WASH Project Coordinator – Marsabit

Organisation Caritas Switzerland and Caritas Luxembourg are non-governmental aid agencies and members of Caritas Internationalis. Caritas works worldwide and adheres to international humanitarian principles (NGO code of conduct). Caritas encourages people to take charge of their own fate and does this by promoting local initiatives that sustainably improve the living conditions of the socially disadvantaged, advocating the conservation of natural resources, supporting civil conflict resolution and peace building, cooperating with local partners and strengthening their own commitments.

Caritas Switzerland and Caritas Luxembourg act in the frame of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a consortium in the Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa with a focus on education, strengthening of civil society, food security and water, hygiene and sanitation. We operate a joint Liaison Office in Nairobi, have Country Offices in Somaliland (Hargeisa) and South Sudan (Torit) and a Representative in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa).

During the 2011 Horn of Africa Crisis, Caritas Switzerland/Luxembourg (Caritas) responded in Kenya with emergency projects Marsabit, Wajir, Turkana, Dadaab, Kitui and Ngong. The interventions focussed on WASH and Food Security to mitigate the impacts of drought on pastoralist communities. As follow-up on its intervention in Marsabit, Caritas, in partnership with Caritas Marsabit, has started implementing a WASH Recovery Project in Marsabit Central and Hurri Hills. Caritas is therefore seeking to recruit a competent WASH Project Coordinator.

Position: WASH Project Coordinator
Reporting to: Humanitarian Delegate
Duration: 18 months
Location; Marsabit town, Marsabit County, Kenya

Key tasks & responsibilities
The position will serve as accompaniment to Caritas Switzerland’s partner Caritas Marsabit.
The WASH Project Coordinator will:
 Manage the WASH-focused Drought Recovery Project within the organisational frame of Caritas Marsabit including the day-to-day administration, staff supervision, routine correspondence, preparation and control of the project’s budget;
 Coordinate the implementation of the Drought Recovery Project by defining project activities and developing operational activity plans to attain the programme’s objectives;
 Ensure appropriate and timely reporting;
 Assist Caritas Marsabit in all technical aspects of the project. These include but are not limited to the preparation of design drawings, bills of quantities and tender documents;
 Assist Caritas Marsabit in assessing and approving all plans and designs; and
 Together with Caritas Marsabit, supervise the implementation of all water and sanitation activities at all stages of the project to ensure quality control (materials and workmanship) and the effective use of resources.

Essential requirements & qualifications
National applicants are expected to have the following qualifications, experiences and abilities:
 University degree in Civil Engineering or Water Engineering with at least five years professional work experience with a non-governmental organisation, including fieldwork experience preferably in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands or a
 Diploma in Civil Engineering or Water Engineering with a minimum of seven years proven experience in working in either relief or development with a non-governmental organisation.
 At least three experience in a managerial position;
 Experience in conducting needs assessments and surveys;
 Good understanding of SPHERE and other international standards;
 Knowledge of soft components of WASH including KAP surveys and hygiene education methodologies;
 Strong analytical capacity – working and thinking on an academic level;
 Previous experience working in project partnerships is an advantage;
 Flexibility, good interpersonal and networking skills;
 Ability to work in multi-cultural environment and with sensitivity to cultural values;
 Willingness to work extensively in remote areas; and
 Motivated and committed as well as being able to efficiently communicate and fit into a working team. The knowledge of Kiswahili is mandatory, local language skills are highly desirable. Qualified women are especially encouraged to apply.

Contract start: February 2013

Application 

If you feel you fit the required profile, please let us know how your qualifications, experience and career ambitions match the requirements of this position. Send your application latest by 28 January 2013 via email to jobs.nairobi@caritas.ch indicating ‘WASH Project Coordinator – Marsabit’ in the subject line.
Please provide a Curriculum Vitae (CV) that contains details of your qualifications, experience, present position, current remuneration, earliest date of availability, names and telephone con-tacts of three referees.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted