Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE

This role will ensure program designing, planning, monitoring, evaluation, and technically supporting the CO and the program area team with respect to the WASH clusters and National WASH standards.

Dimensions of the role

• Mobilize resources and develop emergency WASH funding portfolio through conducting rapid needs assessments and writing concept notes and proposals, submitting timely to donors based on the national and regional appeal and resources gaps.
• Undertaking quality and reliable technical feasibility studies and preparing designs and bills of quantities and tender documents for WASH in an emergency project to facilitate timely and quality resource mobilization.
• Supporting the development and implementation of emergency WASH projects at all levels based on Plans’ corporate procedures to enhance resource mobilization efforts to save the lives of disaster-affected children and communities.
• Map donors in order to identify potential grants for emergency response WASH projects and provide technical support to the resource mobilization team and field staff in proposal development.
• Ensure that emergency response WASH projects are implemented in compliance with donor requirements and in line with Plan’s grant management systems.
• Ensure efficient utilization of emergency response grant funds for WASH in close collaboration with all relevant staff at the country and field levels.
• As part of donor compliance and tools for maintaining good relations with donors to run smooth resource mobilization, prepare and submit periodic quality narrative and financial reports in a timely manner according to the requirements.

Accountabilities

Project design, implementation and reporting

• Ensure quality emergency WASH project/program delivery at all levels of the project cycle management in line with the global DRM policy, response sector, and humanitarian standards.
• Develop and oversee comprehensive and assessment-based emergency WASH RRM projects/programs which could be child, young girls and women centred in collaboration with communities, government partners and Plan International Ethiopia staff at all levels.
• Provide technical support to field and country office staff on emergency WASH projects/programs in the selection of effective strategic options that address the live-saving emergency response followed by possible resilience building of disaster-affected children, their families and the community.
• Ensure that all emergency response WASH projects/programs are technically sound and are aligned to the Plan’s, global priorities, country strategic plan, country programs objectives and principles.
• Develop necessary guidelines and technical design to facilitate the implementation of emergency WASH intervention activities under the established local-level procedures, country programs, national and global standards and norms.
• Based on the approved budget and activities of emergency response, prepare annual and quarterly implementation plans and enforce the execution of the aspired plan as per the requirement.
• Approve and/or prepare the WASH construction payment certificates for emergency WASH projects which could be certified and/or approved by other coordinators or specialists recommended by and in line with Plan’s procurement and construction guidelines and procedures.
• Ensure optimum community involvement in the conceptualization, development, management, monitoring and evaluation of emergency WASH response projects.
• Beyond the emergency WASH response project management, in consultation with other team members at all levels, address the resilience building, recovery/rehabilitation, preparedness and mitigation components of the DRM needs and requirements for the disaster-affected and vulnerable communities.

Resource mobilization

• Mobilize resources and develop emergency WASH funding portfolio through conducting rapid needs assessments and writing concept notes and proposals, submitting timely to donors based on the national and regional appeal and resources gaps.
• Undertaking quality and reliable technical feasibility studies and preparing designs and bills of quantities and tender documents for WASH in the emergency project to facilitate timely and quality resource mobilization.
• Supporting the development and implementation of emergency WASH projects at all levels based on Plans’ corporate procedures to enhance resource mobilization efforts to save the lives of disaster-affected children and communities.
• Map donors in order to identify potential grants for emergency response WASH projects and provide technical support to the resource mobilization team and field staff in proposal development.
• Ensure that emergency response WASH projects are implemented in compliance with donor requirements and in line with Plan’s grant management systems.
• Ensure efficient utilization of emergency response grant funds for WASH in close collaboration with all relevant staff at the country and field levels.
• As part of donor compliance and tools for maintaining good relations with donors to run smooth resource mobilization, prepare and submit periodic quality narrative and financial reports in a timely manner according to the requirements.

Monitoring and evaluation

• Ensure the recommended practices of Core Humanitarian Standard for quality and accountability (CHS) and WASH sphere standards being both of them are quality assurance monitoring and evaluation tools for the humanitarian response.
• Following the emergency response WASH project planning, monitor the implementation processes, coordinate mid-term and final evaluations and document best practices that will be helpful for learning and sharing with others.
• Prepare and document quality and timely case studies for the interest of donors and learning purposes in and outside Plan staff.
• In close consultation with program quality and emergency response teams at all levels, establish community feedback mechanisms for quality and accountability and monitor its operationalization.
• Establish a country-specific and updated assessment-based national database and provide support for program area staff which is relevant for emergency WASH and other humanitarian responses.
• Identify, document and disseminate best practices from within and outside Plan to staff and other relevant partners.
• Prepare and submit quality periodic narrative and financial reports for all emergency WASH projects in a timely manner according to Plan International, donor and government requirements.
• Ensure all WASH in emergency response project documentation is filed and organized to serve as a reference for accountability and bases for learning, sharing and dissemination.

Program integration and mainstreaming

• Internalize the child protection policy of Plan and be vigilant to report all child protection concerns and look for responding action in all walks of the emergency response management period.
• Mainstream gender, disaster risk reduction, inclusion and environmental protection in line with a child-centred community development approach in the emergency response project management at all levels to enhance the appropriate participation of stakeholders and help them to play a leading role.
• Nurture collaboration and provide support for the emergency program in order to develop plans that integrate with other emergency response thematic areas.
• Enhance the team spirit and work in collaboration with other development and emergency response staff to ensure resilience building through programmatic and conceptual understanding.

Partner development and strengthening

• Provide technical assistance and build the capacities of local partners in project management specifically for WASH in an emergency.
• Provide high-level guidance to field staff on smooth partnership management with a particular emphasis on government sector partners for enhanced and quality response project implementation.
• Ensure that appropriate partner assessment with due emphasis on capacity gaps analysis in terms of program management competency and organizational integrity is done on time and communicated to relevant staff who endorse and approve.
• Ensure adequate stakeholder consultation and participation mainly with beneficiaries at all stages of the project implementation.
• Manage and monitor partnerships with implementing organizations, including their efficient utilization and timely accountability of funds allocated for emergency WASH response.

Networking and representation

• Represent PIE in WASH clusters and forums at the national level for all emergency-related WASH intervention and networking particularly with UNOCHA, UNICEF, UNHCR and others as required.
• Establish and lead strong and smooth partnerships and networks with like-minded NGOs, government bodies and forums for cross-learning, identification of lessons learned, best practices, resource mobilization and scaling up to enhance program initiatives.
• Network effectively with others to draw information and knowledge for response projects and strategy development.

Staff Development and Management

• Actively participate in country program team meetings in an open, cooperative and proactive manner and contribute towards ensuring smooth departmental collaboration and coordination as far as WASH emergency response is concerned.
• Ensure equal and fair opportunities and representation of both sexes and persons with disabilities in the WASH and related emergency response projects and programs.
• Organize regular performance review meetings to assess emergency response resource mobilization and project implementation progress and communicate any changes in strategy with the key project stakeholders particularly donors and national forums.
• Build the technical capacity of Plan emergency response staff and community facilitators and also ensure possible active benefices involvement in the pre and post-assessment conceptualization, development, management, monitoring and evaluation of WASH emergency response projects and programs.
• Appraise field emergency project coordinator’s performance and ensure capacity-building support is provided with regular competency updates.

Dealing with Problems

• The post holder understands organizational strategies and contributes to their fulfilment by supporting the team to play their roles and implement programs in accordance with organizational goals and requirements.
• Demonstrates problem-solving ability, and strategic thinking and promotes innovative ideas. Working at the country level to give support to PA emergency WASH staff, the position influences country and PA colleagues to adhere to required implementation standards in an integrated manner to support the timely response and recovery interventions.

Communications and Working Relationships

• To maximize impact through the optimized contributions of others, the post holder will be required to initiate, develop and maintain a range of working relationships, including with government counterparts, implementing partners and other humanitarian cluster organizations.
• Effective working relationships within Plan are also essential. The job holder will have frequent communication with CO and PA Program emergency response and other functioning department teams, Program Area Managers as well as National Offices and/or institutional donors

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that all staff signed safeguarding policies;
• Implement Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.

Job Requirements

Educational Qualification and Experience

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Hydraulic/Civil /Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Health or a related field with a minimum of 7 years of work experience in emergency WASH response.
• Master’s degree in the above-mentioned area is preferable.
• Demonstrated experience in the management of key programmatic areas relevant to WASH emergency response under the country program.
• Additional experience and commitment to, and understanding of, participatory approaches to respond to disaster-affected people.
• Previous experience in managing and developing a multi-disciplinary team.

Essential Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge about WASH in Emergency and the sector environment.
  Understanding of Core Humanitarian Standards which are workable by sector.
• Knowledge of human resource and coordination roles from general and organizational perspectives.
• Understand organizational principles, and systems and have the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at the community level for the disaster-affected population.
• Knowledge of child-rights programming particularly Child Protection in Emergency (CPE),
• Knowledge of participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Research systems and processes

Skills Specific to the Post

• Conceptual and strategic thinking skills.
• Interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues
• Have good writing and oral communication skills, including presentation.
• Experiences in resource mobilization through the preparation of emergency response WASH proposals.
• Understands budgetary processes including planning, monitoring and reporting.
• Ability to provide team leadership and communicate effectively.
• Ability to conduct an assessment, analyze information, evaluate options and think and plan strategically.
• Proficient in computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications

Desirable

• Having a minimum of five years of direct field-related experience at an NGO in Emergency Construction
• Good knowledge of written and spoken English, driving ability and good interpersonal skills
• Good knowledge of preparing and reading plans, designing WASH infrastructures
• Good knowledge of quantifying quantities works & taking take-off sheets
• Good knowledge of leading WASH RRM programs at large scale

Physical Environment

• Willingness to work extra hours when needed and also interest to work under stressful situations
• Willingness to work on holidays & weekends when needed
• Willingness to work in a very hot climate
• Able to perform under stress and in remote environments, innovate, build relationships, communicate effectively, coach and mentor, facilitate change, develop teams, initiate action, strategic decision making, planning and organizing and a personal commitment to children’s development and protection.