LGA Technical Officer 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: LGA Technical Officer - Improving Equitable Access to Basic Sanitation and Hygiene for People Living in Fragile Contexts

Location: Makurdi, Benue
Contract type: Fixed term contract, full-time 
Period: 18 months
Reports to: LGA Technical Officer – Improving Equitable Access to Basic Sanitation and Hygiene for People Living in Fragile Contexts

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Planning, implementation, and budget management:

• Prepare and implement activity plans at the LGA level keeping coherent link with the project scope of work and budget.
• Support programme structures at the LGA level towards identifying capacity building needs for effective WASH delivery.
• Support the development of participatory assessment tools to inform implementation and training strategies.
• Support Project team in the review of the project scope of work regularly and update in accordance with learnings, stakeholder input and consultation with project team
• Ensure that at the LGA level there is budgetary compliance with grant agreement and alignment to both SHA and USAID financial and procurement policies.

Networking and coordination:

• Coordinate with and between all bodies and institutions involved in activities at the LGA level, particularly LGA WASH department/ Unit and other community ensure effective implementation of activities in achieving project objectives.
• Conduct in-person outreach with partners at the LGA level, project stakeholders, WASHCOMs, and community leaders.
• Provide strategic and technical support to field teams in building and maintaining cohesive coordination with the local government authorities.

Strengthening and capacity building of WASHCOM Groups:

• Support Project stakeholders at the LGA level, and WASH Unit in developing a training guide to facilitate WASH activities in the communities.
• Facilitate capacity building of LGA WASH departments/units and civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and work closely with the national market-based sanitation consultant, the LGA WASH unit, market actors and other community partners and stakeholders in rolling out an adopted sanitation marketing approach in a fragile context.
• Support the development of Strategic Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) materials to local and project contexts in coordination with stakeholders at the LGA level.
• Provide technical support to field teams in designing and conducting capacity-building activities for 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.
• Support the MEAL team's efforts to document the project’s achievements, results, learnings and impacts.
• Provide weekly updates and monthly reports as per the approved format summarising the progress made in implementing activities, lessons learnt, and recommendations for improvement.

Team management and safeguarding:

• Supervise and guide LGA Field team (WASH Unit staff), and implement performance planning and tracking for team members.
• Ensure coordination and teamwork and cohesive team spirit amongst the LGA-level field team’s members.
• Support periodic/schedule coordination and project progress review meetings with the LGA-level field team members, and relevant stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience in and commitment to safeguarding, protection, gender mainstreaming and inclusion of Vulnerable populations including people with disabilities.
• Establish feedback response mechanisms across communities of implementation.

Key Relationships:

• Internal: Programme Coordinator, Programme, MEAL, Operations, Finance & Compliance and Security teams.
• External: LGA WASH Unit and other stakeholders.Knowledge, Experience and Other RequirementsEssential:

Education and other Qualifications

• At least a First Degree in Public Health, Sanitation, Engineering, Rural Development or any other related field.
• Demonstrable work experience in the development sector with experience managing complex programmes in the WASH sector.
• ICT operation, and proficiency in MS Office.

Experience:

• At least 4 years of working experience with INGO/NGO in the same sector or equivalent position.
• Experience in the field of WASH systems strengthening, Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), and Market-Based Sanitation (MBS).
• 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.
• Effective communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Respect for cultural diversity and gender sensitivity.
• Team leadership and mentoring
• Organisational development.
• Reporting and documentation.

Application Closing Date
26th January, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online