Save the Children WASH Technical Advisor Job in Nairobi Kenya

Vacancy: Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) Technical Advisor
Position Code: SCI2WASH

Team / Programme: Programme Development and Quality

Location:  Nairobi with regular travel to the field
 Post Type: National ( 1yr with possibility of renewal)
 Child Safeguarding: Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

Role Purpose: Under the general direction and guidance of the Director of Programme Development and Quality ensure all WASH programming is well designed, of excellent technical quality and contributes to Save the Children’s strategic objectives, national/global learning and advocacy. 

The WASH Technical Advisor (TA) is expected to provide technical advice and support to project staff to ensure programming objectives are successfully achieved, with frequent visits to the field to support – and lead as necessary - high quality programme implementation.  
The WASH TA must be willing to embrace a child rights programming approach and represent Save the Children in key national working groups. He/she will support the overall country strategic intent to focus on risk reduction, adaptation and resiliency in light of a changing context in East Africa.

Scope of Role:

Reports to: Director Programme Development and Quality. Dotted line to relevant Area Programme Manager when in their area.

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. 

In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya.In February 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Nairobi, Turkana and Wajir. We work through partners in many other parts of the country. We have a staff complement of around 300 staff and an operating annual budget of approximately US$25 million in 2014.

Staff Directly Reporting to this post: None

Key Areas of Accountability:

Technical support to field-based WASH programme staff

Provide first-line technical support to the School Health Nutrition Project (SHNP) being implemented in Nairobi and KiambuCoordinate the design and/or provide technical supervision on WASH and construction activities at field offices (Dadaad, Mandera, Nairobi, Turkana and Wajir) and ensure quality technical implementation in accordance with the proposals.Provide guidance in construction contract administration, review or drafting of Bills of Quantities and design drawings.Support the planning, implementation and coordination of technical WASH assessments and ensure that findings are applied to activity planning and overall programming.Provide technical advisory to tendering/procurement committees on WASH supplies and inspecting and ensuring quality of WASH supplies.Provide support supervision to the WASH technicians and the hygiene promotion team at the field offices to implement high quality WASH interventions and adequately integrate with other programme interventions. In conjunction with finance department, ensure proper forecasting and follow up of all WASH related budgets at the field office.In conjunction with the logistics department, ensure timely delivery of equipment and materials necessary for implementation of WASH interventions. Provide WASH technical support to cover absences of key field-based WASH programme staff as needed.Monitor and provide timely, relevant, accurate input on WASH technical aspects of Save the Children’s programme work in Kenya.  The position will be required to travel approximately 50% of the time to Save the Children field locations.Liaise with the Programme Operations department to ensure all WASH and other programme staff receive the necessary and appropriate technical support. In consultation with staff and project managers agree on the range of advice, support, training and/or other assistance required to facilitate high quality programming and ensure that this is delivered in a timely fashion. This will involve regular visits to Save the Children operational areas, including North eastern Kenya, Turkana and other sites where Save the Children and/or partners are operational. Assist in the development of tools for project staff and partners to improve the quality of WASH work.  Where necessary provide technical training for project staff and partners as required (assessment tools, programme quality tools, monitoring reports, etc.).Review relevant monitoring reports to donors to ensure that technical debates are well articulated and reports are of acceptable quality before submission. Provide support where necessary to improve report writing skills.   Provide input on partner selection, and provide technical coaching of partners in WASH, including sharing of relevant publications, tools and training opportunities.With support from the SHNP Assistant, provide training in technical areas of WASH to programme stakeholders e.g. School Management Committees, teachers etc. to promote sustainability of programme outcomes. Analyse and provide feedback on programme implementation to ensure gender equity and a focus on the needs of women and children.Ensure the development of a monitoring and evaluation framework and key indicators (with MEAL team) for WASH components of programmes that help each project improve quality of reporting, clearly articulate progress and impact of projects, identify issues for advocacy and input for new programmes/projects in the future.  Participate in the design of baseline, mid-term and end of project evaluations for WASH components of programmes, including working with MEAL Advisor on Terms of Reference and consultant selection.  Monitor the evaluation process and provide input and clarification as needed. Review evaluation findings and ensure that lessons and recommendations are captured in the Lessons Learned database.Regularly review and monitor programmes for child safeguarding issues.Take corrective action in modifying programme activities and/or report incidents.Strategic Planning and Programme DevelopmentBe fully aware of and actively participate in the development and review of country strategy and thematic programme plans.  Specifically support the development and implementation of WASH components in Nutrition, Health, Education and Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL) thematic strategies and plans.  Clearly reflect gender issues in our programming to ensure equity of services.Build on technical knowledge, personal understanding of the water development and health policies and services in Kenya, and current/previous programming, to support WASH components of proposals for new programming, both multi-sectoral and in Nutrition, Health, Education and FSL. Ensure that WASH components of new programmes support the achievement of Save the Children strategic and thematic objectives and Government of Kenya policies and legal frameworks, including SPHERE standards and other global practices in humanitarian settings.  Develop and maintain contacts with potential donors, partners and key technical agencies.  Ensure that new partnerships in this technical area reflect the programme quality we expect of ourselves, and build the capacity of partners to do effective WASH work.  Draw on assessment data from the field that reflects community priorities and government policies for new programming opportunities.Using a child rights programming lens, ensure that our WASH programming is built around the Theory of Change and aligns with Save Children’s Programme Quality Framework.Advocacy,  Policy Development & CoordinationBe fully aware of national policies, strategies and other initiatives and developments by the Government of Kenya and other stakeholders relating to water, sanitation and health, and support civil society strengthening to hold duty bearers accountability to policies.  Regularly assess and communicate the implications for Save the Children’s programme and priorities of any changes in the operating environment relevant to this theme in close collaboration with other relevant technical staff.  Help to clearly articulate WASH advocacy messages for the Kenya country office.  Support the development and implementation of advocacy plans (with timeline and key outcomes) at national, county and community level.Provide technical advice on SHNP community advocacy initiatives that aim to achieve county-level or school-level advocacy outcomes in line with programme goals. Develop policy briefs and position papers as and when required related to WASH initiatives within the country office.  This may require technical collaboration with other technical staff within the country office or within the SC Members.Represent and advocate for Save the Children with UN agencies, donors, Government of Kenya, NGOs and others at the highest levels in both verbal and written communications to ensure Save the Children is seen as a lead international agency in terms of innovation and quality of implementation in WASH, especially in collaboration with partners. Specifically ensure the following:Participation in national level forums, including humanitarian clusters and working groups.Participation in monthly WESCOORD meetingsPresence at relevant UN coordination meetings at national and regional levels, as well as other key donors and stakeholdersAdvise field teams to ensure adequate field visibility through attendance at technical meetings at county and sub county level.Ensure active dissemination of programme findings and lessons learned through the production of high technical quality lessons learned documents and their effective dissemination to key stakeholders.  Participate actively in PDQ and programme operations meetings, planning and review activities, providing enhanced insight into WASH programming.Actively participate in key relevant internal meetings such as Programme Review Meetings, or Area-based meetings as required.  Participate in any donor visit to project(s) within the country office portfolio, as required.   Ensure the recruitment and training of WASH programme staff in technical areas of expertise as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities.Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
 Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children valuesHolds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achievedSets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the sameWidely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates othersFuture orientated, thinks strategicallyBuilds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supportersValues diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strengthApproachable, good listener, easy to talk toDevelops and encourages new and innovative solutionsWilling to take disciplined risksHonest, encourages openness and transparencyA minimum of a Degree in Water and Sanitation Engineering or Public Health Engineering with strong understanding of project management is mandatory.At least two years’ practical experience and demonstrable expertise in construction of water and sanitation systems especially in arid situations in the NGO set up. It is desirable that some of this should have been in emergency relief programmes and/or in Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) environments.Demonstrable experience in development and interpretation of Bills of Quantities, working drawings and civil works supervision.   Excellent understanding of the WASH sector within the Kenyan context, and of the intersection of WASH with other thematic areas, including Health and HIV/AIDS, nutrition, education and food security in Kenya.Excellent computer skills are a must and understanding of Engineering and GIS software is desirable. Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff and communities on WASH systems.Diplomacy, tact and administrative skills in order to work with people at managerial level and government staffs. The post holder should also be at ease in working with people from diverse backgrounds and able to manage culturally sensitive issues. Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions.Proven representation and advocacy skills.Ability to speak to the evolving needs in the dry lands of North-eastern Kenya and the Turkana region and best practices in water development.Strong commitment to capacity building of national staff and partners with willingness to adopt participatory and consultative approaches.Strong report writing skills and ability to compile narrative sections for proposals and donor reports. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coachingStrong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind-sets.Experience solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours; spending up to 50% of time in the field and working with incoming surge teams in the event of emergencies.Prepared to work in an uncertain security environment.Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required.  Swahili preferred.Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding policy.Interested candidates are required to submit a CV and mandatory cover letter to indicating the Position Title Code on the subject kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org line by 24th October 2014.  Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be reviewed as and when they are received.