Mercy Corps WASH and Advocacy Advisor Job in Wajir, Kenya

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.  

Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places with the tools and support they need to turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve.  

Mercy Corps is looking for committed and dynamic individual to take up the following position. 

WASH and Advocacy  Advisor - Wajir
 

Program / Department Summary: Mercy Corps implements high-quality, analytical development activities in challenging environments. We have been operating in Kenya since 2009 and currently work in all but one province of Kenya with funding from USAID, DFID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other private donors. Mercy Corps Kenya opened in Wajir County in response to the 2011 hunger crisis.

The current portfolio in Wajir takes a market-based approach to building resilience and economic growth. Our programs are aimed at strengthening systems and mechanisms to enable sustainable development while maintaining the ability to meet immediate needs during crisis. 

Mercy Corps works closely with partners including community members, local government officials and private sector stakeholders to ensure community-driven and market-led development interventions. 

General Position Summary:

The WASH and advocacy advisor will organize all activities related to the implementation of  the water program including optimizing the use of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in development of infrastructure for water supply and treatment in Wajir, Organizing advocacy campaigns toward improved rangeland management, water safety and waste management and improving viability of rural water  supply points.

S/he will have to coordinate closely with the County Government, ministry of Water and district water Officers and  other stakeholders to ensure that all projects implemented are demand-driven and communities comply with the programs market development and facilitation approach.

S/he will report to Program Manager.

Essential Job Functions:
 

Department Management Duties:

• Ensures adequate coordination and communication among Mercy Corps Kenya program department to build an integrated program and ensure proper information sharing and team work.
• Monitors WASH operations and report on program development while providing solutions to problems.
• Contributes to future project and program planning, fundraising and development.
• Contribute to the wider reporting requirements of Mercy Corps Kenya both internal and external.
• Ensures efficient and transparent use of the resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Assists the Mercy Corps Kenya staff with strategic planning and technical direction of the WASH program to guarantee program impact and institutional growth.
• Ensures projects are designed within Mercy Corps project briefing guide and delivered on time, while paying attention to beneficiary priorities and sustainable interventions.
• Coordinates site-visits to the projects sites and hosts missions/consultants and ensure timely and efficient monitoring and evaluation of project activities
• In coordination with program director, partner agencies, translates the program concept and spirit into measurable activities / tasks for the program staff striving for innovative programming with practical and sustainable impact on the ground.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Technical duties

• Organizes for Increased access, affordability, and improved sustainability of rural water points through facilitation of procedures and processes for identification of rural water service providers and thus ensuring access to safe water services and basic sanitation facilities.
• Contributes to strategic discussions in the WASH team improving efficiency and effectiveness of current and potential interventions in the water sector
• Train local stakeholders in the water sector on provision of commercially responsible water provision especially water user association to improve their technical and management skills
• Provide regular written and verbal reports to the Program Manager on  program activities
• Compile project reports highlighting project impact against indicators and contributes to field based reports to Mercy Corps and donors

Representation functions

• Provide direction and leadership to Mercy Corps Kenya Water component activities in the Drylands and livestock improvement project (DALIP) program and operation in Wajir.
• Foster strong working relationships with local government authorities and communities ensuring Mercy Corps and partners’ activities closely match community priorities and directly respond to needs of the target communities.
• Represent Mercy Corps and ensure government coordination and participation in programming and public relations and visibility for Mercy Corps donors.

Knowledge and Experience:

• MSc or equivalent in Engineering, Business administration, economics  or any other related field
• Strong of knowledge of Advocacy, community development, water, hygiene and sanitation principles.
• Strong knowledge and experience in Pro-poor market development approaches
• Strong verbal and written communications
• Ability to deal with people of diverse backgrounds, including government officials and contractors.
• Strong analytical skills
• Computer skills
• 5-7 years’ experience in water, sanitation and community development as well as lobbying and advocacy experience, preferably within arid and semi-arid regions
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving; Proven ability to learn quickly and achieve stated results and objectives.
• Demonstrated success in programs related to market development, value chain development programming, and increasing access to rural and urban water and sanitation services, particularly in lean markets.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a social entrepreneur and proven success with building, managing and leading a team of professionals and the ability to function as a team player among peers.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, prioritization skills are necessary.
• Previous experience in writing proposals is an added advantage
• History of working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO and NGO partners in complex environments.
• Prior work experience in Market development programs strongly preferred; an ability to work comfortably, effectively and creatively within the cultural environment of the Somali region of Kenya and areas of poor security required.

Organizational Learning  
 

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. 

Accountability to Beneficiaries
 

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: Field Officers
 

Accountability:

• Reports Directly To: Program Manager
• Works Directly With: Wajir based staff, Partners.

Success Factors:
 

The successful candidate will be a self-starter, multi-task oriented and able to work in a complex environment. 

S/he will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. S/he will be a team-player with positive attitude to problem solving and conflict resolution. 

The successful candidate will be able to apply creative solutions to program quality and team-building. S/he will also have the skill to engage, motivate and encourage staff to bring creative solutions to development issues, identify opportunities for increased impact, and pursue project objectives.

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit on or before June 10,2014  at 4.00 p.m a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references( including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org .

Applicants must clearly indicate on the email subject: The position and location they are applying for, e.g “Wash and Advocacy advisor” Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified. Please do not attach any certificates. 

(ONLY Qualified short-listed candidates will be contacted)