• Coordinate the MEAL team’s efforts to document the project’s achievements, results, learnings and impacts.
• Prepare and submit periodic reports along with case studies and learning documents.

Team Management and Safeguarding:

• Supervise and guide the project team (Field Technical Officer and facilitator), implement performance planning and tracking for team members.
• Ensure coordination and teamwork and cohesive team spirit among the field team’s members
• Maintain periodic/schedule coordination and project progress review meetings with the field team members, and relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure safeguarding at all levels of project implementation.
• Establish feedback response mechanisms across communities of implementation.
• Internal: Programmes, MEAL, Finance
• External: Vitol, Government, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

Education and Other Qualifications
Essential:

• Bachelor's Degree in Water and Sanitation, Geology, Engineering, Public Health Rural Development, Social Sciences or a field related to WASH.
• ICT skills, and proficiency in using MS Office.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Effective communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Respect for cultural diversity and gender sensitivity.
• Ability to work under pressure.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of working experience with INGO/NGO in a similar or equivalent position.
• Experience in the field of WASH systems strengthening, Village Level Operations and Maintenance (VLOM).
• Strong expertise in hand pump maintenance and rehabilitation
• Experience in the development of high-standard SBCC and IEC material, training modules, and promotional material.
• Experience in community development especially empowerment and leadership development of community groups.
• Proven experience with projects requiring strong M&E
• Experience in working with culturally diverse teams.

Skills:

• Project management and implementation
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Understanding of WASH interventions
• Communication, networking, facilitation and community mobilisation.
• Leadership, problem-solving and decision-making.
• Organizational development.
• Reporting and documentation.

Desirable:
Language Requirements:

• Written and oral proficiency in English and relevant local language (Tiv, pidgin English etc) is required.

Application Closing Date
20th November, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV (not more than 4 pages) and Cover Letter to: [email protected] using the Job Title and Location as the subject of the mail.

Note

• In the cover letter (not more than 2 pages), please ensure to explain the following:
  • Why you are applying for the position
  • How do your skills and experiences meet the job’s specification
  • When will you be able to take up the position if successful.