JOB PURPOSE:
To ensure timely, effective, and quality implementation of WASH/DRR interventions in response to the Kunar earthquake, in line with AHF donor requirements and WASH Cluster technical standards. The Senior Project Officer (WASH/DRR) will lead and manage activities including water supply rehabilitation, sanitation facilities construction, and hygiene promotion, ensuring that earthquake-affected households have access to safe, inclusive, and sustainable WASH/Shelter services. The position supervises WASH and Shelters Engineers and reports administratively to the Provincial Manager and technically to the Senior Program Officer (Shelter and Infrastructure). This role requires strong technical leadership, coordination, and accountability at the provincial and regional levels, in close collaboration with the WASH Cluster, local authorities, and affected communities.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Provide high-level technical leadership for integrated Shelter–WASH planning, ensuring compliance with national and cluster standards.
- Lead the technical design review for all infrastructure, including shelters, water systems, and sanitation facilities.
- Ensure compliance with Afghan Building Code, ES/NFI guidelines, MRRD manuals, Sphere standards, and AHF requirements.
- Lead development of BoQs, engineering drawings, assessments, and quality benchmarks.
- Serve as the technical focal point for quality assurance, risk mitigation, and environmental safeguards.
- Conduct and supervise WASH needs assessments, including water source evaluations, sanitation coverage, hygiene behavior surveys, and beneficiary selection in coordination with clusters and local authorities.
- Provide technical oversight for new construction/rehabilitation of water supply systems, construction of sanitation facilities, and design/rollout of hygiene promotion campaigns.
- Supervise and guide two WASH Engineers, hygiene promoters, and community mobilizers, ensuring quality technical implementation and capacity building of staff.
- Ensure WASH/Shelter interventions mainstream protection, gender, disability inclusion, and environmental considerations as per AHF and Cluster standards.
- Coordinate with logistics, procurement, and finance teams to ensure timely delivery of WASH supplies, construction materials, and construction support.
- Monitor implementation closely through regular site visits, ensuring quality control, adherence to technical specifications, and accountability to beneficiaries.
- Actively represent IRW in WASH and ESNFI regional Cluster and relevant coordination forums at provincial and regional levels, sharing updates to avoid duplication and ensure harmonization.
- Prepare and submit timely technical and narrative reports to the Provincial Manager (administrative line) and Senior Program Officer (Shelter and Infrastructure) for technical oversight, ensuring compliance with AHF requirements.
- Ensure reporting is in line with AHF standards, including submission of 5Ws to the WASH Cluster, situation reports, progress updates, and donor-specific reporting formats.
- Provide inputs for donor reporting on indicators, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned; ensure timely documentation of success stories and case studies.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with communities, CDCs, local authorities, and humanitarian partners to ensure acceptance, ownership, and sustainability.
- Support accountability mechanisms, including feedback and complaint response systems, to ensure transparency and beneficiary satisfaction.
- Integrate MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) systems into WASH interventions, ensuring regular data collection, beneficiary feedback, and documentation of learning.
- Collaborate with the MEAL team to ensure tracking of indicators, water quality monitoring, hygiene promotion monitoring, and evaluation surveys aligned with AHF and Cluster requirements.
- Prepare RH selection criteria and ensure to meet and adhere to donor and WASH cluster requirements.
- Perform other tasks assigned by line management (technical and administrative) relevant to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of the WASH response.
